What's next for Laura Benanti?

[TimeToDither]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 4:27pm

I can't believe how little we've seen of her on Broadway. Does anybody know what she's up to these days? Her online presence only mentions her recent one-woman show but I'd love to see her in big leading parts she definitely deserves.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 4:55pm

She was just at Edinburgh Fringe with her one woman show. I agree that it’s been a long time since we’ve seen her on broadway, but she seems content performing at 54 Below (and similar gigs) and some TV work.

[TimeToDither]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 5:05pm

DramaTeach said: "She was just at Edinburgh Fringe with her one woman show. I agree that it’s been a long time since we’ve seen her on broadway, but she seems content performing at 54 Below (and similar gigs) andsome TV work."

I suppose it makes sense as she has two children to take care of and TV isn't as unpredictable as theatre.

I wish somebody who can write for that sort of voice (Tesori? JRB?) would create a role just for her. She's got everything a writer needs.

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 5:12pm

Benanti has turned down several offers in the last few years, as television gigs have been more lucrative and short term for her familial obligations. I can only speak to two specific opportunities, but I imagine there have been more.

[east side story]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 6:27pm

Falsettolands said: "Benanti has turned down severaloffers in the last few years, as television gigs have been more lucrative and short term for her familial obligations. I can only speak to two specific opportunities, but I imagine there have been more."

Would love to know which ones she passed on!

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 8:15pm

east side story said: "Falsettolands said: "Benanti has turned down severaloffers in the last few years, as television gigs have been more lucrative and short term for her familial obligations. I can only speak to two specific opportunities, but I imagine there have been more."

Would love to know which ones she passed on!"

one is an off broadway revival of a musical with a troubled history that still hasn't made it to Broadway, the other a Broadway play at a non-profit.

[lastmidnights]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 8:31pm

Falsettolands said: "One is an off broadway revival of a musical with a troubled historythat still hasn't made it to Broadway, the other a Broadway play at a non-profit."

If she turned down Heathers, that's not shocking, but what's the play?

[Stephen75]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 8:33pm

Can’t think of the musical, but I’ll take a swing and say she was offered the sister in law role in Appropriate or maybe something in Eureka Day? 

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 8:33pm

lastmidnights said: "Falsettolands said: "One is an off broadway revival of a musical with a troubled historythat still hasn't made it to Broadway, the other a Broadway play at a non-profit."

If she turned down Heathers, that's not shocking, but what's the play?"

I thought it was Baker’s Wife 😆 

[DiscoCrows]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 8:33pm

The musical sounds like Heathers lol. I would kill to see her put some fun eccentric spin on Shine A Light

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 8:36pm

I have never seen her in an actual show, however, I did see her at 54 Below with the Skivvies the night after she did that number at the Tony's with the whiskey bottle. When they introduced her, she walked onstage in her robe carrying the whiskey bottle from the Tonys and we all fell out laughing. It was a riot and so, her!

[FolliesCabaret]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 8:40pm

I don't think the musical mentioned is Heathers. Kerry Butler was always going to play the Mrs. Fleming track.

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 9:45pm

iluvtheatertrash said: "lastmidnights said: "Falsettolands said: "One is an off broadway revival of a musical with a troubled historythat still hasn't made it to Broadway, the other a Broadway play at a non-profit."

If she turned down Heathers, that's not shocking, but what's the play?"

I thought it was Baker’s Wife 😆"

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 9:55pm

Actors turn things down all the time. I'm sure she has been offered multiple roles in current Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, in shows that never materialized, and in developmental workshops.

Am I misremembering her discussing how MY FAIR LADY was a difficult - though still rewarding - experience and it made her think harder about how she chooses to spend her time on stage?

[Wick3]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 10:50pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Actors turn things down all the time. I'm sure she has been offered multiple roles in current Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, in shows that never materialized, and in developmental workshops.

Am I misremembering her discussing how MY FAIR LADY was a difficult - though still rewarding - experienceand it made her think harder about how she chooses to spend her time on stage?"

From what I recall on that interview, she stated that MY FAIR LADY Broadway revival production was the first time she replaced a lead. In past Broadway experiences, Laura always took part in the readings/rehearsals/previews process with the creatives. This time for MY FAIR LADY, she was rehearsing with the stage manager. Definitely not easy. Plus her costar Harry Hadden-Patton (Henry Higgins) was away shooting the Downton Abbey film so the first time they rehearsed together was on her actual first day of performance. Regardless I'm glad she got to do her dream role!

[yahyahyah]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 10:56pm

MY FAIR LADY was not the first time she ever replaced a lead. She replaced as Maria in the 1998/99 SOUND OF MUSIC revival. She was like 19/20 I think. 
 

 

Wick3 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Actors turn things down all the time. I'm sure she has been offered multiple roles in current Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, in shows that never materialized, and in developmental workshops.

