Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY- Page 4
Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
#75Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 3:45pm
Kad said: "Put me in the pro-Ambrose group, as well. I thought she gave a beautiful performance, and the animosity toward her on here baffles me."
Lauren's "ha ha ha" scene and Act 1 end nod have been etched in my memory forever. She was truly phenomenal. I am also very excited about seeing Laura in the role. :)
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
Elegance101
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/24/17
#76Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 3:49pm
Dancingthrulife2 said: "I guess most of the animosity comes from those who haven't seen the show. Ambrose wasn't cast because she was a TV star; she was cast because she was the fit for Sher's vision. Personally, she exceeded all my expectations for this role. Eliza isBenanti's dream role, I'm not denying that.But I don't see her, great as she is,fit this vision as well based on her previous performances. I will definitely see Benanti, and would definitely be delighted to seea loverly surprise."
I don’t have any animosity toward her. I saw it and I simply didn’t like her performance. I have no problem with her taking Sunday matinees off (same with Benanti with Tuesday shows). I just wanted to make it clear that I have been vocal on this board about not liking her performance, but it has absolutely nothing to do with anything except what I saw when I was watching her. I just didn’t see the magic everyone else did. And that’s okay!
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#77Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 4:12pm
So much hype for her, so I'll def have to go back and check her out.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#78Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 4:20pm
THIS IS AMAZING NEWS! I'm seeing the show for the first time tomorrow and I am so excited. I know I will be back this Winter for Ms. Benanti! What an incredible moment for her. I haven't seen so much hype around a replacement announcement in a long time. Thrilled that her dream is coming true.
EllieRose2
Broadway Star Joined: 11/22/17
#79Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 4:32pm
She was born for the part, how wonderful. I look forward to seeing her.
GeorgeandDot
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/16
#80Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 4:44pmSo excited for this! My poor bank account though.
#81Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 5:04pm
Called it.
The producers wanted someone who wouldn't be a risk after the mixed response to Ambrose, and Benanti will sell tickets.
#82Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 5:09pm
This news was in the Departures and Replacements thread a week ago. Why did you start a new one?
CT2NYC
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/7/17
#83Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 5:24pm
SmoothLover said: "This news was in the Departures and Replacements thread a week ago. Why did you start a new one?"
I know you must be feeling smug since you scooped the official announcement, but it was 4 days, not a week, ago, and obviously a new thread would be started, since your headline mentioned neither My Fair Lady nor Lauren Ambrose.
#84Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 5:26pm
The week after I'm there..... kill me now 
But very happy for everyone who can see her. Can't wait to read the reviews. She'll be marvelous.
BellaB2
Understudy Joined: 2/18/13
#85Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 5:28pm
I got to see it with Ambrose in June and I thought she was wonderful. And now I'm so excited to see Laura Benanti do it!! Just got a ticket for November.
#86Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 5:42pmI would love if they put a new set of LincTix on sale, but I doubt they will.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
#87Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 6:17pm
Saw this news online and immediately came here to see what the reaction would be. I was hoping it wouldn’t be about Laura being too old for the part...and it wasn’t!
I’m as excited as just about everyone here. I think Laura will be great. I didn’t see Lauren, but I’ve seen Laura in so many things that I can’t imagine her not owning this!
So happy for her!
LxGstv
Broadway Star Joined: 11/22/16
#88Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 6:23pm
Delete.
Updated On: 8/23/18 at 06:23 PM
#89Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 6:31pm
I’m also firmly in the “Lauren Ambrose is a revelation” camp. So many moments of her performance are burned into my mind. And her singing was thrilling.
That being said, this casting announcement is a DREAM. My poor, poor credit card - but I will be shelling out for a great seat to this. And I’m happy she’s getting to do her dream role on Broadway in such a stellar production.
Duckie4
Understudy Joined: 8/7/18
#90Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 6:39pmI certainly don’t have any “animosity” towards Lauren Ambrose. I didn’t know who she was before I saw the show and I thought some of her comedic moments were good, but I went in expecting the kind of powerful soprano this role usually commands and I thought her vocals were only fair. Perhaps it was an off night for her, perhaps she was sick, perhaps my expectations were different than the director’s vision. Either way, I was underwhelmed as an audience member, it’s as simple as that. I will, however, go back to see Ms. Benanti.
Ryantheatrekid
Chorus Member Joined: 11/10/17
#91Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 8:11pmI’m seeing the show tomorrow and already know I have to go again to see Laura :)
SomethingPeculiar
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/15/14
#92Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 8:51pm
JVJ93 said: "I remember when Marin and Daniel Dae Kim joined King and I, LCT put a new batch of LincTix onsale to people who had already used their initial linctix to see Kelli. Do you think there’s a chance they’ll do that with Laura?"
I doubt it, these dates for MFL have already been on sale for months. Mazzie and Kim joined The King and I more than a year after it opened, when the show was not doing well. (It only lasted 7 weeks with them...a shame that Mazzie didn't get to do it longer.)
ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "I wonder if some publications will re-review the show with Benanti in it."
This seems likely, and LCT will want the critical exposure.
If Harry Hadden-Paton is indeed taking a monthlong leave of absence in September/early October, I wonder who will replace him?
#93Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 9:44pmseeing this news shows me that dreams really can come true!
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
Hairspray0901
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/29/08
#94Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 10:18pm
As someone who absolutely adored Lauren Ambrose as Eliza, this is very exciting news. I plan on seeing Lauren Ambrose again before she leaves as her performance has really stuck with me as one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen (no joke!!!). My Mom is torn on who to see (she’s been wanting to see Ambrose but we are also huge fans of Laura Benanti) so maybe I can convince her to see both! 
#95Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 10:39pm
I didn’t have to look for very long at a lot of the anti-Ambrose folk before I found that the problem with Lauren was that she was not Benanti. A couple uploaded a 15 minute video on YouTube on “Why we hated My Fair Lady” and halfway through I discovered that the problem was that Laura had not been cast as Eliza.
Laura has a large fan base, as she should. I thought that she was about perfect in She Loves Me.
To me, what distinguished the original cast production was that for the first time the music was less memorable than the 2nd Act confrontation scenes between Eliza and Higgins. Not that the music wasn’t fine. See the Times and the News and Newsday reviews if you doubt its reception by the critics.
Another (almost) 40 year old. I wonder if Sher would have offered the part to his friend, colleague and Muse Kelli O’Hara if she had been available? She would have absolutely taken the role.
VintageSnarker
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
#96Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:09pmSauja said: "I'm very happy for her. I'm less happy for my wallet since now I have to go back."
Same. And I can't get a Linctix ticket this time. But otherwise, a million times yes. And I guess it's fine since I'm saving money with all the less than exciting shows this season.
broadwaysfguy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/14
#97Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:36pm
laura will be great. I saw both other actors and liked the understudy better than Lauren and Lauren was fine.
My next wish for casting after Laura B would be would be the incredible Laura Osnes, who would also be dazzling as Eliza.....
#98Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/24/18 at 12:26am
WOW! As someone who absolutely loved Lauren Ambrose as Eliza, THIS is great casting right here! I wish her the best.
#99Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY
Posted: 8/24/18 at 1:44am
Tony Roach will probably fill in for Harry since he has been doing it thus far. The recasting is smart because the production will more than likely get reviewed again.
I wonder if Laura will be wearing the rust colored gown to the ball? Me thinks that Catherine will put her in another color.
