strange gypsy encounter

[itstheM]

Posted: 5/8/04 at 10:59pm

As I was perusing stage doors after seeing Wonderful Town today, I walked to the Shubert to catch B.P. The show hadn't ended yet and the stage door was propped open. To my surprise it was Tammy Blanchard in full costume and make-up having a cigarette break! I was completely shocked to see a principle of the show taking a cig break while the show was still going on and in her costume. Doesn't that break some kind of rule? P.S.-she did not look like a very happy Tammy Blanchard

[bwaymyway]

Posted: 5/8/04 at 11:00pm

!!
That's really odd!!

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/8/04 at 11:00pm

At least she entertained you. Did she make you smile?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/8/04 at 11:02pm

Please take note, performers everywhere. This is how you stay thin AND take care of your voice!

[itstheM]

Posted: 5/8/04 at 11:04pm

It was so odd!!! I just stood there staring at her...and she stared back. I was like, isn't there a show you should be doing?

[Bway_Mill_Fan]

Posted: 5/8/04 at 11:05pm

WOW. how much was it until the show ended?

[Corine2]

Posted: 5/8/04 at 11:17pm

Give me a break folks let her have a moment. I don't smoke but that is her business and let her be.

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 5/8/04 at 11:17pm

I doubt she's the only one you'd catch doing that. Surprising how many people who rely on their voices for their career smoke, but it's their deal. To each his/her own!

[Corine2]

Posted: 5/8/04 at 11:19pm

Well she has a great voice. Remember stars are human! Updated On: 5/9/04 at 11:19 PM

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 5/8/04 at 11:27pm

I do find it VERY surprising that musical theatre actors/actress smoke. They should no better that smoking will only hurt their voices and therefore careers. But, its their choice. I do find it kinda weird that she would be doing this in costume and in full view of anyone.

[gypsy#12]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 12:24am

DIdn't Gypsy Rose Lee smoke? I wondered why she didn't light one up in the dressing room scene. And is Louise ever really happy? SOmething always in the way. One thing's for sure, she got nothing to hide.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 12:26am

Maybe she was researching the effects of smoking on ones vocal chords

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 12:32am

WOW. That is pretty strange. I'm shocked she would be smoking during a show. You'd think that such a woman making her Broadway debut would take care of herself/her voice. I'm pretty surprised she'd do something like that.

[CJR]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 12:36am

Yeah, Tammy smokes... it's actually not uncommon for actors and actresses who do smoke to take a break while not onstage, to somehow pop outside and smoke.

I know a performer who, back when you could still smoke in your dressing room, would do so inbetween the scenes she was onstage. I have a few other performer friends that I lovingly call "chimneys" and you can find them on their balconies smoking inbetween their scenes.

To answer your question though, itstheM, Tammy stepping outside for a cigarette doesn't break any sort of rule.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 12:37am

Since Gypsy Rose Lee smoked and was a little bitter, maybe she was in fact just keeping in character (you said she didn't look happy). Probably not likely, but just a thought.

[CJR]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 12:38am

Actually, if your show was closing you wouldn't look happy either lol

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 12:40am

At least she wasn't out in Shubert Alley trying to score some X during intermission.

Posted: 5/9/04 at 12:54am

well not to smoke, but ive seen lots of hairspray people pop outside to cool off in the winter months... from ensemble members to mary bond & harvey

[mominator]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 10:41am

LOL Matt!!

[jakebloke]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 10:47am

I went to see Gypsy a few weeks ago and saw the same thing. She was out the stage door with a lit cigarette right after curtain call. It kinda surprised me.....she must need that nicotine.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 11:10am

A very funny legend from the original "The Sound of Music" says that several of the nuns used to stand outside and smoke when they weren't onstage. Some passersby thought it was very funny, but some were outraged and complained to the Catholic Church. Legend has it that when Mary Martin found out, she put a stop to it. I guess the nuns had to suffer through smoking in their dressing rooms after that.

[Broadway724]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 12:15pm

I always see kate (never know how to spell her last name) the actress playing Mazeppa doing the same thing...usually during act two when I'm walking home through Shubert Alley. Is that distracting for anyone else? Having to perform onstage and all you can spell is cig smoke?

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 12:32pm

I always wondered how the actors in Cabaret did it every night. The only two times I saw the show, I was in the front of the theater, and the smoke bothered me, and they had to perform with all that smoke (and smoke those cigarettes and cigars all night) every night. I'm not sure I'd be able to handle so much of that if I were in a show that required all of that smoking.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 1:09pm

I've never seen Tammy smoking in costume, but I did know she smoked. She's not the only actor in Gypsy who pops outside in between scenes for a cigarette. I saw another cast member in full costume (not too long ago) doing the same thing.

Plus, Tammy is more of an actor than a singer. I really don't think she relies on her voice, or will rely on it for the rest of her career. Now if it were Bernadette outside smoking, that would be a different story.

[itstheM]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 1:12pm

To answer your question BwayMillFan, it was a little after 4:30 and the show was almost over. She was in her costume for the last scene, so I'm guessing it was a 6 minute break during 'Rose's Turn.'