Has anyone ever missed their first or last performance?

[n2nbaby]

I was just thinking this recently if anyone has ever missed their first performance in a role (or an opening night) or their last performance of their role (or a closing night). Just curious.. Thanks for any input. :)

[perfectlymarvelous]

Idina Menzel missed her last performance in Wicked on Broadway, and Christiane Noll missed the last weekend of the Ragtime revival. Those are the two I can think of right now but I'm sure there are more.

[Just_John]

Sami Gayle missed the opening night of Gypsy.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Eileen Atkins, Ron Eldard, and Jena Malone all missed their first performance of DOUBT in January 2006 because of the flu. Atkins actually missed that entire first week.

[fingerlakessinger]

Joel Grey missed his last for WICKED (he came out during the curtain call)

Teal Wicks missed her last WICKED in LA and left early for her last in SF...

Rondi Reed had to fill in for the current actress at the time for the last "August' performance

[wicked4l]

John Lloyd Young missed his last performance in Jersey Boys because of the stagehands strike.

[jdtp12]

I don't remember if it was the first night or not, but I know Sarah Brightman was sick for one of the first performances of Phantom. Her understudy went on and was received incredibly well, and Sarah made a miraculous recovery.

[ClapYo'Hands]

It was, indeed, her first performance.

[Paul W. Thompson]

Scott Wise missed the closing performance of "Jerome Robbins' Broadway" because he was (I think) out with a foot injury. But he was there, because I saw him leaving the theater with all his stuff after the show. I was told that he was really sad about not being able to perform, and that the cast really missed his presence on the stage.

[ljay889]

Elizabeth Ashley missed the final performance of August: Osage County. The role's originator (Rondi Reed) filled in.

[henryt]

Whoever was playing Gaston at the end of BATB's run missed the last performance because Disney brought Donny Osmond back just for that performance.

[fosca3]

If I'm remembering correctly, Randal Keith was pretty sick the last week of Les Mis

On the final weekend, he was off for the Sat matinee, to save his voice for Sat nite and Sun

Andrew Varela went on for him, and Andrew's wife, who was the understudy for Fantine, went on as well, so they did that near-last show together (and brought their baby son out at the stagedoor, which was fun)

[The Other One]

Not positive of this, but I believe Natasha Richardson missed her last week's worth of performances when Henry Miller's Theatre suffered structural damage and CABARET had to be moved to Studio 54.

[KirbyCat]

"Whoever was playing Gaston at the end of BATB's run missed the last performance because Disney brought Donny Osmond back just for that performance."

That was actually planned. Just an extra catch for the people coming to closing night. It must've sucked for the guy who was contracted to play Gaston originally though!

[Dollypop]

Going back many years, David Burns missed the opening night of Arthur Miller's THE PRICE. His u/s, Harold Gould went on.

[WithoutATrace]

Carly Jibson missed the first preview of CRY-BABY (the first three weeks of previews I believe) due to a "concussion."

[The Other One]

Liza Minnelli wasn't there for her last performance(s) in VICTOR VICTORIA.

[tjjster]

If i'm remembering correctly both Stephanie J. Block and LaChanze missed several press performances for Pirate Queen and Color Purple respectively. In fact i believe that Color purple was initially reviewed with the understudy and the show was re-reviewed with LaChanze.

Also let's not forget that Roger Bart missed 2 or 3 weeks of previews for Young Frank because he had "hurt his back"

[JRybka]

Wasn't Maureen McGovern supposed to be in 3 penny opera or something and missed her opening night due to illness. (I think I recall something like that...)

Also the comment about Liza made me laugh.. She has missed a bunch of shows (even if she was there... if you know what I mean)

[husk_charmer]

Actually, Jibson did have a concussion.

[LizzieCurry]

Didn't Alice Ripley miss closing night of Sunset Boulevard? I seem to remember Kristen Behrendt went on as Betty.

[Dave516]

Fosca 3,
I was at that matinee performance of Les Mis the day before it closed too!
There were SO many understudies on! You're right about Andrew Varella and his wife, for Valjean and Fantine. I think there were understudies for Enjolras and Marius and possibly Eponine as well

It was a great show. The energy was so high (probably because it was there were only 2 performances left!)

[quizking101]

Nina LaFarga in WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

[shrekster224]

More like Nina Lafarge for the whole run of WOTV. Noah Rivera had to miss the last ITH shows. I remember because at the Saturday matinee Antuan Raimone was on for the other guy who works at Rosario's, and Rivera was on crutches for the final curtain call.

[givesmevoice]

Sami Gayle missed her first performances as Baby June, but she did go on as the Balloon Girl for a few weeks.