Will Stephen Lynch be on broadway again?- Page 2

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 10/28/06 at 10:03pm

I know that Laura broke her neck during ITW and was misdiagnosed, but what happened during The Wedding Singer? Just curous.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/28/06 at 10:13pm

winston,

Please don't be naive. Producers aren't going to say, "Well, we know Miss Benanti is going to be consistentley out of our production, but she DID suffer a terrible injury and WAS treated harshly by producers in the past. Screw the audience and the investors wanting someone bankable.. let's just give her the benefit of the doubt because she is talented."

Professionally and financially, no producer is going to want to cast a leading actress who they know will frequently not be able to perform. Investing in a show is risky enough as it is, but to try and honestly tell investors to bet on someone who has had a poor attendance record time after time is an even bigger hill that is almost impossible to get over. It doesn't matter why that person is going to be out. They could have a bad injury like Benanti does or have a terrible personal life; it just isn't feasable to have investors put money on someone who can't consistently do eight shows a week. And it's not just all about the money either. It's about keeping audiences happy too, and part of that is making sure your leads will be in as often as possible.

Has Laura had to endure a bad break because of her injury? Yes. But does that make it unfair that her attendance would be held against her in the future? Absolutely not.

And I'm not being biased against Benanti either. Although she was out when I saw The Wedding Singer, I loved her in both Into The Woods and Nine, and am sad to see her career having such trouble because she is such a talent.

Updated On: 10/28/06 at 10:13 PM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/28/06 at 10:14pm

She had to go on medical leave and FULL vocal rest due to complications from the broken neck. Making this the third show she's had to leave for medical reasons.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 10/28/06 at 10:18pm

I think the person who should be blamed for all this is the doctor who initially saw her after she broke her neck. If he/she hadn't misdiagnosed it, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Btw, I've never actually heard Ms. Benanti sing so I have no bias for her or against her.

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 12:07am

Hey, what happened to Stephen Lynch?? Being affiliated with Ms. Benanti doesn't mean that this stuff should be on this thread.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 12:17am

BEELZ!

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 12:21am

FOA, that's my favorite Stephen Lynch song.

My name is Satan! Hi, everybody! Let me tell you a little bit about myself.... LOVE IT. His albums are always hilarious, but it takes a listen or two to really appreciate them, for me at least. Though I loved "Taxi Driver" and "Grandfather" and "If I Were Gay" on the first listen. lol. High school was fun.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 12:23am

well Stephen's attendance record was wonderful so if the right part comes along, he should come back to Broadway, maybe a revival of
LATE NIGHT COMIC.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 1:10am

somethingwicked, thank you for being a much needed voice of reason in this thread.

I think Benanti is one of the most talented people I have ever seen perform on stage. Wonderful in SWING, INTO THE WOODS, and NINE. I do think she was a little miscast in THE WEDDING SINGER, but her performances in SWING and NINE remain etched in my mind as some of the most fulfilling performances I have ever seen.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 1:19am

Thanks munk. I agree with you on her being miscast in TWS. As I said earlier, she was out when I saw it, but from what I've seen and heard elsewhere, this type of show just isn't right for her.

Maybe if she takes a year off to rest and recuperate without going to work (something she has yet to do,) she will be all healed and not have to worry about this reccuring problem.

She'd make one hell of a Mary in Mary Poppins...

Updated On: 10/29/06 at 01:19 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 1:20am

I agree MUNK
about her performances
but her attendance
reputation has sunk her Broadway Career
She needs to do Movie, TV or Concert work.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 1:40am

I don't think her Broadway career is sunk yet...she's still very young and still has time to redeem herself.

I am fully aware of the fact that Benanti has had legitimate reasons for being absent - and I applaud her for trying to return to the show - but it IS disappointing for people who wish to go see her. The only reason I bought VIOLET HOUR tickets was to see her. I paid full price the day they went on sale - because at that point, as far as I was concerned - she was IT. When she withdrew, I was devastated and felt I had wasted my money.

I say, let her take some time off. Maybe a couple of years. When she is fully recovered and able to take on a lead again, I bet Broadway will welcome her with open arms.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 1:44am

I doubt he will. He's got a good voice, but so do tons of others. He's perfect for this role, but I can't picture him in anything dramatic, or even in another comedic, lighthearted show. He was a comic pulled to do this, but he even said in interviews that comedy was his passion... not this. He's never going to be Marius or Edna or any male in A Chorus Line. I just can't see him pursuing such a career.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 1:46am

Right, because the only worthwhile roles are the lead in an overblown pop-opera, a mother in drag, and a dancer.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 1:49am

Nah, munk, that's not what I mean. I just mean, I don't see him as a serious actor with versatility. I can't see him going full-blown comedy in an over-the-top role as Edna. I can't see him going serious in a dramatic part like Marius. I can't see him dancing. I don't know, I just don't see him as being an actor with much versatility. Hey, I could be totally wrong -- he could pull out some serious drama skills. But my impression of him now is a one-hit stunt on Broadway, then back to his comedy tour.

[LynchMob]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 8:10am

I think it would depend on the role... He did go to college for theatre arts and has done several shows/musicals at the barn theatre in Kalamazoo,MI. Acting was his original plan before his comedy thing just kinda happened for him.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 12:43pm

Of course, there's that, too. I'm not saying I dislike Lynch at all. He gave one of my favorite performances this year, no doubt. Frankly, if he WERE to be on Broadway again, I wouldn't be bitter, I'd be ecstatic. :)

[Yeah, um, no.]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 1:18pm

I'm sure he'll be back, just not in the next season or two.

[winston89]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 4:09pm

Somethingwicked.

I know that she will indure a bad break. But, it is stupid of the producers to not say that they ****ed up when they clearly did. should she get a bad rap for something that clearly wasn't her fault? No.

[winston89]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 4:09pm

Somethingwicked.

I know that she will indure a bad break. But, it is stupid of the producers to not say that they ****ed up when they clearly did. should she get a bad rap for something that clearly wasn't her fault? No.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/29/06 at 4:16pm

Winston, it doesn't matter whose fault it was or what injury occured or why it happened. The bottom line is she consistently cannot perform, and people aren't going to want a lead who can't be in the show, whether it's their fault or not.