Sara Ramirez- Riedel brouhaha- Page 2

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 11:14am

If she is having difficulties singing three not-very-demanding songs, then perhaps she should leave the show. I don't find her to be any more talented than any other actress on Broadway (generally speaking, of course). I noticed she was out on Sunday when I walked by the Shubert, and if her doctor says she should only perform 4 shows a week, she should leave the show and let a talented actress who won't miss shows take the part. Tim Curry also seems to miss a lot of shows and if he thinks it's too demanding then perhaps he should leave the show as well. I find him to be the weakest link in the entire cast (talk about phoning it in...).

[Di2]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 11:48am

Can someone tell me where I can find Michael Reidel's story??

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 11:56am

Since it's now prohibited to post copyrighted material in its entirety on the board, I can only give you a link. You have to join NYPOST.COM to read the story, but it's free to join.
GONE-ALOT

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 12:01pm

I think she should just take a leave of absence, maybe 2 weeks to a month and rest her cords, then come back to the show.

[Cabchic]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 12:03pm

She was out Sunday and will be out all week because she is now on her scheduled vacation, which I am sure was arranged before the Post article. She sings more than 3 songs in the show and does a lot with the songs when she sings them. (Come with Me(granted a very short one), Song that Goes Like this, Knights of the Round Table, Find Your Grail, Diva's Lament, and the finale. You say they should try and find someone else to replace her, well they have tried but everyone has complained about everyone else who has played the part besides her. I have seen both Sara and one of the understudies, and believe me it's a HUGE difference when she is not in the show.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 12:09pm

That's not the point. While she is a very talented singer, these songs aren't exactly demanding, and what she does with them I feel is more from her own artistic license, because they aren't challending at all. If she needs to take a leave of absence, then she should do that. But to constantly miss performances she is contractually obligated to perform in is unacceptable. Sick or not, any other job she would have been fired by now. I think the only thing keeping her in the show right now is her Tony Award.

[Di2]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 12:13pm

thank you melissaerricofan!! (wink)

after reading the article..that gentleman is 100% CORRECT!

Get to WORK, friends! Hasn't anyone heard the phrase.."The show must go on"...I have had to throw up between scenes before but always did my shows.

The young generation has ZERO work ethic and it IS sad. Celebs think they are too good to have to work 8 shows a week and consistently take off which throws the flow of the show. (wow did that ever rhyme.)

It's Broadway's own fault though for selling out and not bringing in true theatre talent that would give their left arm and unborn children to work 8 shows a week.
Updated On: 8/23/05 at 12:13 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 12:16pm

This just shows me, Kelli O'Hara REALLY deserved that award.

And Rosscoe, you think this is bad? Try Musicals.net. Biggest Theatre bitches on the net. They literally attack members, it dosen't happen as much here, only if you're a Wicklyn who can't spell a damn word.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 12:16pm

Di2-I couldn't agree with you more!

Gone are the days when Ruth Gordon missed her own mother's funeral because she didn't want to let her fans down by missing a performance. Nowadays, the leading player gets a cough and it's a three-week vacation. Just goes to show how far we've come, and not in a good way!

[kasim]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 12:23pm

Honestly i dont care what ya'll say :) I LOVED Ramirez in Spamalot. She was soooo good. (even my sister loved her, and she is much wiser than me when it comes to this)

Bit dissapointed she didnt come outside after though

[CJR]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 2:17pm

Riedel was far from 100% right in that article. I've tried to stay out of this argument for many reasons, but I just want to state that Riedel is an asshole. He makes assumptions, gets information from people who ARENT in the know and then prints columns such as this one.

Sara is currently on a scheduled vacation which was indeed scheduled BEFORE this freaking article. If I were her, I also still would have taken my vacation. Why should someone change their plans because Riedel painted his off kilter picture? Not I.

Also, to the person who said those songs aren't vocally tasking.... actually, yes they can be. I'm a very well trained belter; I've been singing since I could speak. I recently performed Find Your Grail with a friend who's a voice teacher and -- Sara's riffs and improv included -- I don't know that I could perform that song 8 shows a week and still have my voice in tip top shape.

Just saying....

And.... to rosscoe? You have nerve, you know. Yes, there are a lot of children and non performers on this board. Yes, there are a lot of people who choose to attack each hot performer of the moment, and then move onto the next when THEY'RE in the spotlight, but I happen to know for a fact there are a lot of true performers on this board who COULD do better.... and frankly *do* have a better work ethic than some of Broadway's latest leads (and no, Im not including Sara in that -- Im trying really hard to stay impartial here).

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 3:11pm

First of all, I love the word "brouhaha." Second, again, I find myself asking, what qualifies some people to say the songs she has to sing eight times a week aren't "Challenging?" What about vocals do you know, so well mind you, that you are equipt to make such a remark. Opinions are one thing, but come on people...

-Vincent

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 4:08pm

Even IF the songs are challenging, which they aren't, it is NO EXCUSE to be as frequently absent as she has. (And, whether or not a song is challenging could never be fact as it also is based on opinion). I can't imagine any employer keeping an employee who is so frequently absent. Tony Award or not, I would have fired her. Not to mention the fact that for every performance she calls in sick she violates her performance contract.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 4:11pm

sometimes reidel's sources are producers or people in production offices that are trying to expose rivals or embarrass people. many times his info is right on, if one sided.
*** i have no idea about his inf in this case as my sources ignore SPAMALOT alot.

