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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2016 13:25:19 GMT
Cynthia is a lock for the Tony according to pretty much everyone, both critics, press and audience members, she can't lose.
It's interesting because at the Outer Critics, Danielle Brooks got a nomination and Jennifer didn't, then at the Drama League, Jennifer got a nomination but Danielle didn't. No doubt at least one of them will get a Tony nomination, but which one? Or could both of them edge eachother out or both get a nom?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2016 7:50:45 GMT
Was Jennifer Hudson always due to leave now or has she made the decision to go now because Cynthia Erivo is the one getting all the praise?
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Post by ali973 on Apr 25, 2016 8:03:08 GMT
^ Are you serious? She's involved in something else, I completely forgot what, but as far as she's concerned her time has ended with the show. From all their interviews, social media interaction and praises they are getting, it's quite obvious that there is a special bond and sisterhood going on between Cynthia, Jennifer and Danielle. I don't think this imagined rivalry or competition exists.
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Post by alece10 on Apr 25, 2016 10:03:04 GMT
Was Jennifer Hudson always due to leave now or has she made the decision to go now because Cynthia Erivo is the one getting all the praise? She was due to leave now.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2016 10:09:52 GMT
Was Jennifer Hudson always due to leave now or has she made the decision to go now because Cynthia Erivo is the one getting all the praise? She was due to leave now. Oh that's good then. It doesn't seem like she's been in it that long. It's a shame I'll miss her by the time I get to NYC later this year.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2016 12:21:15 GMT
Yeah, she had always signed for 6 months, and I believe Danielle is due to leave at 9months, in time for the new Series shooting of Orange is the New Black.
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Post by Steffi on Apr 26, 2016 6:01:35 GMT
I'm only just back from NYC and have already sorted a trip for late June so I can catch Heather in the show (not the only reason for another trip but a good excuse for one that soon).
I've been waiting to see her on stage again. :-)
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2016 16:21:05 GMT
Just had a think about a West End transfer and everything to do with it (I'm staying hopeful!!)
I think that the Noel Coward could be a really nice theatre for it. It's not too big and the set doesn't look massive (chairs up a wall etc.) so it should fit. The intimacy would go quite nicely and it would have a good chance of surviving in a smaller theatre.
Casting wise, Cynthia Ervio would have to be cast as Celie! Then Mica Paris would probably be a good Sofia and maybe Estelle as Shug? Can't think of anyone else and there's so many good British performers who would be great for roles
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 9, 2016 1:42:06 GMT
If she bothers showing up the night you go. She is infamous for her attendance record- hence her not taking The Bodyguard to Broadway. I'm only just back from NYC and have already sorted a trip for late June so I can catch Heather in the show (not the only reason for another trip but a good excuse for one that soon). I've been waiting to see her on stage again. :-)
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Post by ali973 on May 9, 2016 5:33:02 GMT
If she bothers showing up the night you go. She is infamous for her attendance record- hence her not taking The Bodyguard to Broadway No one is taking The Bodyguard to Broadway. It's touring the US.
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Post by Steffi on May 9, 2016 6:39:19 GMT
If she bothers showing up the night you go. She is infamous for her attendance record- hence her not taking The Bodyguard to Broadway. I'm only just back from NYC and have already sorted a trip for late June so I can catch Heather in the show (not the only reason for another trip but a good excuse for one that soon). I've been waiting to see her on stage again. :-) I'm well aware she is no role model when it comes to attendance rate. I adore her as a performer nonetheless. And I only missed her once in The Bodyguard (and yes, I went quite a few times while she was in it) and since I'm not pre booking my tickets for Color Purple I think I will be fine catching her while I am in town.
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Post by poster J on May 10, 2016 5:25:25 GMT
If she bothers showing up the night you go. She is infamous for her attendance record- hence her not taking The Bodyguard to Broadway. I'm only just back from NYC and have already sorted a trip for late June so I can catch Heather in the show (not the only reason for another trip but a good excuse for one that soon). I've been waiting to see her on stage again. :-) Yep, surprise surprise she's off both the nights I could possibly see the show next week! Hope her understudy's good (and Cynthia is on!)!
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Post by popcultureboy on May 10, 2016 8:56:00 GMT
It's only her first performance tonight. How has she already got scheduled absences from the show??
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Post by Steffi on May 10, 2016 9:13:05 GMT
It's only her first performance tonight. How has she already got scheduled absences from the show?? Previous concert engagement. Really not that unusual.
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Post by popcultureboy on May 10, 2016 9:25:24 GMT
Most performers in shows tend to schedule their concerts for the dark nights of their show. I get that Headley presumably had the concerts booked in before she signed on for the role of Shug, so fair play. It doesn't change the fact that while she might be wonderful, she does have a reputation for her spotty attendance.
