Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY- Page 2

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 10:51am

THE ELIZA WE DESERVE IM SO EXCITED 

Updated On: 8/23/18 at 10:51 AM

[Duckie4]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 10:55am

Of course in MY perfect fantasy world Laura would have been Eliza from the very beginning but I’m thrilled it’s happening now.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 10:57am

OHHHHHHH MMMMMMMYYYYYYY GOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSS

[MCfan2]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 10:57am

Dancingthrulife2 said: "I really wish it would be filmed with Ambrose in it. Her nuanced performance is a breath of fresh air that the show desperately needs if it wants to persuade the broaderaudience that golden age musicals are still worth going back to and digging into. "

The show has survived for 62 years. I think it'll be just fine.

And anyway, having now seen Ambrose in the role, I frankly don't think her nuance added all that much. I'm not slamming her in the least. She was excellent and I enjoyed her performance very much. But honestly, I didn't think she was the transcendent and transformative eighth wonder of the world that BWW had led me to expect. I've seen many very good actresses playing this role; she was just one more of them. It almost seems like many people forgot that Eliza was a great role to begin with.

[jbp1232]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 10:58am

I have LincTix for earlier in October. Does anyone know if they'll allow me to swap them for available LincTix later in Laura Benanti's run?

[rjm516]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 10:59am

So happy for Laura (her dream!) and very excited to see this show. As someone who loved Ambrose, though, I am kind of so, so glad to see she's also doing 7 shows a week just against all this backlash. 

[NievesG]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 10:59am

I hate when this happens because my poor wallet starts crying How exciting, though. 

[lightsarebrightonbroadway]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:03am

so excited for Laura as we all knew this was a role she had been gunning for since the revival was announced. 

 

What makes me even more excited for this though is that, to me at least, Laura seems a little bit above replacement work but because she is in fact replacing it just goes to show that this is a part that she truly wants to play, if that makes any sense. 

Looking forward to it!

[labellaragazza1]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:07am

I didn't know I needed this news so badly until I read the headline and my heart soared. Was just looking into tickets, now I'm definitely holding off until Benanti is in 

[slumdogdelaware]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:12am

Just bought my ticket for Oct. 24th...my body is ready. 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:14am

MCfan2 said: "Dancingthrulife2 said: "I really wish it would be filmed with Ambrose in it. Her nuanced performance is a breath of fresh air that the show desperately needs if it wants to persuade the broaderaudience that golden age musicals are still worth going back to and digging into. "

The show has survived for 62 years. I think it'll be just fine.

And anyway, having now seen Ambrose in the role, I frankly don't think her nuance added all that much. I'm not slamming her in the least. She was excellent and I enjoyed her performance very much. But honestly, I didn't think she was the transcendent and transformativeeighth wonder of the world that BWW had led me to expect. I've seen many very good actresses playing this role; she was just one more of them. It almost seems like many people forgot that Eliza was a great role to begin with."

Eliza is a great role, and one of the reasons that it is great is that if you dig into it you’ll see Eliza is not what people might have believed she is. Very few actresses who played Eliza that I’ve seen realized that Eliza wasn’t really transformed by Higgins; she wanted to behave “proper” and she asked him for a lesson, starting her own transformation. She’s never not a tasteless “guttersnipe” that Higgins thought she was. And in Loverly, one of the most important moments in the show to set the tone for the journey, she isn’t just complaining nor daydreaming, but she’s figuring out what she wants for herself, showing the audience her agency along with the warmth of the community. Ambrose did all that and I’m grateful she and Sher translated that interpretation into what I consider to be such a marvelous performance. Ambrose might not have the best vocals out there, but that interpretation to me is invaluable and essential to this production. I’m not saying Benanti is not going to be great in the musical, but she wouldn’t be the first person I think of to cast in Sher’s My Fair Lady.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:23am

slumdogdelaware said: "Just bought my ticket for Oct. 24th...my body is ready."

I’m aboit to go on my flight for my two week trip, so I’ll buy my ticket the first thing when I get home

[bdn223]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:23am

I can’t remember anybody campaigning this hard for a role since Rosie O’Donnell wanted to be a replacement for Ms Hannigan in Annie, but this time it actually worked. I had no desire to see this before other then to see the always wonderful Mr Butz, but now I am willing to even pay full price to see Ms Benanti.

I honestly wonder if Lincoln Center Theater finally realized with this production that they don’t need tv/film stars to sell their lavish rivials, unlike Roundabouts typical unit set productions.

As has also been stated previously due to the conflicting schedules of Patton’s film obligations I am going to assume if this is filmed for Live from Lincoln Center, it will be with Benanti. Especially after the announcement of the filming of King and I, which they seem to regret not doing initially, I would say theres a 70%+ chance that this will be filmed. If it were to be filmed with Patton and Ambrose, I’d assume we’d already be aware since they’d have to inform ticket buyers of camera obstructions of a performance within the next month, which seems a little late.

