The end of SARA RAMIREZ's career?- Page 4

[Cabchic]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 2:29pm

I saw her backstage at the Tonys right after rehearsal and SHE WAS SICK. No one else was really around, so no need for her to fake anything and she had a major coughing fit and was trying to drink water to help it. I'm sure part of the problem is she's trying to conserve her voice as it is a tough role, but maybe she started milking it a bit too much. Hopefully it'll stop now.

If the reason she doesn't want to do matinees is to save her voice that is more understandable, but I'm sure the press would twist it to make her sound like a diva. Updated On: 8/12/05 at 02:29 PM

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 3:17pm

Wow, I just read the article and it sounds like sara is not only a dive but a b***h!!! Get over yourself!

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 4:31pm

I usually hate it when people complain about how Broadway has gone downhill lately-but in this case I agree. I understand having to miss a few shows because of illness, but whatever happened to "the show must go on"? Everyone knew Ethel Merman as a powerhouse who never missed shows. (I'm not an expert on the subject-but I think the only time she missed shows was during Gypsy due to vocal problems from the difficulty of that role) Luckily we do still have some performers like that (Harvey Fierstein, Hugh Jackman...) but it seems like I always here about so many actors and actresses who are out sick all the time now, and it's just not fair to the ticket buying public who pay to see a show and do not get to enjoy all the performers they paid to see.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 5:09pm

Personally, I think it is disgusting how Mr. Riedel seems to enjoy ruining careers. None of us, including Riedel, have actually seen what is going on with those performers, so we should not make judgements based merely on how many absences a performer has racked up. Isn't it possible that these performers are actually sick?

As I'm sure is expected here, I am now going to go on my rant that I have been going on for the past year when the topic has been brought up. Donna Murphy said she was ill in interviews and she had a doctor's note for every missed performance. And if you did see her in the show, you might have noticed the bruises on her arms from Conga. If you are so bitter that you need to see these articles, p.m. me.

I know it is disappointing to miss a performer in a show, but I cannot understand why people cannot believe the performer when he/she said she was ill, unless they happened to have been in the company with that performer and know otherwise.

And why is it that some performers are believed and others aren't? If you are going to remain bitter at Donna Murphy, then remain bitter at Gwen Verdon and Nathan Lane, two performers known for frequent abscences. And congratualtions, you now have a new performer to be angry with.

[morosco]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 5:21pm

"...As I'm sure is expected here, I am now going to go on my rant..."

Someone nudge me when Ruth finishes her pro-Murphy rant.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 5:24pm

"Grr. Now give her Tony to Kelli O'Hara. Who really deserves it."

I AGREE!

Gwen Verdon?

When someone with her talent can't keep going on 8 times a week, you give me a call.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 5:27pm

Thenardier -- Gwen Verdon was the QUEEN of missing performances and/or dropping numbers from shows when she felt tired. She legendarily dropped something like six songs from one performance of REDHEAD.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 5:28pm

Thank you Michael Bennett!

Updated On: 8/12/05 at 05:28 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 5:28pm

Can you imagine if this board existed then (regarding Gwen Verdon missing performance or dropping songs).

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 5:35pm

Yeah, except look what Gwen could do and did do.

There isn't an excuse, but still.

It wasn't minor dancing/singing.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 5:38pm

Thats no excuse! If anyone on Broadway today dropped six songs from one show, this board would rip them a new one faster then you can say Show Queen.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 5:39pm

Heh.

It is kind of funny.

I picture all the tweens cursing when Idina goes from "Wizard and I" straight to "For Good."

"BUT SHE DIDN'T DEFY GRAVITY!"

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 5:41pm

It wasn't minor if she did all her numbers.
And if you want to look at what Verdon could do and did do, look at Donna. She's not the dancer Verdon was, but she is a better singer and an equally good, if not better, actress.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 5:43pm

Ruth - I don't care about your opinions of Donna. I've heard it enough from every other thread cursing the poor woman's name.

I never said a thing about her...in fact, I agree she is good.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 5:46pm

Not being familiar with Redhead, it seems if 6 songs were dropped that it certainly was a very short show that night.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 5:51pm

Thenardier-
I thought from your response to mine that you were in fact bashing DM. My mistake.

[Kavana]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 5:54pm

Jennifer Holliday should give her a call

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 6:00pm

Nope.

Sorry.

In fact, she was the only good performance at the Tony's.

[DreamFlyer22]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 6:39pm

*starts humming Forbidden Broadway's "No Leading Lady Tonight"..*

Heh. And while we're at it (and to jump on to Dottie's point)- could you imagine if MICHAEL RIEDEL had been around when Verdon was absent all the time? I don't know how much of this is an increasing trend and how much of it is just columnists picking up on it and waving it around in the public's face? I mean, yes, if a performer is chronically absent, word of mouth will spread things around. But it moves a HELL of a lot faster if any Tom, Dick or Harry can pick up a copy of the Post and read it himself. "Oh, really? I had no idea. Time to draw conclusions without actually knowing anything on the subject."

Also quickly- YES, David Hyde Pierce deserves a gold star. Not for doing his job... the bit of the article posted here actually took that statement a bit out of context. He deserves a gold star for his CLASSY, WONDERFUL conduct offstage- signing autographs for pretty much anyone who wants one and just generally being approachable (both at the stage door and backstage, according to the article).

[gymman]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 6:58pm

Michael B--I just read your post about Verdon; now I understand why she skipped--just cut--"Where Am I Going" from SC when I saw her. The orchestra played a small part of the music, and that was that! I had been waiting the entire show for that song, and ---nada!
Updated On: 8/12/05 at 06:58 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 7:07pm

I don't blame Verdon for cutting songs. The woman was suffering MAJOR voice problems, HELLO? She and Fosse had to cut CHARITY'S SOLILOQUY because her voice just couldn't handle it.

Anyway she might've been the queen of dropping songs. But none of these queens these days even come close to having an ounce of the talent Gwen had.

Sherwood - why are we comparing Gwen and Donna? Gwen had a GREAT voice at one point - then CHARITY happened - and it was ruined forever. Updated On: 8/12/05 at 07:07 PM

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 7:15pm

Damn those boa feathers!

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 7:57pm

RE: Donna Murphy...As far as I know in Passion she only missed one Pre-scheduled weekend.

And I hope to gosh she's back on Broadway soon...maybe in an ensemble show where the producers wouldn't get as pissed if one star was absent? I don't care...she's one of the best talents Broadway has to offer...she just needs to be back there.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 8:29pm

ljay- I thought that Thenardier was saying it was ok for Verdon to be absent because of her talent, and it was not ok for Murphy to be absent. So, I was saying that if you took it from that view, then it should be ok for Donna to miss performances too. But I misinterpreted the original post, so it made no sense to anyone else.

[jo]

Posted: 8/12/05 at 8:29pm

Am I right in thinking that the best time to see most Broadway shows are from the second week of May ( when the TONY noms are announced) and up to the first week of June ( when the TONYs are awarded on the Sunday)? I have to fly across the world to see Broadway shows and I usually time my trips in late spring ( see above period). Not only is the weather kind to my tropical skin -- but the lead actors are not only always there but also provide their best performances