Am I misremembering her discussing how MY FAIR LADY was a difficult - though still rewarding - experienceand it made her think harder about how she chooses to spend her time on stage?"

From what I recall on that interview, she stated that MY FAIR LADY Broadway revival production was the first time she replaced a lead. In past Broadway experiences,Lauraalways took part in the readings/rehearsals/previews process with the creatives. This time for MY FAIR LADY, she was rehearsing with the stage manager. Definitely not easy. Plus her costar Harry Hadden-Patton (Henry Higgins) was away shooting the Downton Abbey film so the first time they rehearsed together was on heractual first day of performance. Regardless I'm glad she got to do her dream role!"

 

[Wick3]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 11:38pm

yahyahyah said: "MY FAIR LADY was not the first time she ever replaced a lead. She replaced as Maria in the 1998/99 SOUND OF MUSIC revival. She was like 19/20 I think.




Wick3 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Actors turn things down all the time. I'm sure she has been offered multiple roles in current Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, in shows that never materialized, and in developmental workshops.

Am I misremembering her discussing how MY FAIR LADY was a difficult - though still rewarding - experienceand it made her think harder about how she chooses to spend her time on stage?"

From what I recall on that interview, she stated that MY FAIR LADY Broadway revival production was the first time she replaced a lead. In past Broadway experiences,Lauraalways took part in the readings/rehearsals/previews process with the creatives. This time for MY FAIR LADY, she was rehearsing with the stage manager. Definitely not easy. Plus her costar Harry Hadden-Patton (Henry Higgins) was away shooting the Downton Abbey film so the first time they rehearsed together was on heractual first day of performance. Regardless I'm glad she got to do her dream role!"

"

Laura Benanti was an ensemble member and understudied Rebecca Luker for Maria in that SOUND OF MUSIC revival before replacing her. For MY FAIR LADY, she entered the production replacing the lead without being part of the produciton beforehand.

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 8/24/25 at 12:52am

Clearly nothing very soon.

she posted on X when Broadway reopened saying that Bway cannot reopen unless (some social injustice) issues are fully addressed.

 

plus

Producers would have to hire more u/s or standbys just for her as she’s always having legitimate reasons to miss shows.

Updated On: 8/24/25 at 12:52 AM

[DeNada]

Posted: 8/24/25 at 1:54am

spicemonkey said: "
Producers would have to hire more u/s or standbys just for her as she’s always having legitimate reasons to miss shows."

Is this still the case? Obviously when she really badly damaged her neck in Into The Woods it massively affected Wedding Singer, but I don't recall her having widely reported attendance issues in Women On The Verge, She Loves Me, My Fair Lady, Gypsy, her straight play performances etc.

[TimeToDither]

Posted: 8/24/25 at 3:29am

spicemonkey said: "Clearly nothing very soon.

she posted on X when Broadway reopened saying that Bway cannot reopen unless (some social injustice) issues are fully addressed.



plus

Producers would have to hire more u/s or standbys just for her as she’s always having legitimate reasons to miss shows."

Damn, that's pretty harsh. I thought this was only the case with her earlier productions due to the neck injury?

[devonian.t]

Posted: 8/24/25 at 6:20am

The Edinburgh show was bliss.

Laura did talk at length about her broken neck and the "pratfall" that was 'a pretend fall that was an actual fall' which caused the injury.

[binau]

Posted: 8/24/25 at 6:41am

Fosca in Passion? Idk why but I feel that she might actually be really good in role. 

[bear88]

Posted: 8/24/25 at 2:33pm

For anyone on the West Coast, or especially in the San Francisco Bay Area, Benanti is bringing her one-woman show to the Berkeley Rep from Sept. 17 to 25. My wife and I got tickets and plenty are available.

Given the fact that she has two young children, she might be disinclined to make long-term theater commitments.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 8/24/25 at 7:26pm

She’s been pretty vocal that doing 8 shows a week again while she has small children would be challenging, and the show would need to be really worth it. She’s explicitly said she wants to play Fosca in PASSION and Desiree in NIGHT MUSIC. I’d like to add Phyllis in FOLLIES to that list as well.

[Jeff Tupolski]

Posted: 8/24/25 at 7:45pm

DeNada said: "spicemonkey said: "
Producers would have to hire more u/s or standbys just for her as she’s always having legitimate reasons to miss shows."

Is this still the case? Obviously when she really badly damaged her neck in Into The Woods it massively affected Wedding Singer, but I don't recall her having widely reported attendance issues in Women On The Verge, She Loves Me, My Fair Lady, Gypsy, her straight play performances etc."

I remember hearing that she was out a bit during My Fair Lady, but not with these other shows. I do wish she’d come back, even if two young kids is more than enough reason to take a break. Still, she’s one of the best around today and she’s missed.