So...what b'way lead actors have impeccable...

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 8:18am

performance attendance?

I'm not sure why, but that always impresses me. Impeccable meaning a minimal amount of calling out...no matter what the reason. And don't get me wrong: I understand the need for them to take a day whether for illness or personal reasons...but some actor's never or seldom seem to do so. (And I don't consider vacation or leaves as absences -- but maybe you do.)

The three I want to "nominate":

Patti Lupone (currently Gypsy)
John Gallagher (Spring Awakening)
Blake Bashoff (Also Spring Awakening)
(whom to the best of my knowledge has not missed a single performance since he took over the role in Mid-Dec.)


If there is already a thread like this: my apologies.

Updated On: 5/5/08 at 08:18 AM

[musicalfan07]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 8:22am

Orfeh was in Saturday Night Fever for a year+ and never missed a performance.

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 8:31am

Shannon Durig rarely missed a performance during her run in "Hairspray".

And I believe Harvey Fierstein only missed the second act of one performance during his 700+ performance run in "Hairspray".

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 8:45am

Kelli O'Hara never missed a performance up until very recently.
Michael Cerveris

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 8:49am

I believe David Hyde Pierce rarely, if ever, misses a show.

[stagescreen]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 9:01am

Michael Cerveris

[ruprecht]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 9:15am

Orfeh's only missed one performance in Legally Blonde including San Francisco.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 9:32am

I think the obsession with the attendance of Broadway actors is a creepy phenomenon, bordering on stalking.

[Urban]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 9:43am

Dare we forget the legendary Ethel Merman. :p

Hugh Jackman pretty much was up there.

[elphaba.scares.me]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 10:39am

Orfeh's missed two in Legally Blonde, plus vacation. Nikki Snelson only missed once, I think, plus vacation.

This is still an excellent attendance record.

IMHO, anyone who misses less than one performance a month has very good attendance. But yes, there are those who go the extra mile.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 10:59am

Annaleigh Ashford has only missed a couple of days in Wicked when she was sick.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 11:07am

I seem to remember that Marian Seldes seldom if ever missed a performance of DEATHTRAP, during the entire multi-year run of the play.

[musicalfan07]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 11:22am

I don't know for certain, but I havn't heard any reports of Evans and Russell being off yet in Sunday in the Park with George. If they have, I'd love to hear how the understudies were.

[singingbackup]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 11:32am

Nothing yet for SITPWG, though Evans almost missed due to wisdom teeth pain, but he made it through.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 11:49am

Yeah, this is creepy, guys. Do stop.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 11:53am

Borstal, what's the problem? What's creeping you out?

[sgv123]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 11:53am

orfeh has missed at least 3.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 12:10pm

Antonio Banderas did not miss a performance during his run in "Nine."

Gavin Lee rarely seems to be out, and he's a good 18 months into his run.

In the amusing category, there was Harrison Chad from Caroline, or Change, who was never out. This prompted the rather crazy aunt of his understudy to post on one of the boards (not sure if it was here or ATC) about how unfair Harrison was being, and how he should "step aside" at a performance or two to allow her nephew the chance to go on.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 1:43pm

1. Audra McDonald
2. Bernadette Peters
3. Kristin Chenoweth
4. Laura Benanti
5. Glenn Close
6. Jennifer Holliday

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 1:45pm

I agree with Borstal and PalJoey.

this thread gives me a creepy feeling.... some of you know WAY more than any normal person should ever know. it's scary. borderline stalker.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 4:41pm

Didn't Michael Crawford broadcast the fact that he never missed as Phantom or Barnum?

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 4:48pm

Michael Crawford has nothing to brag about. He missed quite a few shows in 1988 due to an illness. I read a lengthy interview with a cast member who noted how he had been ill and finally took time off to recuperate. His understudy, Steve Barton, sustained an injury in a trap door sequence, and the second understudy was put on.

Rebecca Luker has excellent attendance records, too. I recall an interview with Laura Benanti who said that she didn't go on for Maria a full year after it opened, as Luker didn't miss a show until her vacation.

And this isn't creepy...there have been interviews with some of these actors. I'm not going to waste my time finding links, but Harvey Fierstein has been known to discuss his excellent attendance records (with specifics to absences)...many other actors do, too. Also note, some people may work in the industry/have ties to it, and they may easily recollect events.

Updated On: 5/5/08 at 04:48 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 4:51pm

The entire year I dressed him, Bruce Vilanch never missed a single performance on the Hairspray tour.

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 4:53pm

Manoel Felciano never missed a performance of Sweeney Todd.

[ruprecht]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 5:03pm

Orfeh has not missed 3, she's missed only one performance which wasn't PRE scheduled, not including her vacation.

*and none of this is "creepy" it's a subject that now has to be addressed and posted on people's websites and my space blogs due to the understudy obsessed posters on BWW and not to mention, the website solely dedicated to when understudies go on in any given show. This isn't stalking, it's an unfortunately hot topic. Updated On: 5/5/08 at 05:03 PM