I was at the matinee yesterday when Fantasia was out. Danielle Herbert replaced her. The theatre had us enter through the side (so as to avoid the lobby with the board) and announced that Fantasia was being replaced about a minute or two before the lights went down and there was obviously no playbill insert. That kind of trickery rubs me the wrong way and it's rude not only to theatregoers but also to the replacement who is clearly being hidden to every extent equity rules will allow.
Anyways, when it was announced Danielle was on, there were audible sighs groans in the audience and a woman behind me even booed incredibly loudly. It was absolutely horrific and I just wanted Danielle to be incredible. Well, she was, in a word, incredible. She brought the house down with Stormy Weather and had a very commanding presence. There was no indication this was her first time in the role. Danielle should really be a Broadway regular.
The mezzanine (and it seemed the orchestra) were both half empty. Not good news for a Saturday matinee. I wonder if K.D. Lang will lead to better sales.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
Updated On: 1/5/14 at 05:44 PM