the Andrea McArdle interview: will there be a dust-up? a catfight?- Page 2

[lgfannie2]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 12:57pm

Really? "Crazy documentary maker." Pretty insulting comment, considering we don't know each other. If you check my history on this board, I doubt that it could be considered popping up "regularly." "Ethically dubious nature in which some of the actors were brought on board"? Again, since you don't know me or probably ANY of the women involved in my documentary film, "Life After Tomorrow," why would you feel the need to continue to spread lies about any of us? So unnecessary and rude.

Julie Stevens
Updated On: 11/15/11 at 12:57 PM

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 2:58pm

"Halloo your name to the reverberate hills, And make the babbling gossip of the air Cry out..." Twelfth Night. Act i. Sc. 5

speak loudly, but let no Carrie stick.

[smashmouth]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 7:12pm

Hi Nemo! I am in no way connected to the producers of the film "Life After Tomorrow" about the girls who starred in Annie nor am I related to/partners with any of the girls (now grown-up women) who might be angry or upset about what Andrea McArdle said in the interview. I just heard about the interview, watched it, and saw some of the posts on the annieorphans website where people were encouraging Julie Stevens to take legal action against Andrea McArdle for her comments. They were saying "Sue her! She deserves it!" There seems to be a dramatic backlash against Andrea McArdle in that group of Annie fans - for all I know some of them might be former Broadway Annie's and former Orphans who are deeply hurt and offended by what Andrea said.

I wonder if Julie Stevens will take legal action against McArdle. I'm not sure her comments were really actionable but apparently those Annie people are really fired up against Andrea!

[lgfannie2]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 7:29pm

Smasmouth, none of the people who posted on my site in response to Andrea's interview online were former members of any of the casts. They were all fans of the show and of Andrea. I asked the producers of the video interview to remove inaccurate statements and several unlicensed clips that they used from my film. As for Andrea...I think the interview speaks for itself.

Julie Stevens Updated On: 11/15/11 at 07:29 PM

[smashmouth]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 7:47pm

Julie, are you going to take legal action against Andrea McArdle? The problem is that her comments could be a result of her merely being confused about your movie and it's intentions - who knows if she even watched it - and she misspoke, even if calling subsequent Annie's and Orphan's after her "wannabees" was cruel. So there are different ways to interpret that interview, though I understand why you would interpret it the way you did. In the interview she never directly mentioned any one person not being on broadway, she said "these girls". And it's true, a lot of the girls were not on Broadway, maybe she was just referring to the ones who were not and not the ones who were. I dunno. I'm not defending her (she was mean), but the not on broadway part might have been a case of not being clear enough (i.e. some of the girls were never on broadway).

Did this ruin your friendship with Andrea? I read here you were friends with her since you were a kid.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 7:49pm

I happened to see "Life After Tomorrow" a few years ago and thought it was very well done. As for Andrea's interview, that's quite disappointing. Who knows why she felt the need to say something that wasn't true, but maybe in some context it's true to her.

[smashmouth]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 10:23pm

Kalimba i wonder if it will hurt Andrea McArdle's chances of ever getting back onto a Broadway stage....?

[Owen22]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 10:58pm

Updated On: 11/15/11 at 10:58 PM

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 3:19am

So, is this going to turn into a proper meltdown or not?

I love a good meltdown thread, but so far this one feels forced.

[hyperbole_and_a_half]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 11:41am

Ah, but what does Tony Georges think about Andrea McArdle?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 12:14pm

Well, Julie popped up, as if on cue, like when you say "Candyman, Candyman, Candyman."

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 12:33pm

Win The Lotto, Win The Lotto, Win The Lotto

Updated On: 11/16/11 at 12:33 PM

[finebydesign]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 1:12pm

It's hard not to feel sorry for this woman or anyone that went through the child-star grinder and come out so bitter.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 2:37pm

there are those child stars who matured wonderfully, though...Jodie Foster...Ron Howard....Saint Bernadette...Lassie....

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 2:50pm

I want to hear what Daisy Eagan has to say about the interview.