Updated On: 8/23/05 at 04:11 PM

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 4:16pm

I'm not sure the issue should so much be specific to Spamalot. I have no doubt that Donna Murphy's frequent absences were the reason Brooke Shields took over (I recall reading somewhere Donna Murphy complained about being forced out). I will be surprised if Sara Ramirez is offered a contract renewal. Audition for the Spamalot National Tour are this week, I'm sure they'll find someone of comparable abilities. She's not the best out there you know.

[HBP]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 4:33pm

Wow. Some people are ridiculous. Sara Ramirez is amazingly talented. She isn't being a b*tch. She's sick. Give it a rest. I bet the person who started this whole thing was just pissed because they were ignored at the stage door.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 4:36pm

Riedel? :o)

[CJR]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 7:16pm

DM's frequent absences were not the reason Brooke took over for her. Because I worked on the show, I actually cannot comment on specific reasons, I just want to state that particular info is wrong.

And no, Sara's not the best out there for that role. When I saw the show one actress immediately came to mind for The Lady of the Lake and I can assure you she would have had a MUCH better attendance record thus far.

In any event, it's time to give this topic a rest, me thinks. Frankly nobody is accomplishing anything except looking like the 'bitchy, bitter actors and actresses' that it's come to my attention a lot of outside readers think we are.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 8:36pm

CJR:
While everyone can say whatever they like, please don't tell me i have a nerve !!
You should read most of this board, because alot of you do sound like out of work actors, who are really bitter that there time to shine has never come...
When i joined this board it was to talk about the joy that was "BROADWAY PLAYS AND MUSICALS".
What did i get ( and i say it once again ) sad , bitter and most of all nasty and some times just down right rude people..
So cjr ( not just to pick you out ) send me a file with you singing those songs, since i am sure you think you can do it better.!!!
Grow up and enjoy life, sad to see so many bitter people in one space.

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 8:51pm

It has nothing to do with being able to "do it better".

If we take that kind of logic, then we wouldn't be able to criticize our doctors or our mechanics or plumbers, because we
can't cure our own illness or fix our own cars or fix our own plumbing.

The posts on this board are no different from the opinions we may have about our politicians or whatever.

If you can't handle the 'negativity' here, then find somewhere else to play. You're not going to change what is here.


Updated On: 8/23/05 at 08:51 PM

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 9:11pm

"DM's frequent absences were not the reason Brooke took over for her. Because I worked on the show, I actually cannot comment on specific reasons, I just want to state that particular info is wrong."

Of course. The revival wasn't making money, so the Weisslers pushed her out (probably by telling her they weren't renewing her contract) so they can put in a celebrity. Look at the revolving door of celebrity has-beens that were in "Grease". Her attendance record would have enabled them to fire her before the termination of her contract, and it legitimizes their reasons to not re-sign her. Whether or not she wanted to be in the show is irrelevant. It may have been the reason for her absences, but then that would still make the absences the reason. Now, if you want to argue that it wasn't the reason, then you would need to state the reason. Saying "I can't tell because I worked on the show" doesn't legitimize your broad statement that denies any speculation or assumed facts. Unless you are an attorney involved with the production or Donna Murphy, then there is nothing that can legally stop you from spilling all :o)

[kjklo]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 9:19pm

Fosse76, are you sure Donna Murphy complained about being forced out? I don't recall her making any public statements whatsoever about the situation. My question is sincere, not rhetorical. I'm actually really curious about that.

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 9:22pm

If it is true that Sara is missing performances because she is continually attacked by the flu, she should take a brief leave of absence and take care of herself. She shouldn't ruin her pretty voice by singing if she, in fact, is ill.

But it is my personal belief that she is being maybe a tad diva-ish and taking her Tony title by taking too much time off. I mean, if I told my boss week after week that I was sick, I would be questioned. I realize my job is different from Sara's, but the same logic applies.

[CJR]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 12:55am

Oh Rosscoe.... if YOU actually read most of this site, you'd know I've been working professionally in musical theatre and other various parts of the entertainment business since the age of 4. I no longer perform, aside from small cabarets and local performances here and there, but I am still very much involved in professional show business -- just behind the scenes. Since I have ALWAYS made my living off my talent (and I'm damn good at what I do, thankyouverymuch) I think I'm the LAST person you should be telling to grow up.

In any event, I personally never said I could do better. Frankly, I think Sara is far more talented than I am. Not to say I couldn't sing the music, but she definitely sings it with a lot more attitude and conviction than I ever could. Well, the score of Spamalot, anyway.

Regarding DM, you're right, I could legally 'spill it' as you say. However, information like that which was never made public isn't my place to 'spill' and puts my reputation on the line. I'd rather keep it to a broad statement than possibly be denied a job down the line because I couldnt keep something under wraps...

And believe me, more people in the biz read this than anyone truly realizes.

[Khashoggi]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 1:29am

How typically American of you, CJR.

Ok, so if Sara's condition is threatning to her voice, then she deserves time off. The fact is, ANY singing is demanding, and if she is at risk of doing permanent damage to her voice.
BUT, I don't think there is any sense in performers taking shows off for the sake of it. Here in Australia, performers NEVER miss shows unless they have to. Why? Because they are grateful to be in work! There aren't 50-odd shows playing in Melbourne, and countless others on tour, here, so when someone gets a job, they do it.
-James.