What's next for Laura Benanti?- Page 2

[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.

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 8/24/25 at 8:05pm

I also say this with the limited knowledge from the specific rooms that I am in, so feel free to take it at face value or not. But I've observed there's a severe overestimation on how much performers who are perceived to be "A List" in the community (especially women, sadly) are ACTUALLY being offered. There are the roles that someone like Benanti is being flat out offered. And then there is an avalanche of roles that even the actresses at the very top of the craft are still having to audition against each other for. Goodness knows we would see her on Broadway again if the role was worth her time, but it's certainly not because she's not trying. When you get to that level it starts becoming cut throat in a much muddier way.

[TimeToDither]

Posted: 8/25/25 at 8:49am

IdinaBellFoster said: "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."

These are all wonderful but let's remember she's only 46. And respectfully, she doesn't look or sound it. So I think there's still time before she gets to these roles.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/25/25 at 10:38am

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.

Benanti may not be working on Broadway but she's far from taking "a break." She's continually working on countless projects, including her one-woman show. She's appeared on several recent film and TV projects, if in a small capacity. She's made it clear (as mentioned above), she'd love to return to Broadway but the logistics are not favorable to how she wants to live her life. It's not only about her young daughters but she also lives in New Jersey so there's the commute factor to the theatre and then back home after every performance. All this factors in and trying to maintain a normal lifestyle to raising her daughters. Her current projects are one-offs so it's just a day or 2 of work and she's back home full-time. This appeals to her more than doing 8 performances a week on Broadway for several months.  

[MsPiety&Rectitude]

Posted: 8/25/25 at 10:43am

TimeToDither said: "IdinaBellFoster said: "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."

These are all wonderful but let's remember she's only 46. And respectfully, she doesn't look or sound it. So I think there's stilltime before she gets to these roles."


Fosca is about 30 but anppears older due to illness. Desiree (according to MTI casting info) is 40-50. Phyllis is likely late 40s (based on Sally’s stated age of 49). Agreed that LB is beautiful and youthful, but she’s not too young for any of these.

[Jeff Tupolski]

Posted: 8/25/25 at 1:33pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "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.

Benanti may not be working on Broadway but she's far from taking "a break." She's continually working on countlessprojects, including her one-woman show. She's appeared on several recent film and TV projects, if in a small capacity. She's made it clear (as mentioned above), she'd love to return to Broadway but the logistics are not favorable to how she wants to live her life. It'snot only about her young daughters but she also lives in New Jersey so there's the commute factor to the theatre and then back home after every performance. All this factors in and trying to maintain a normal lifestyle to raising her daughters. Her current projects are one-offs so it'sjust a day or 2 of work and she's back home full-time. This appeals to her more than doing 8 performances a week on Broadway for several months. "

I know, I was referring to a break from Broadway

[TimeToDither]

Posted: 8/26/25 at 6:17am

MsPiety&Rectitude said: "TimeToDither said: "IdinaBellFoster said: "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."

These are all wonderful but let's remember she's only 46. And respectfully, she doesn't look or sound it. So I think there's stilltime before she gets to these roles."


Fosca is about 30 but anppears older due to illness. Desiree (according to MTI casting info) is 40-50. Phyllis is likely late 40s (based on Sally’s stated age of 49). Agreed that LB is beautiful and youthful, but she’s not too young for any of these."

Actually, you're right, my bad. Somehow, I assumed all of these characters were older.