Is there one show that holds the record for most actor injuries? Reading the Follies book got me to thinking of all the difficult shows that have left actors with perm pain. Any show that stands out as the biggest culprit for chronic pain?
Updated On: 2/18/07 at 12:21 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
I know there were a lot of injuries during JEROME ROBBINS' BROADWAY, since the dancers were so overworked. It was not uncommon for six or more swings/understudies to go on each performance. There were also reports of lots of problems during RAGTIME because of the sever rake (slope)of the stage floor.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/16/05
In the Chorus Line program, they list an insane amount of injuries due to the intense dancing. Definitely would rank that one up there.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
Any of the Fosse musicals. Chicago has seen numerous injuries when the choreography is danced the way it was designed and not dumbed down.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/2/06
I'm pretty sure Lion King has a lot due to the insane costumes and things they do.
this doesn't constitute as a lot of actors for one show, but i know that skylar astin broke his arm during the reformatory scene in spring awakening. as well as a few of them got beat up pretty badly.
When I saw the title of the thread, the first thing I thought of was the song "Can You Feel the Pain Tonight?" from Forbidden Broadway.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
If I remember the story correctly, the original Zazu in THE LION KING suffered a great deal of pain in his arm that worked the puppet and has never regained full, total use of it, or something to that affect.
Noises Off
Didn't Barnum have an extremely high insurance rate? Not sure of the injuries though
I'm Sure "Cats" performers went through a lot of injuries, with all the acrobatic stunts they had to pull off.
I was thinking the same thing Jellylorum.
I have a AP clipping from sometime in the late '90s saying that Miss Saigon and Cats were the two (then-currently running) shows which had to hire the most physical therapists.
I did Fame in the UK for over 2 years and we always had people out due to injury(because of the dancing)
Movin' Out. People were out of that show for injuries like it was their job! That was a great show to be an understudy/swing for! :)
Worked with a guy who is a universal swing for Wicked. He goes from company to company filling in for vacations, but mostly for people who are out with injuries. He led me to believe the injuries for that show were pretty high.
I seem to recall an article a few years back that described all the injuries to the performers in "Fosse".
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/10/06
I wonder if there were a lot of injuries in the follies, or if the "ziegfeld walk" kept it all balanced.
A lot of people got hurt on the Fiddler revival during the dream sequence with the stage tilting...
i've herd that the broadway and national tours of Rent are responsible for the most ruined voices in showbiz.
I've heard some people in Hairspray have had to have intense physical therapy for their necks. Those wigs are heavy.
Swing Joined: 2/15/07
Starlight Express! I can't believe no one's mentioned it yet. I don't think anything could top that show for injuries.
Nashvillian, I was trying to think of the name of that show (Starlight Express) as soon as i opened this thread haha i totally agree
The minute I saw this thread I instantly thought of Starlight Express. I heard this rumor, but during rehersal didn't someone role off into the orchestra pit?
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