Will Sheridan Smith ever come to Broadway?
#2
Posted: 5/20/18 at 8:39pm
I just posted in a MFL thread about being blown away by Natasha Barnes in the West End revival of Funny Girl 2 years ago. She stepped in after Sheridan had to leave the show early in its run for personal reasons. I won’t get into the particulars here as it’s all based on gossip, but I do wonder if Broadway producers would be hesitant to give her a lead in a musical.
#3
Posted: 5/20/18 at 9:08pm
Miles2Go2 said: "I just posted in a MFL thread about being blown away by Natasha Barnes in the West End revival of Funny Girl 2 years ago. She stepped in after Sheridan had to leave the show early in its run for personal reasons. I won’t get into the particulars here as it’s all based on gossip, but I do wonder if Broadway producers would be hesitant to give her a lead in a musical."
Her dad just died. I think Sheridan could of 'handled' it better . But I think I would have done exactly the same thing. Family comes first.
#4
Posted: 5/20/18 at 9:20pm
We don't need that screeching voice over here.
#5
Posted: 5/20/18 at 9:23pm
BernadettePeters said: "Miles2Go2 said: "I just posted in a MFL thread about being blown away by Natasha Barnes in the West End revival of Funny Girl 2 years ago. She stepped in after Sheridan had to leave the show early in its run for personal reasons. I won’t get into the particulars here as it’s all based on gossip, but I do wonder if Broadway producers would be hesitant to give her a lead in a musical."
Her dad just died. I think Sheridan could of 'handled' it better . But I think I would have done exactly the same thing. Family comes first."
I didn’t know that her dad had just died at the time. By all reports, she was excellent in the role for the limited time she was in the show.
#6
Posted: 5/20/18 at 10:50pm
We also don't need usernames with artists' real names. I highly doubt you're THE Bernadette Peters.
"When the audience comes in, it changes the temperature of what you've written." -Stephen Sondheim
#7
Posted: 5/20/18 at 11:16pm
Having watched Gavin and Stacy - with James Corden - I'm a massive fan. I think she's hilarious. Maybe not quite the powerhouse/MFA musical theater student that American is use to, but I think she's a true find, and I hope she makes her way over.
#8
Posted: 5/21/18 at 7:00am
I saw Sheridan in the West End and on tour and she truly was fantastic as Fanny Brice. Of course there would be better singers but she brought a real vulnerability and heart to the role as well as nailing it with the comedy. The audience ate her up.
Also when her Dad was diagnosed at the start of the run, the media intensity and intrusion was unlike anything I had seen for a West End actress. I know Sheridan had a successful career but I don't think anyone expected the level of scrutiny and vitriol that came from the media. I know many in my circle feared for her.
I honestly don't know how she would transfer with the role and wonder would she be accepted by an American audience.
However, if she doesn't you will need to replicate that outsider and vulnerability that Sheridan brought with a touch of Mae West and not bring in someone like Lea Michelle, who has a beautiful voice but wouldn't bring out the character in my opinion like the role requires.
#9
Posted: 5/21/18 at 3:30pm
She stepped in after Sheridan had to leave the show early in its run for personal reasons. I won’t get into the particulars here as it’s all based on gossip, but I do wonder if Broadway producers would be hesitant to give her a lead in a musical.
It started out as gossip because of all the crazy media, but Sheridan was only out of the West End run temporarily. She returned to the West End production and started on the UK tour, then with the show as well. She's also been very open about her "breakdown" in 2017 (which the papers originally reported as a case of the mumps). I saw her when she returned to the West End run in 2016. Her performance was simply fantastic (as was her star turn in Legally Blonde, which completely turned the show around from the Broadway production). I ended up meeting her after the Funny Girl performance and she was one of the most kind and gracious performers I've ever met. If she ever played Broadway, I'd hop on a plane without question. If you haven't seen her BAFTA-winning performance in Cilla, find it. Absolutely STELLAR.
She recently debuted her solo album and presented a television mini-concert of some of the tracks. The album is great, but watching her perform her cover of And I Am Telling You (which I admit sounded like a really BAD idea) as a quiet introspective ballad was riveting. A prime example of that vulnerability Gizmo6 mentioned (which was one of the reasons she turned Elle Woods into an award-winning role and Legally Blonde into an award-winning show).