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Post by Steffi on May 10, 2016 9:49:06 GMT
Oh definitely, I'm not denying that. But the concert engagement was definitely booked in before she signed up for Color Purple so on this occasion we should let her off. ;-)
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Post by southstreet on May 10, 2016 15:47:35 GMT
Cannot wait to see her in the show in June. And yes, I know her track record is sketchy, though I have only missed her twice in many, MANY a visit to the Adelphi during her run. But Shug is not a huge sing (especially compared to Aida and Rachel Marron), so I am hoping she'll be on more regularly. And having had to sit through Jennifer's woeful acting twice, I am excited to have Cynthia opposite someone who can actually act and not just sing the part.
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Post by ali973 on May 11, 2016 5:34:20 GMT
Apparently she was amazing last night. Everyone is praising the acting (and that it's better than Hudson). Oprah and Gale were in the audience and they were part of the audience that gave her a standing ovation for Push Da Button.
Say what you will about her attendance, but the woman is one hell of a dynamite. She practically did two Broadway shows, and three or four musicals altogether but is still a Broadway icon.
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Post by princeton on May 11, 2016 7:03:06 GMT
Worth pointing our (in light of stories elsewhere on this board) that Jennifer Hudson didn't miss a single show during her six months in the role. Admittedly she's no RADA trained actress, so was outclassed by Cynthia (and indeed Nicola Hughes at the Menier) but she didn't disgrace herself and was clearly aware that she was the name in the cast and for many in the audience she was the reason they had booked the ticket. So the show went on - every performance.
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Post by ali973 on May 11, 2016 7:49:53 GMT
I'm not sure what this is about. But performers are human beings and don't have superhuman capabilities. If they can go to work, they will. If they won't, they won't. You do realize that they are doing this for a living and not just for sh*ts and giggles, and that they won't get paid for shows they miss, right?
Yes, Jennifer Hudson did not miss a single show, which is fantastic for her and for the paying audience. But it would also be okay if she did miss a show.
People have such gripe with Heather missing shows in London. She is a very proud performer, and if she was capable of going on, she would have.She's a mother with a toddler and had to relocate to a new city after absence from performing in a theatre nightly for over a decade. It was probably a stretch for her to perform this nightly and it probably challenged her silly and kicked her ass.
I'm not being an apologist, but people who treat her absence as the crime of the century is stupid, especially considering how she gave 150% when she was on and exceeded any performance by mediocre performers who are normally on the West End.
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2016 8:55:17 GMT
I'm not sure what this is about. But performers are human beings and don't have superhuman capabilities. If they can go to work, they will. If they won't, they won't. You do realize that they are doing this for a living and not just for sh*ts and giggles, and that they won't get paid for shows they miss, right? Yes, Jennifer Hudson did not miss a single show, which is fantastic for her and for the paying audience. But it would also be okay if she did miss a show. People have such gripe with Heather missing shows in London. She is a very proud performer, and if she was capable of going on, she would have.She's a mother with a toddler and had to relocate to a new city after absence from performing in a theatre nightly for over a decade. It was probably a stretch for her to perform this nightly and it probably challenged her silly and kicked her ass. I'm not being an apologist, but people who treat her absence as the crime of the century is stupid, especially considering how she gave 150% when she was on and exceeded any performance by mediocre performers who are normally on the West End. Whilst I agree with what you are saying and that she was brilliant in the role (though not as good as Beverley in my opinion) we must also highlight the fact that this is her job. She knew what she was signing up for going into the role, including the relocating whilst having a child etc... and even had alternate days to accommodate both the role and her life. She was probably paid a huge sum of money and didn't deliver what was required of her a lot of weeks of her run whilst both Beverley and Alexandra had amazing track records in the show. I believe neither one missed a single performance of their respective runs?
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Post by Steffi on May 11, 2016 9:05:57 GMT
Beverly definitely missed a few performances due to illness (I remember people moaning on Twitter because they had "paid to see her" - the usual stuff). And that's totally fine. She's human. She was probably paid a huge sum of money too (money doesn't mean you aren't allowed to get ill though). Heather is just human too. Yes, it is her job and I'm sure she was aware it would be a challenge when she signed up for the show. But she can't know in advance how the job and everything else (relocation and so on) will affect her health / her voice and so on. I'm not saying she didn't have a bad attendance rate. She definitely had. But it would be nice to not jump on that every time her name is mentioned.
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Post by ali973 on May 11, 2016 9:08:37 GMT
I don't agree that Beverley was better. They can perhaps compete when it comes to singing, but there is no way in hell a rookie like Beverley could compete with a Tony award winner, Olivier nominee and Heather's acting chops and Northwestern drama training, being one of the finest musical theatre programs in the US.
