Why didn't Sara Gettelfinger do Grey Gardens?

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 1:50am

Why didn't she? Did she have other projects?
Updated On: 9/4/06 at 01:50 AM

[Jovie24]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 1:50am

I think at the time, she was still thinking that DRS was going to continue...

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 1:53am

^ Poor Sara I would pick Grey Gardens over DRS. I mean this incredible show with Christine Ebersole. What is there to choose? Jolene dosn't seem like that great of a role...
Updated On: 9/4/06 at 01:53 AM

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 1:54am

I thought DRS closing was announced before they announced the cast for Grey Gardens.

[MusicalMo]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 1:54am

Simply that she wasn't asked. The plan from the beginning of the transfer was to replace her and possibly Matt Cavanaugh (if they could find someone better, which clearly they didn't), but as far as Sara goes, she just wasn't right for the role. And not that the original poster asked for my opinion, I agree with the producers and creative team, she was not/is not right for it. I hear the new girl is a much better fit for the role.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 1:56am

Sara sounds *incredible* on the recording...I didn't see it off-broadway so I can't comment on her performance.

...and she was gracious enough to sign my Grey Gardens CD today after the DRS closing performance...hope she gets work again soon!
Updated On: 9/4/06 at 01:56 AM

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 1:56am

At least they can bring some new talent to Broadway.
Updated On: 9/4/06 at 01:56 AM

[MusicalMo]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 2:00am

WithoutATrace...I hear what you are saying, but she just didn't fit the role. She comes across to old and vocally she isn't right for it actually. She also doesn't look like she would be the daughter of Christine Ebersole...lol.

This kinda stuff happens sometimes. People just aren't the right fit for a show. I know alot of people are big fans of certain performers and think they can do anything and never really think about the show, but that is what the creative team is for I suppose. I am happy that the show is moving to B'way. I look forward to seeing it again! (and again, and again).

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 2:06am

That's too bad that she doesn't fit the role...why did they cast her in the first place? Oh well. I have been listening to the cast recording non-stop and am really looking forward to seeing this show! Thanks, MusicalMo, for the clarification on Sara.
Updated On: 9/4/06 at 02:06 AM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 2:39am

I saw the show with Sara. It was great to hear her sing something other than her very comedic number from DRS; she has a lovely voice. And she's a wonderful dancer, so it was a joy to see her do something other than the "cowboy song" (as my 4-year-old calls "Oklahoma?") She's clearly very talented.

But MusicalMo is right. She was miscast in Grey Gardens. While her singing and dancing were terrific, even she seemed terribly uncomfortable on stage in the part.

I loved her in DRS and look forward to her next project. I wish her much success and know she will find it.

[istoleatv]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 3:38am

This post is really interesting. I saw Sara Gettelfinger play the role, and she was amazing! I thought she looked just like the REAL young Little Edie (based on the picture in the movie) Now, if they found a person who is even better, well that would be great too. But for the record, she was amazing. The scenes between her and Christine were brilliantly acted. Her work on the CD is great too. In my opinion, she WAS right for the part.

If anyone wasn't right for the part of Jerry it's Matt Cavanaugh. He was great as Joe Kennedy, but as Jerry he was way off.

I was a huge fan of the movie, and after seeing the show, I am a huge fan of the score. I really hope that in addition to casting changes, they make some changes to the script. I loved both acts, but there were some things I would cut and make better. Only time will tell! But for the record, Sara held her own and I'll be sad to not see her in this on Broadway.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:07am

im really looking forward to seeing this!
i might be going to NYC this new years, and really hope to catch GREY GARDENS!!!

oh yeah, and i love Sara, but she actually doesn't seem to me like she is a "young Christine Ebersole". it just looks like a pretty drastic change going from Sara to Christine. anyhow, still love her.

:)

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:14am

I think she may be offered the role in the show now that DRS is closed.

Although, I really don't know why she came back to DRS (I heard the producers wouldn't let her cancel the contract).

And IMO, Mylinda Hull was a million times better as Jolene.
When Sara came back, she copied what Mylinda did, and though it was funny, it just came off better from Mylinda.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:19am

yeah, Mylinda was sooooo awesome!!!!
she was absolutely hilarious, and is just...awesome

:)

[Jon]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:34am

I heard it was because she was too tall - she looked bad next to Matt Cavanaugh.

And before any one else says it:

She's tall enough to be your mother.

Goliath.

[alba]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:47am

For what it's worth, I think Sara Gettelfinger exacerbated the weird disjunction between the two acts; there was absolutely nothing connecting the Edie of Act I to the Edie of Act II. She appeared uncomfortable and quite removed from the piece as a whole.

I really like Matt Cavenaugh, but I must disagree with istoleatv--I found him much better as Jerry than as Joe Kennedy. His faux-Boston accent was grating!

[wickedfan]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:30pm

When I saw it, Sara and Matt Cavenaugh had absolutely no chemistry. Although that's not entirely her fault, Matt was stiff as a board on stage. Though some people say he was bad as Jerry, I personally thought he was horrible as Joe Kennedy. He had no presence on stage and I was hoping they would've found someone better.

But back to Sara, she just didn't have the right feel of the role. I mean, there was no connection that Sara Gettlefinger could've eventually become the older Little Edie we all know and love. There weren't any mannerisms we might've been able to identify or anything. She was a totally different person. The one time Sara seemed to be having fun on stage was in "Tomorrow's Woman". Every other time she looked like she didn't want to be there.

Updated On: 9/4/06 at 12:30 PM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:32pm

I agree with everything alba said.

Since this thread is about Sara and not about Grey Gardens' book, I didn't even approach its need for rewrites. But it's true, Act I and Act II seemed practically unrelated to me. (And, as alba said, Sara somehow made the dysfunction between the acts more noticeable.) If I had left after Act I (a thought I entertained), I would have missed something remarkable. So I'm glad I stayed!

But I found the first act completely useless and felt very strongly that major revision was needed. In fact, the first act detracted from the dramatic effect of Act II.

But that's just my opinion.

I look forward to seeing what changes have been made for its Broadway run.

[bella cantato]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:34pm

Why is she on the CD if she isn't going to be in the bway cast?

EDIT: nevermind... i see it's an off-bway recording.

Updated On: 9/4/06 at 12:34 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 1:13pm

I thought she was fine in DRS, but it's sort of a nothing role.

Didn't see GREY GARDENS, but she was wonderful in NINE.

[tophertilson]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 3:31pm

Gettelfinger was not the problem, and replacing her isn't going to make the show work.

I know there is this sort of Borg-like unified thinking in NY that she wasn't right for the role, but I thought she was great. To me, it was the writing that let her down, not vice versa.

It's a terribly flawed piece, punctuated by bits of magic. I know they're rewriting it some for Broadway, but I doubt the major hurdles can ever be overcome. It'll be interesting to see it works, commerically speaking.