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#1

Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

Erin Dilly was originally Millie correct? What was the reason behind her leaving the show?
#2

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

I heard she simply wasn't working out and I don't think it was her decision, although it was spun as a "mutual" decision. It's nice to see her have success in Chitty after the Millie and Martin disappointments. She's a real talent.
#3

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

Really? I thought she got terribly ill -- not, like, deathly ill, but sick enough to where it wasn't just a a passing cold -- then Sutton went on and the rest is history.
artistic dominion
#4

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

Erin Dilly was not Millie!
Millie was Cheno who was bueno!

(Why the hell am I rhyming???)

Anyway, the original Millie was Kristin Chenoweth, but she left because she had a choice between Millie and her mediocre self-titled television show. So she chose the latter, which was not a good choice in my opinion.
"Ev'ry-buddy wants ta get into de act!" - Jimmy Durante "Breathe from your hoo-hoo." -Kristin Chenoweth
#5

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

But Erin Dilly WAS Millie at one point. I think it was right after Cheno and I think Dilly was more instrumental in the whole originating thing than her, since Cheno left VERY early in the process.

But I could also have wrong information. LOL
artistic dominion
#7

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

don't forget that Tony-winner Tonya Pinkins left Millie after the La Jolla tryout, as well.
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'" -- unknown
#8

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

"Anyway, the original Millie was Kristin Chenoweth, but she left because she had a choice between Millie and her mediocre self-titled television show. So she chose the latter, which was not a good choice in my opinion."

I think Kristin made out just fine. I don't think she made a bad choice at all, considering where her career has gone at this point.
#9

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

No, I was just criticizing her television show. Well, I'm a big Cheno fan, but when I saw the TV show, I immediately changed the channel.
"Ev'ry-buddy wants ta get into de act!" - Jimmy Durante "Breathe from your hoo-hoo." -Kristin Chenoweth
#10

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

"Thoroughly Modern Millie was at La Jolla Playhouse in late 2000...this was where Erin Dilly was Millie"

No...shortly before the show opened at La Jolla, Erin Dilly left the show and Sutton Foster replaced her. Sutton was Millie in La Jolla, I have the pictures to prove it.
(formerly bronte604) "You really just love money and power and capitalism? You know they're never going to love you back." "Things happen for the best...I don't even believe that myself."
#11

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

Jane Krakowski was also a "Millie" at one point?
By the way, and I do NOT mean to thread jack, but I read 2 weeks ago that the Women Of Faith conference had taken back their offer for Kristen to perform at their conference since she felt that Gay Rights were ok with her and because she was playing a lesbian in her upcoming movie. Does anyone know what has happened with this if anything?? And I think it is good for Kristen to break out of her "goody goody" persona by doing a role like this.
#12

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

About the Kristin thing...that was posted on here awhile...should be able to find it if you do a search
(formerly bronte604) "You really just love money and power and capitalism? You know they're never going to love you back." "Things happen for the best...I don't even believe that myself."
#13

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

Elaine Stritch was originally Millie. But then when she found out they wanted Bernadette Peters to play Miss Dorothy, she backed out.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#14

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

I actually heard that Kristin read for Miss Dorothy in the readings
#15

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

The workshop had Kristin as Millie, David Campbell as Jimmy, and Amanda Serkasevich as Miss Dorothy. (Sutton was Ethel Peas.)
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#16

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

I've never heard the Erin Dill health issues before. Heard several other explanations but never that one. re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?
#18

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

It doesn't sound like it was anything serious, Eponine. I dug up some articles surrounding her dismissal or departure, however you want to label it.

Here's an article from TheaterMania comparing Brad Oscar assuming the role in The Producers after Henry Goodman got canned to Sutton Foster winning the Millie role in the same way.

"Between your show and Thoroughly Modern Millie, this is really the Year of the Understudy. Erin Dilly missed some performances of Millie in La Jolla, Sutton Foster went on, the powers that be decided that they liked her better in the part...and it was so long, Dillie."

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/2197

Playbill also wrote an article on it.

"Many a journalist will miss the Erin Dilly-Thoroughly Modern Millie rhyme. The young actress, who made a splash in Babes in Arms and Martin Guerre, was set to perform the title role in the La Jolla Playhouse production, but several production meetings later, she and the creative team determined that Dilly would not be able to continue with the show."

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/55640.html

#19

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

Last link. Dilly gets some closure on the issue. Class act.

Que sera, sera," is what Erin Dilly trills if you mention her missing the Thoroughly Modern Millie boat. (She disembarked in San Diego last year, during tryouts.) "I have no ill will [about Millie], and the production is going to be phenomenal. I wish them all the best."

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm?int_news_id=1331
#20

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

did they not find it risky to open the show with an understudy? I mean considering they wouldn't open Wicked on Bway w/ Block because she wasn't a big enough name. Or was it because Sutton got such outstanding reviews, that they openend it with her?
#21

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

They took a chance (which doesn't happen often) and it paid off.

Sutton was lucky to have that chance taken on her -- and she deserved the chance.
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'" -- unknown
#22

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

Good question.

Speculating, here. It's not like Dilly was a well-known actress when they gave her the role. Maybe they were hoping to make someone a star and they felt Sutton was the better bet once they saw her in the role.

Updated On: 11/2/05 at 03:41 PM

#23

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

You've got to give Sutton credit for stepping in and making such an impression. My guess is that Dilly was cast because (both in looks and talent) she's a lot like Julie Andrews. Sutton has a grittier, gutsier edge to her that, perhaps, the producers hadn't anticipated would work so well in the roll. I, myself, can't see Erin being that great as Millie, but perhaps that's just because I see it as a "Sutton" role. You've got to give Erin credit, too, for being a true lady in how she handled herself in interviews regarding her departure. Many actresses would have said nasty things that would have come across as sour-grapes. In some respects, I'm sure Erin FELT those things, but was wise not to voice them.
". . . POP . . ."
#24

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

Erin Dilly wanted to play Dolly, so she left Millie, which I think is rather silly.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#25

re: Why did Erin Dilly leave Millie?

Well I don't really want to say anything, but my voice teacher is personal friends with Erin and from what I've heard from her Erin was sort of...I guess a mutual consent to leave so Sutton could play the role. Again, I don't REALLY want to say anything for sure because I'm not 100 percent sure, this conversation was a while ago.
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."

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