Posted by
Thespis on Tuesday, August 08, 2006 7:25:50 PM
After
a wonderful recent visit to Broadway where I discovered to my dismay
that many stars are not playing a regular schedule of shows, I
expressed outrage in several forums.
While many fans of Broadway stars seem to have joined forces with
Broadway Producers to keep this information from the public, The New York Post let loose today with a fabulous article, "Lost LaChanze." Michael Riedel expresses it in the leading paragraphs of his story.
A
hiker in the Himalayas has a better chance of spotting a snow leopard
than a theatergoer at "The Color Purple" has of seeing its Tony-winning
star, LaChanze.
The actress, who got glowing reviews for her
portrayal of the oppressed girl turned pants-making lesbian, Celie,
hasn't given a full week's worth of performances since the awards show
in June.
The week after the Tonys, she missed three out of eight performances, and now drops one or two shows a week.
WOW!
It's hard to believe that this truthful article made it into the Post
today. Although internet posters are outraged, at least the public will
know that LaChanze will likely not be there if the pay $80, $112, $150,
or $250 for their ticket. There needs to be more of a standard when
stars are on the boards. Last week alone the following performers
missed shows without any notice or formal announcement: Beth Leavel,
John Lloyd Young, LaChanze, Lillias White, and Obba Babatunde. This
irresponsible behavior qualifies for outrage of the week.
Footnote: Actor Wayne Brady seems to have an unfulfilled commitment to the Broadway Bound revival of THE WIZ at LaJolla Playhouse in San Diego. What's up with these divas of the theater world?
Another Footnote:
Here are a couple of comments from a thread on Broadway World that is
highlighted by a disscussion of this topic. Some of these postings are blunt, but accurate!
This
whole thing is bulls**t.Why do you pursue a career in the theatre? To
perform, to act, to inter-act with the cast and the audience.
To
LaC, Donna M., and others, unless you have the flu or there is a death
in the family, you get your ass onto the stage and WORK! There are
hundreds/thousands of men and women dying to get a role in any show let
alone a lead in a Bway musical.
There
should be language in contracts that reduce the star's salary for each
missed performance. Then we will see how many perfs are missed in
future.
I know the board is littered with these types of
posts, but I couldn't resist putting in my two cents (for what it's
worth). First of all, I'm a high school teacher. If I missed two or
three days of work each week, I wouldn't have my job for long. I also
think my job is demanding. I deal with almost 100 teenagers everday and
have found that this week my voice is shot. But I didn't miss work. Why
must we always skirt the real issue? If performing is your "job" then
you need to do whatever you need to do to make sure that you're at work
as much as possible. When I go to see a show, I pay good money. I want
the LaChanzes and Donna Murphys of the world to be on. Tell my why
performing in a show is any more difficult than working in a factory,
working as a teacher, or working as an administrative assistant? I know
we all must take a day off every now and again. It just seems like
certain performers do it way too much.
You are 1000% right.
My
God, teachers, doctors, firemen, cops, construction workers, etc. Do
they wake up in the morning and say "gee, I broke a nail, I am not
going to work"? Hell no!
The truth is acting is a
'special' profession and all actors as well as people behind the scenes
owe their livings to the public who sees them and the producers who
sign their checks. I will not consider myself to live a less than
fulfilled life if I stop seeing theatre. I go as a choice and if I have
the money.
In return I expect to see the original cast; I have
every right to a refund if the star is not there. Just like your
students have the right to see you, not a substitute!