Broadway Star Joined: 5/12/03
What did she do to get the bad reputation she seems to have among some people?
This Dolly tour is really a comeback. It has been twenty years since she has had a role on Broadway.
A lot of people - even Tony award winners like Betty, have long breaks in between Broadway shows. The bulk of her career has always been performing live in concert.
She’s made a very lucrative living doing concerts. I don’t think she’s been banned, just found an easier way to make money.
She hasn’t stopped working . And she has a very good reputation .
Stand-by Joined: 5/22/14
Very very difficult. This, I, Know. To. Be. True.
What changed?
Updated On: 7/6/18 at 04:06 AMBroadway Star Joined: 4/9/17
Leadingplayer said: "What did she do to get the bad reputation she seems to have among some people?
This Dolly tour is really a comeback. It has been twenty years since she has had a role on Broadway."
She has performed in NYC during that time though as I remember seeing her in The Old Friends, a Horton Foote play a few years back.
Oops wrong thread.
Updated On: 7/6/18 at 09:36 AM
She may be absent from Broadway but Betty is always working. She currently stars as Gran'ma on the AMC series PREACHER and fills in her hiatus gap with concerts and other projects. I'm sure appetizing elements were factored in her offer to lead the HELLO, DOLLY! Revival Tour, which is why she obviously took it. She can afford to pick and choose her projects at this stage in her career. I'm sure she's offered quite a bit of Broadway projects she chooses to pass on. The HELLO, DOLLY! Revival Tour could just be her wanting to travel the country with a nice extended stay in each city. Her concerts are one-nighters so she's in and out in hours never seeing the city she's performing in.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/14
Betty lives on a working ranch in Texas, and I know for a fact has turned down a handful of Broadway/long-term offers in the past, because of the financial/practical implications that would be required for her to be away from her ranch for an extended period of time. Over the years, she has preferred concerts and short runs, although I guess for the right project (like the HELLO DOLLY tour) she's willing to commit to a longer run.
Oops
Updated On: 7/6/18 at 10:12 AM
Leadingplayer said: "What did she do to get the bad reputation she seems to have among some people?
This Dolly tour is really a comeback. It has been twenty years since she has had a role on Broadway."
Balderdash !!!
I quite enjoyed her performance in M. Night Shyamalan's "Split", where she
gets squeezed to death by James McAvoy with superhuman strength.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/18/17
I haven't seen Betty Buckley in anything but I do hope to see her in the new Hello Dolly tour
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/18/17
I haven't seen Betty Buckley in anything but I do hope to see her in the new Hello Dolly tour
I vaguely remember there was some big controversy years ago with her and a regional theatre somewhere. Anyone know what I'm talking about?
Tag said: "I vaguely remember there was some big controversy years ago with her and a regional theatre somewhere. Anyone know what I'm talking about?"
I think that may have been the DCTC. She pulled out of a show.
She also is a regular fixture on M. Night Shyamalam’s films. And as Brody and others pointed out, she’s not based in NY.
I do wonder which roles she could have legitimately played in Broadway productions over the past few years. I’d certainly love to hear her sing “Pink” at some point. And I’ve only listened to her performance in GREY GARDENS, but based on that and the reviews she’s gotten for it, it’d be incredible if she played the role in NY (not necessarily on Broadway).
Other than the obvious role as a replacement Morrible, I have no clue what those offers could have been. Very curious though.
This old thread talks about her being the original Witch in Into The Woods. An interesting read.
Understudy Joined: 6/23/09
The last time I saw her on stage was White's Lies at New World Stages in 2010.
I often wonder what she would've done as Anna Madrigal in the Tales of the City musical in SF in 2011. She was originally announced, and was replaced by Judy Kaye (who was delightful - as she always is). Very different personas, though.
I know nothing about the background - and as a character and play is being developed, changes happen. (I actually happened to be talking to Armistead Maupin the day after it was announced, and it seemed he was disappointed when he mentioned it.)
I caught her at Feinstein's in SF a few months ago and she was wonderful. I look forward to seeing her Dolly.
Updated On: 7/7/18 at 06:42 PM
A few years ago she was in "Grey Gardens" here in LA. She was wonderful!
I got to see her and Tovah Feldshuh in a production of Arsenic and Old Lace at the Dallas Theater Center. Directed by Scott Schwartz. Costumes by William Harvey Long. It was a fun show.
Videos