Why did Gina Ferrall abruptly leave MAMMA-MIA?

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 9:20pm

When Beth & the new cast were announced it also said that Judy McLane & Gina Ferrall were going to continue on as Tanya & Rosie. Gina was absent from Carolee's last (as was Judy) & Beth's first. She has been replaced with Alison Briner.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 9:23pm

Is Alison Briner new or was she previously a swing? Perhaps she decided to leave last minute because she has been with the show for a while (I saw it a couple of years ago, and she was in). Maybe she has a medical or family issue that needs to be addressed.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 9:25pm

If she decided to leave I would expect that she would have left with Carolee. I think she must have an issue that forced her to leave.

[philly03]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 10:51pm

Gina's been with Mamma Mia! for years now, I highly doubt something abruptly happened. She probably thought she'd stay, and then realized it was a very different experience with the whole new cast? Could be as easy as that...

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 11:05pm

But to leave before Carolee did?

[Kev]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 11:43pm

Briner is from the tour.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 11:48pm

"Gina's been with Mamma Mia! for years now, I highly doubt something abruptly happened. She probably thought she'd stay, and then realized it was a very different experience with the whole new cast? Could be as easy as that..."

So because she's been with Mamma Mia for years, you doubt something abrupt could happen? Like I said, she could have had a health issue we don't know about (and that is none of our business). Or a family emergency that requires her extended absence.

[intejag]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 6:14am

Ferrall's injured. She's actually been out and covered by understudies for most of the summer and they ultimately ended up bringing in Briner (who, as Kev said, played Rosie on tour) to start with the new cast.

Briner is supposedly on a six month contract, after which there is a possibility of Ferrall coming back, but whether that will end up happening or not remains to be seen.
Updated On: 10/2/09 at 06:14 AM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 3:14pm

I wish Gina all the best. She is a joy to watch.

[lesmis]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 10:15pm

Sorry to hear about Gina's Injury. She and Judy McLane were just great as the Dynamos.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 10:20pm

I hope that Gina & Judy stay forever. They are the glue that holds the show together.

I know that I'm going to be let down when I see the tour Rosie & Tanya in December.