[ameliewormwood]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:29am

"My Fair Lady? Hard pass. Is what they said to me." - Benanti 

Full circle! 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:30am

bdn223 said: "I can’t remember anybody campaigning this hard for a role since Rosie O’Donnell wanted to be a replacement for Ms Hannigan in Annie, but this time it actually worked. I had no desire to see this before other then to see the always wonderful Mr Butz, but now I am willing to even pay full price to see Ms Benanti.

I honestly wonder if Lincoln Center Theater finally realized with this production that they don’t need tv/film stars to sell their lavish rivials, unlike Roundabouts typical unit set productions.

As has also been stated previously due to the conflicting schedules of Patton’s film obligations I am going to assume if this is filmed for Live from Lincoln Center, it will be with Benanti. Especially after the announcement of the filming of King and I, which they seem to regret not doing initially, I would say theres a 70%+ chance that this will be filmed. If it were to be filmed with Patton and Ambrose, I’d assume we’d already be aware since they’d have to inform ticket buyers of camera obstructions of a performance within the next month, which seems a little late."

If this production is going to be filmed like the King and I and South Pacific, I believe the filming is included in the contracts that the original cast signed. O’Hara returned to South Pacific for filming at the end of its run. Possibly it’ll be the same for Ambrose.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:36am

Should have been Laura Benanti all along. Better late than never.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:39am

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Eliza is a great role, and one of the reasons that it is great is that if you dig into it you’ll see Eliza is not what people might have believed she is. Very few actresses who played Eliza that I’ve seen realized that Eliza wasn’t really transformed by Higgins; she wanted to behave “proper” and she asked him for a lesson, starting her own transformation. She’s never not a tasteless “guttersnipe” that Higgins thought she was. And in Loverly, one of the most important moments in the show to set the tone for the journey, she isn’tjust complaining nor daydreaming, but she’s figuring out what she wants for herself, showing the audience her agency along with the warmth of the community. Ambrose did all that and I’m grateful she and Sher translated that interpretation into what I consider to be such a marvelous performance. Ambrose might not have the best vocals out there, but that interpretation to me is invaluable and essential to this production. I’m not saying Benanti is not going to be great in the musical, but she wouldn’t be the first person I think of to cast in Sher’s My Fair Lady."

All of that has been in the role all along. It's written into the role. If you've never seen it played that way before, you must have seen some truly terrible Elizas.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:45am

I LOVED Ambrose and plan to go again before she leaves, but I'll  definitely see Laura too. I still believe she should have won the Tony for She Loves Me over Erivo. 

[natashalost]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:49am

I'm so happy! She's perfect for the part and I'm sure I'll be booking multiple trips to the Beaumont while she's there.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:54am

I'm going to go see Ambrose again and then see Benanti. Not to put them in competition but I think it will be fascinating to see their takes. I loved Ambrose's performance and I don't want to miss one last chance to see it.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 11:55am

lightsarebrightonbroadway said: "so excited for Laura as we all knew this was a role she had been gunning for since the revival was announced.



What makes me even more excited for this though is that, to me at least, Laura seems a little bit above replacement work but because she is in fact replacing it just goes to show that this is a part that she truly wants to play, if that makes any sense.

Looking forward to it!"

She has made no secret of the fact that she wants to play this role very badly, and when the opportunity came about, she took it.  I don't think she cares in this instance that it's a replacement- she's getting the chance to play her "dream role" on Broadway at Lincoln Center.

[JennH]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 12:09pm

Valentina3 said: "I FELL OUT OF MY CHAIR"

SAME. I’ve been excited about some casting decision before, but NEVER have I fell over because I screamed and dropped my phone because I screamed in the process...THIS DECISION MADE ME LOSE ALL CHILL THAT SHES FINALLY DOING HER NUMBER ONE DREAM ROLE

Updated On: 8/23/18 at 12:09 PM

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 12:12pm

As Dolly closes, another wonderment opens. NOW, I can see this show!

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 12:21pm

I believe Benanti will get less flack for only doing seven because it was initially announced along side her casting. It was just announced after weeks of constant absenteeism. 

I think Ambrose left a bad taste in "our" mouths because (not her fault) it seemed like Bart was poised to make her happen one way or another (first Funny Girl, then this) so we were already "meh" about her before she even stepped on stage, then her performance wasn't that acclaimed, and then on top of it her announcement was basically her saying this role is hard and I miss spending time with my kids. Now, that's a fine reason to take a day off and I'm sure it's why Benanti agreed to seven from the start, is it seems to imply her family is more important and every other cast member who isn't in the "star" position of power to only do eight just has to lump it and keep working. She has a right like anyone else to negotiate anything but I don't see LCT producers letting someone in the ensemble only work 7.

 

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/23/18 at 12:24pm

I am beyond excited!!! This is great news!!! Purchasing tickets ASAP! She’s going to slay!!!