[AnthVoice2010]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 3:20pm

The first Broadway show I went to was Annie with all of the original cast. It was life changing. Amazing. Andrea was sensational as was the rest of the cast. (I can still see the staging for Easy Street in my head).

Many, Many years later, I had the opportunity to get to know her for a time and found her to be really kind, very funny and engaging. Like most Irish folk from Philly, shes as blunt as they come and suffers few fools gladly (being an Italian from Brooklyn via New Jersey, I can relate).

In a business where nothing is real and everything smells from the bul*** thats passed around like candy, she should be praised for telling things as she sees them. Shes worked too long and hard to kiss anyones ass or be a phony.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 3:38pm

I agree that its refreshing to see people who shoot from the hip, don't suffer fools and call it like they see it; but I think its also important for McArdle (and any performer for that matter) to remember that the people watching or observing their behavior in interviews, at premieres or in any public forum are also the same people who may be deciding where their next gig comes from.

To that end, graciousness goes a long way and an abrasive spirit (even if its in the guise of being 'honest') has cost many a job.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 3:57pm

i have had the opportunity to work with/near the lady in question a few times beyond her last Rosie cruise. Great voice still, one of the true instruments. Can be a terrific good time gal. But there is a defensiveness about her that may come from her feeling exploited and/or overlooked once she aged out of her first blush of fame. It takes a lot, apparently/allegedly, to gain her trust and have her relax and do her best work. That "bluntness" may be part of it, but there is a bit of feeling that she feels she is owed much and given little no matter what. In my opinion, her current management does not help the situation in terms of engaging contracts...but that being said, she works plenty and the reports are apparently/allegedly that she ALWAYS comes through if not triumphs. i'd aspire to as much. She deserves more respect than the gossip and repeated myths about her that seem to dog her...THAT being said, a more proactive approach to how she deals with others and is percieved (some "image consulting" if you will) couldn't hurt.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 3:59pm

because that belt? it's worth it. Maybe soon she might explore some Merman biographical material, as she'd be great for it in terms of the singing and the general take on the world.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 4:31pm

McArdle's career frankly SHOULD have been more than it has been at this point; there have been some that have said she's not a great actress, and it has cost her roles, but I have to believe that its probably more likely she has alienated a lot of people along her path.

I mean let's face it - when this woman has never been cast in MAMMA MIA, something else is going down...

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 4:41pm

good point, MB. I'd also say there is a bit of denial in her, as i have been around when she is pursuing roles she has played in the past that are indeed "past" her now. She needs management she can trust that might look to develop material that plays to her strengths despite her challenges...you know, the La LuPone route.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 4:55pm

McArdle still looks great though, and I think she could probably still pull off ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, and a few of the roles she did in stock years ago. But, that aside, I'm not sure I'd agree that she's out there 'perusing' parts that she's no longer suited for: I mean in that interview she says she would love to play Mrs. Lovett and Rose and Reno Sweeney and she's done things in stock recently like URINETOWN and BLOOD BROTHERS -- I'd say that these are characters that are certainly age appropriate.

I, for the record, actually really admire her for going out there and doing regional theatre productions (often at second rate theatres) - to me it shows an eagerness to continue developing her craft; Broadway be damned.

But that Broadway be damned thing may be part of the problem, to me this really looks more like its is a case of her reputation and strident energy probably having long ago burned some bridges in the New York theatre community, that she should really focus on rebuilding. Certainly things like this interview don't really help.

If I were a casting director looking at that, I'd say this is a chick with some moxie and a strong desire who is likely going to cause problems.
Updated On: 11/16/11 at 04:55 PM

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 6:48pm

Michael, MAMMA MIA casting seems to be a mystery all its own. A friend of mine has auditioned for them (at their request) at least 12 times without being cast; and her husband was in one of the regional productions for years, so she knows all the power people rather well. She still can't figure out what they want.

(FWIW, my friend is a power belter not unlike McArdle.)

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 9:10pm

^Yea...Mamma Mia execs seem to be bipolar when it comes to casting. There are some women who you would think would get the part in a heart beat but end up not and some who you think would not get it but do.

[PVDColleen]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 11:59pm

Julie "popped up" after this discussion was brought to her attention.
Updated On: 11/17/11 at 11:59 PM