the Andrea McArdle interview: will there be a dust-up? a catfight? — Page 3

Right now, Mamma Mia is #1. There is no reason, at least from her performances, talent, and looks, that she shouldn't be playing Donna now and for years to come in various companies (but especially on Broadway). Unless, as MB says, something else is going down.

I agree about the defensiveness. It seems to be choking her in that interview. I haven't heard any horror stories about her being difficult to work with. Even if she's aloof or chooses her friends and allies carefully, who the hell cares? And what does that have to do with casting her? If her acting chops aren't up to it, that's another. But despite people loving to jump on that wagon, I haven't seen any clips of her where I thought her acting was bad ... or even any worse than many of the diva actresses that regularly land Broadway gigs.

I also agree that she needs new management. They aren't doing her any favors, and she should be working a lot more with her experience, talent, and "legendary" status. There are very few Broadway names that are instantly recognizable on a marquee. She has one of them. If her management team can't rise to the occasion get her better gigs, she needs to fire them and get another. Maybe it's a "trust factor" with her and it's hard for her to see how clearly mediocre they've been. I'll bet there are plenty out there who would love to represent her.

EDIT: Other roles ...

Margaret White in Carrie
Phyllis in Follies (in a couple of years)

And if she ever decides to eat a sandwich (let's face it, the girl is a bit gaunt right now---looks like a few too many hours in spinning classes each day) ...

Mame
Dolly
Mother in Ragtime

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Updated On: 11/17/11 at 06:55 AM

"Isn't her husband her manager?"

LOL Well, then, I guess she DID fire him all around, based on that interview.

Here's to the future, Andrea! Your many fans are waiting for you.

EDIT: And it's interesting when she talks about her "newly single status," she doesn't sound bitter. I should make it clear that while she sounds defensive in that interview, she doesn't come of as sour or resentful. She seems to be focusing on positive things and the future, which is a healthy attitude. If she can lose at least the "illusion" of the protective shell of armor, it will work greatly in her favor. Not that she (or anyone else) doesn't need a protective shell in show business ... just don't wear it so openly that it chokes your interviews.

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Updated On: 11/17/11 at 07:04 AM

I have to reread that interview as I don't recall seeing "newly single status"!

I could have sworn someone in the other thread mentioned that negotiations broke down for Mamma Mia.

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Having also worked with Andrea, I found her nothing but professional, tough and pleasant to be around, (unlike LuPone, who most crews and many actors can't stand to be around).
Her talent is unique, I find her voice to be a national treasure, but she's never been a typical ingenue or a typical anything, and now she's reached an age where suitable roles could be scarce. But she keeps working in various venues and hopefully a new role will match her special talents on Broadway again.
As far as being "gaunt", you should feel her bicep, gurl is toned!

not sure how my "pursuing" became "perusing"...i didn't edit it. But anyhoo the specific role i mean is Sally since she did it on B'way. Yes, she sings the hell out of the numbers, but...c'mon.

Many of the roles mentioned would be good on her. i saw her do Mama Rose live and the acting was just fine (eventually, it was a fast rehearsal period and she took a while to settle in with perfs). And of course the singing was terrific. That is what made me think a new Merman show for her, where she's NOT being compared to other originators, might make sense.

i agree that i admire her doing regional work. i wish more NYC names would do the same!

it's a shame about MIA and i have heard that same story of the twelve callbacks, in fact i think it's the same woman if she's currently touring in one of those city shows....not sure what's going on in MIA producer's heads. There is a McArdle contigent in NYC for sure that would return to the show to see her, and the regular tourists would love the energy of her voice in that three-power-ballad succession in Act Two. The best person i've seen do that so far (not that i go to the show a lot) is Dee Hoty.

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I think the comparision to Mermam is obvious. To my ear, and I would like to hear other opinions, they are the only 2 singers (well, famous singers) who seem to have no head voice. They can produce a lighter sound but it still seems to come from their chests.
Andrea justs keep belting and belting like no other, it gives me chills, in a very good way.

The term "wanna-be" may seem harsh on the surface but when you hav girls running around who say they were in ANNIE on Broadway if they were not, that's exactly what they are.

As far as a "dust-up" is concerened, (I'm not sure what that means, the only time I use it is when the houseboy arrives and I say go dust-up in the bedroom, and even that has several meanings) I doubt those comments are why she is not currently performing on Broadway, management and as stated her perculiar talents are more likely the reason.

I finally watched the interview in full and there clearly is some bitterment and resentment regarding the documentary and its participants, but to me, it seemed there was a lot of backstory that wasn't being said (and probably shouldn't). Yeah, she stuck her foot in her mouth with some comments and she probably doesn't edit herself much. I would have just left it with "I was approached for the project, but it wasn't right for me" and avoided any other mention. Regardless, I don't think the comments are cause for litigation, especially at this point, where the documentary aired years ago and the DVD release has been around a long time. If anything, it might give a tiny boost in sales from the few who might have watched the interview yet haven't seen the film and are curious.

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Interesting thread and interview. My two cents: Andrea McArdle should consider herself EXTREMELY lucky. Not only did she create one of the most iconic roles in theater history (albeit as a child, with the child star baggage that goes with it), she went on to STAR in FOUR additional BROADWAY SHOWS in her adult life. I mean, I know it's been over a decade since her last Broadway role, but come on. She has achieved a hundred times more than most actors ever do, and even if she's doing all regional theater now, at least she's working.

She comes across as undeservedly bitter and mean in this interview. I'm sorry. She is not entitled to anything and needs to drop the attitude.

I don't fault her for THINKING those things, I fault her for saying them in an interview.

No he doesn't. As he said it's not about what she believes or the opinions she has but publicly expressing them that was the problem.

She did come across as quite bitter and unhappy with her career to me. To me it came across that she wants to be a "Broadway star" badly and was almost pleading for someone give her a vehicle to do so. I don't know, I guess you could argue that it isn't necessarily bad for her to do it. I just found it, while interesting, a little bit awkward.

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Updated On: 11/18/11 at 06:03 PM

To clarify, I totally understand how she feels. If I were in her shoes I might feel the same way. But the way she expressed herself in this public forum kind of rubbed me the wrong way. She could have communicated her disapproval of the documentary and her frustrations with her career in a more graceful way, that's all.