Anyone judging her solely based on the cast recordings is missing out on what makes her really special. The girl is a STAR.
Having watched Gavin and Stacy - with James Corden - I'm a massive fan. I think she's hilarious.
Have you seen her on Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps? That was when I first discovered her and she was such a natural comedienne (as well as Natalie Casey), I didn't know how I would ever be able to separate her from the character of Janet. I only wish I had seen her in Little Shop of Horrors and Flare Path.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#10
Posted: 5/21/18 at 4:09pm
Jessetenny said: "We don't need that screeching voice over here."
"Screeching voice"? Are you kidding me??!!
Thanks to Mister Matt for the heads-up.
#11
Posted: 5/21/18 at 4:20pm
From what I've seen/heard, her Audrey in Little Shop seemed truly fantastic- and very different from Ellen Greene mold.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#12
Posted: 5/21/18 at 4:56pm
"Screeching voice"? Are you kidding me??!!
My thought exactly. I could only assume they confused her with someone else.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#13
Posted: 5/21/18 at 5:47pm
Unfortunately, it's very difficult for British actor to just jump into American theater. Mostly it happens with the transfer of a full production to NYC. Actor's Equity isn't the strongest union in the world, but it does have special an incentive to keep American actors working, which has created some language which makes it difficult for a British union actor to get cast in an equity role. It's different if a whole production transfers here from Britain (Matilda, Sunday in the Park revival from a few years ago).
Updated On: 5/22/18 at 05:47 PM
#14
Posted: 5/21/18 at 5:59pm
I certainly hope she comes to Broadway. As someone else noted, her Elle Woods—based on the recording alone—managed to turn LEGALLY BLONDE into the fun star turn that it was meant to be. It’s always shocking to me how dull the Broadway recording is, especially when compared to the addictive Smith-led West End album. I hope she gets the chance to headline a big brassy show (SWEET CHARITY, anyone?) on Broadway sooner rather than later.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#15
Posted: 5/22/18 at 12:36am
dexter3, you're 100% wrong. I mean, we currently have Charlie Stemp - a UK actor - in a very small role on Broadway. For no reason. There are a ton of NYC actors who could play that part. We have Laura Michelle Kelly - who was great in Me and My Girl - doing Encores, which again, some other American actress could do - and she went out on tour with The King & I. So, no, it's honestly not that hard. And Sheridan Smith has more clout than both of them. She'd be fine. Whether she'd make the show a success? I def. don't know. But I think she's infectious and I'd be curious to see what she could do with Funny Girl. It's a great show, and just wish it would have a revival.
#16
Posted: 5/22/18 at 2:53am
In London she's a big star, but here she's a nobody. Highly doubt she'd come to America unless she had a vehicle prepared that would make her the talk of the town ala Cynthia Errivo a few years ago.
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
#17
Posted: 5/22/18 at 1:58pm
Her performance in Funny Girl would make her the talk of the town if it came here with her. It was one of the best performances I've ever seen.
#18
Posted: 5/22/18 at 2:08pm
There is no question that Sheridan Smith has the talent to appear on Broadway. She is a genuine all rounder. She can do comedy, drama and as she proved with Funny Girl she can give Barbra a run for her money. The problem is that at the moment, for whatever reason, her personal life is a bit of a mess and this has caused her stage appearances to be unreliable. For that reason she may find producers are unwilling to hire her for long term stage projects. Audiences want to feel comfortable watching a performer and not be on edge wondering if that performer is going to make it all the way to the intermission let alone the final curtain. It may be that she is more comfortable with film or television projects until she can feel she can sustain a long run in the theatre. Too many drop outs and cancellations of performances can test an audience's patience.
#19
Posted: 5/22/18 at 2:23pm
Just to clarify, her father was diagnosed with cancer during the Menier Run and died at the beginning of the West End run. She has spoken about how difficult she found this.
I have to say the press intrusion over here was nothing like I'd ever seen before, it was pure rag salacious gossip, which obviously was untrue as the cast and producers supported her.
She returned for the tour and half way through developed the mumps but finished the tour.
Trouper.
#20
Posted: 5/22/18 at 3:54pm
Sheridan never had a disappointing performance record before the tragic illness and death of her father, exacerbated greatly by the press. She'll have no problem getting cast in the future. She's still a bankable star in the UK.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
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