actors missing performances

i am fairly new to the board and i have been very disturbed by the lack of support given to actors who can't do an 8 show week because of illness. I myself had a chronic illness when i was playing a lead in a broadway show a few years ago...it IS incredibly upsetting as a performer to have to call out. do you guys realize that it is a dream fulfillment for a performer to get a leading role on broadway and it is TORTURE to have to miss a show...its the hardest call to make. most people in my show were not supportive and the fans weren't great about it either. ALTHOUGH..not as bad as fans have been to Sara Ramirez.
I speak to those who have posted SUCH MEAN and sarcastic things about her. I do not know Sara at all but i can't imagine that she was fine about calling out sick. ESPECIALLY since she won the Tony....we actors/singers have to take care of ourselves, we have to be careful not to injure ourselves vocally and end up like julie andrews, there is LIFE after whatever show we are in! AND we have a responsibility to the audiences. Nothing makes me MORE annoyed than when i go to see a Broadway show and one of the leads is singing through an illness/laryngitis (often a simple allergy attack causes laryngitis). i feel very jipped as an audience member and i have to work too hard to HOPE that they are able to get through the song!! i feel exhausted watching a sick performer on stage!
i would RATHER see an understudy..wouldn't you? its a fine line..either you get mad because the person is OUT of the show or come on the board and complain about how bad they were.
how many of you have performed an 8 show week for a year at a time?? its not easy no matter what the role. i take pride in the fact that in all of the years i have been performing i have never ONCE cracked on stage during a show...i would rather people be upset that i missed a show than come on here and say what i bad singer i am!
i don't know..i guess maybe its just me, but its a very sensitive subject and in the end...did it REALLY spoil YOUR life soo much that an actor called out sick? sooo tragic to you that you have to come on the board and say nasty things about them??
i can assure you its a much worse tragedy for the person missing a show...please keep that in mind next time you feel ticked off at someone for missing a show. and unless you have performed professionally in an 8 show a week situation for more than a couple of weeks at your community theaters.. then you REALLY have no room to criticize....
play nice is all i am saying...there is NO reason to be mean.

I think its understandable when an actor misses preformances due to prior commitments, illness, exhaustion etc. I mean they do 8 SHOWS A WEEK, give them a break. They work hard. Everyone deserves a little R and R every once in awhile- right?

Updated On: 11/25/05 at 03:17 PM

On the other hand, you get to see someone like Kenita R. Miller who is amazing as LaChanze's understudy

I can totally understand someone's disappointment. I am a fan of Stephanie J Block and I would have been disappointed if I couldn't have seen her this past week.

That being said, there is a huge difference between feeling disappointed and coming onto a public board and being mean. If someone is sick, they are sick. If they have something to do, then they do. I don't work 7 days a week. If someone is sick, then I don't see how you can do anything but understand.

---

A few years ago, I saw a tour of sunset blvd and hated the Norma. I knew I was coming back to see the show with a student group and I was quite upset that I had to go back and see the show. When I sat down in the theater, to my delight, I found that the understudy was absolutely phenominal. I even wrote her a letter about how wonderful her performance was. A sick lead, even if they can sing but cannot commit fully to the part on a given night, should let the understudy take the role. What sarah is doing is perfectly fine, I feel. If the audience will not get 100% from her that night, then they should be able to get it from her understudy.

---

And whats even more, I wish people gave the understudies/ensemble more credit. They have more talent than I can imagine.

---

I totally agree with you cubbiegirl. Lisa Brecia was absolutely AMAZING as marion and was forced to assume the role in a very short time. But by opening night, everyone had forgotten it. She was absolutely BRILLIANT in the role.

---

"If you are disappointed, it is totally understandable but no reason to put down the performer."

I agree, cubbie.

---

This is a pleasant topic on a board that has spawned some truly vile and unnecessary personal attack topics. People forget that Broadway actors have incredibly busy and tiring lives and I for one who not trade mine for theirs in a second. I appreciate all they do and respect them immensely. That being said, I am perfectly fine if they are sick for a show or two but I do get annoyed when their understudy does a poor job. They are there for a reason so they should always be prepared to give 100% every time. Alas, there have been times when I have seen understudies sleep walk through a part.

Updated On: 11/25/05 at 04:30 PM

I think it is a fine line. Obviously, performers get sick. They are entitled to their sick days just like the rest of the world. Personally, I have never had to put down a performer for being absent because I only get to NYC every once in a while. However, excessive absences I'm sure is annoying. As I have heard that Sara has. There is a huge difference between someone being out because they are truly ill and someone having excessive absences. I do feel there is no need to be nasty about it though. Personally I can understand why people would be upset about missing performers. If I had missed Sherie Rene Scott in DRS, I would have been extremely upset. There are certain performers you want to see. But that also doesn't mean I'm going to come and post nasty things about them. I just think there's a difference between having a large number of absences and a few sick days. I don't know... Just my 2 cents.

---

I think there are just those who suffer from enormous amounts of disappointment when not being able to see the one they expected to see. Especially when they have traveled far distances or went out of their way to have time to see this show (or person). It's just human tendency to act out when not being able to get what is desired. I'm not saying that your post is wrong, Andrew, but I'm just trying to say that not all these "lashes" are all of blind anger or spite.

---

Keep in mind some of these "accusations" are embelished by people who don't know what they're talking about. Suddenly missing a performance here or there becomes a chronic problem.

Updated On: 11/26/05 at 12:41 AM

one more thing i forgot to mention...its not the performers fault that the understudy is bad....i haven't always had the best understudies...(although ONE of my understudies happens to have gone on to a fabulous career and she is amazing!) as an actor you definately feel even MORE awful when your understudy can't cut it!
but the prodicers and the directors are the ones who are responsible for that...write them letters if you really feel the understudy is THAT bad! but don't blame the person who has to miss the show...