actors missing performances — Page 4

And here's a transcript from CNN where Julie says that she did NOT have vocal nodes.
www.cnn.com

"ANDREWS: No, it was not a nodule. Particularly, Broadway singers or singers who slap minute pieces of vocal cord together -- I mean, the cords are so tiny, people who slap those together at tremendous pressure eight times a week in a show for a very long run, you build up a kind of muscular tissue, almost a striation in the tissue, and it can be hardened. And eventually, it builds a lot of strength. It's like a runner running -- or a high jumper on his knees, and they get really strong."

Ummm, that's what a nodule is.

I worked on a play where the star, an extremely talented but dark and difficult man (who had done major prison time), would often walk through the door at 7:55, while his poor understudy would be waiting, in costume, to go on.

Unfortunately the management of that particular production allowed this star's behavior to continue without consequence. I always felt so bad for the understudy.

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"I worked on a play where the star, an extremely talented but dark and difficult man (who had done major prison time), would often walk through the door at 7:55, while his poor understudy would be waiting, in costume, to go on."

Was this recent? This behavior sounds vaguely familiar.

"...people should be greatful that they are seeing a show and that these performers are taking the time to share with us their gifts..."

Again, WHAT???

Where's the sharing? Performers are doing their job. Artisic musing aside, it's a job. They're selling a product...themselves. Or, in loftier terms, their gift, their talent. Wise performers realize just how lucky they are to have a job, an audience. Wise performers are greatful that people are taking THEIR time and spending THEIR money to experience an artist's gift. No one is irreplaceable.

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A Little note on Nodules. They can only be prevented if the behavior is caught in time. Julie Andrews got nodes because of what she did in Victor/Victoria and Putting it Together. A coloratura soprano shouldn't be singing low C's and that's what she was doing...8 times a week.

Updated On: 11/26/05 at 06:43 PM

I believe the reason (or at least one of the reasons) Julie kept going even though she was hurting her voice was because she knew V/V would close without her and she didn't want the producers to lose their investment and have everyone be out of a job.

And Rath, I think I know which play you're talking about. Did it also happen to star a recent Emmy winner?

Intelligent rebuttal.

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I'm not sure Julie was aware she was hurting herself. It's very simple to do actually.

can you only tell if you have nodules if you are seen by a doctor?

i wasn't giving advice about anything....ESPECIALLY not to Julie Andrews! are you nuts?! i just know that julie had tremendous pressure to perform (her name was above the title after all) and so she did and in the end its a HUGE misfortune to all of us who will never enjoy hearing her sing live again..and most of all its a tragedy to HER....so the comment of "i'm sure she would be glad to read your advice" or whatever it was just kind of well..come on..
i wasn't looking to start a fight here. just trying to enlighten some people who really might not understand how heartbreaking it is for a performer to have to call in sick. it was for me. if the performer doesn't care whether or not they show up for work then, i agree, they don't deserve to be in the show...its their job to be there..i am talking about people who are genuinely ill like i was and like many performers get...we're only human...
not andrea mcardle..i don't believe she misses many shows...i know her personally and did a show with her where she had a very bad case of bronchitis...she missed ONE song in a performance one night and that was it...she did the rest...its was a review...and she started having a coughing fit right before it and couldn't sing..so her cover (me) who was in the ensemble sang it...
and not andrea burns either..but thanks for playing! LOL!

whatever YOU want to call it....i don't really care HOW its classified..
to ME it is a tragedy to not be able to hear her because i love her singing...and i think she had MANY MANY more good years left to share her gift....its like saying well...who cares if a 35 year old pitcher loses the use of his arm...he was probably already getting too old to play anyway!!
does anyone feel like pulling out the dictionary for a definition of tragedy?! jeez LOUISE!
lets not get SOO technical here..to ME it is a very sad thing and i classify it as a tragedy because her doctor is a dope...and i know this from EXPERIENCE...he USED to be MINE and misdiagnosed me TWO TIMES!!