Side Show/ Emily Skinner Question

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 1:58pm

Sorry if this has been addressed before, but I used the search function and couldn't find anything, so I figured I'de go ahead and ask...

I read in a few different places that Lauren Kennedy went on alot for Emily Skinner in Side Show, including one extended period of time. Since it was a short run (unfortunately,) I was wondering why Emily was out so much?, and if people felt Lauren was a suitable "replacement"?

Thanks!

PS Did Lauren indeed replace Emily at one point? She credits herself as having played Daisy, not the standby, which I know she was..

Updated On: 6/25/06 at 01:58 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 2:22pm

During the run of Side Show, a blood vessel burst in Emily's throat, which required her to take a leave of absence from the show. During that leave, Lauren Kennedy (her standby) played the part of Daisy, and was quite good (at least I've heard she was; I never saw her). Emily never left the show; she was present at the final performance. In total, Emily missed about 30 performances of the show's roughly 100 performance run.

A friend of mine---a voting member of the Drama Desk and Tonys---told me that the producers of Side Show campaigned to have Emily and Alice considered at the Tonys as one unit because they feared that Emily wouldn't be nominated if she were considered on her own, and that Alice would be nominated. In fact, I believe at the Drama Desks, Alice was nominated and Emily wasn't.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 2:48pm

Too bad Emily in my oppinion was better then Alice...... but it was their personal acting... The way the roles are written Daisy is MUCH stronger then Violet and i feel like people don't take that into consideration. Emily was awsome with her role and Alice was excellent but there isn't that much to violet in my oppinion.

Also i think it was fair to vote them as 1.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 3:22pm

Did anyone here see Lauren in the role?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 3:41pm

Ah...so this explains it. Coincidentally, I just noticed last night on the IBDB that Alice was nominated for a Drama Desk Award and Emily wasn't. I'm sure it was simply because not enough voters actually saw Emily perform! The show had a run of 91 performances (if I remember correctly), so evidently Emily missed about a third of the run.

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 3:54pm

I have heard and seen Lauren perform. She is great. She doesn't bring what Emily brought to the character, but she still did a lovely job, harmonizing beautifully with Alice. I don't think there could have been a better stand by. She did a wonderful job.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 9:36pm

She credits herself as having played Daisy, not the standby, which I know she was..

I think there's an Equity rule that says once you've gone on a certain number of times, you don't have to say in your bio you weren't the regular.

[Kev]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 9:41pm

*raises hand* I saw Lauren on for Emily. She lacked Emily's effortless star power and charisma. Plus, she was rather shrill in the vocal department. A fine performance, but Emily was indeed missed.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 12:55am

I've only seen Lauren perform as Fantine in "Les Mis," but she was so awful that I'm assuming she was just sick that day since she's had all of this other success...