And I'm sure everyone can relate to making career choices that have challenged us and made us feel that we were not up to the role and not able to deliver-despite being well compensated and having a great supporting team. Seems like a very typical professional experience. I certainly can relate to taking work assignments that have proven to be much larger than what I thought I can handle and having moments of "I don't think I signed up for this."
That aside, yes it is her job and missed often and I'm sure felt like crap for not attending. But I'm sure she wasn't paid for not attending, either. Seems fair? Let's not forget that performing is not exactly saving people's lives, and making mistakes and missing shows is not like a drunk doctor operating on a sick patient.
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2016 9:12:10 GMT
Beverly definitely missed a few performances due to illness (I remember people moaning on Twitter because they had "paid to see her" - the usual stuff). And that's totally fine. She's human. She was probably paid a huge sum of money too (money doesn't mean you aren't allowed to get ill though).Heather is just human too. Yes, it is her job and I'm sure she was aware it would be a challenge when she signed up for the show. But she can't know in advance how the job and everything else (relocation and so on) will affect her health / her voice and so on. I'm not saying she didn't have a bad attendance rate. She definitely had. But it would be nice to not jump on that every time her name is mentioned. I am not usually one to go on the whole "Heather missed, lets hate her" bandwagon. I saw her once, she was good, that was enough for me. Whereas I saw Beverley and Alex multiple times because I enjoyed their performances a lot more.
Also, completely agree with what I have highlighted in particular... I wish people would use this sentiment with other actresses in the West End in all honesty.
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2016 9:45:24 GMT
Was lovely to see they gave Jennifer the final bow on her last show as opposed to Cynthia.
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Post by southstreet on May 11, 2016 10:38:24 GMT
I am not dissing Jennifer's track record at all, I am glad she was on all the time, though as previously said by many, I wouldn't judge her if she missed some shows, she is only human.
She definitely didn't disgrace herself, her singing was as great as I expected it to be and her acting was a mediocre as I expected it to be. But I still came out really disappointed in her performance due to her complete and utter lack of sexiness, which, as far as I am concerned, is quintessential for Shug Avery. Her movement was just so awkward and stiff, it just didn't work and that coupled with the mediocre acting just made me really dislike her take on the role. And it's not a look thing (Jennifer is a beautiful woman), it's a being able to act and move like a sexy, confident woman which Jennifer just couldn't do. The vast majority of the audience didn't care, but then they don't care about the acting ability (or lack thereof) for lots of highly rated performers, Kerry Ellis and especially Beverley Knight are prime examples of that.
So in a lot of ways it comes down to personal taste, if a great voice is all you need to enjoy a night out at the theatre (and there is no judgement in that statement), then JHud will have been fabulous for you, if you require someone to be able to act as well, then Heather Headley is a very welcome replacement. :-)
Anyway, this time in five weeks I will be sitting in a queue outside the theatre (or just be on my way there) to hopefully see Heather and (by then Tony-Award winner) Cynthia, cannot wait. :-)
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Post by poster J on May 15, 2016 5:13:25 GMT
Saw this today as I made it to NY in time to catch a matinee (such a shame this show isn't selling out, I got sixth row stalls 20 minutes before curtain), and I was hugely impressed. There will be no justice if Cynthia doesn't win the Tony, she was flawless.
Heather was off and her second understudy (whose name I've unfortunately forgotten!) was on. For someone who's probably had a handful of performances in the role at best (it might even have been her first show) she was fabulous. All the cast were brilliant, what a fantastic production.
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Post by ali973 on May 15, 2016 5:23:00 GMT
Here's a bitchy article by Reidel on the New York Post where he praises Headley and also for absolutely no reason whatsoever dissed JHud. I honestly think it has to be search engine engineered so that it would automatically get more hits and readership simply because its anti-Hudson. Actually, very little in the article specifically singles out Hudson. Titles are normally written by the editors and not the writers themselves, correct? nypost.com/2016/05/12/the-color-purple-will-only-get-better-without-jennifer-hudson/
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Post by horton on May 15, 2016 8:13:44 GMT
I'm doing my very best to see this- the cast look and sound amazing! I think HH's presence may well tip the balance for a Tony revival win.
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Post by Mark on May 15, 2016 10:57:51 GMT
Saw the show last night. Headley was out (planned concerts) but her understudy was excellent.
What a performance Cynthia is giving!! Incredible and I only hope we are lucky enough to have her back in the West End in the not too distant future. I'd be very surprised if she doesn't win the Tony.
Danielle Brooks - such a well deivered and comical performance! Loved her.
The show itself has its flaws, moments of wow and moments which aren't so strong.
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