Taylor Louderman’s honesty

[Harpz2006]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 4:28pm

I just wanted to comment how impressed I am by Taylors honesty about her experience in Mean Girls. I read the exit interview with broadway.com (https://www.broadway.com/buzz/196812/mean-girls-star-taylor-louderman-on-leaving-the-plastics-behind-and-what-shell-miss/) in which she stated its hard to find joy performing anymore. I looked at her Instagram today and saw a post from a couple months ago where she said she was ready to leave the show, and feels sad being in these shoes most days. She also apologized to her younger self for dreaming of this profession.

It reminded me of probably ten years ago when I was following Lauren Zakrin on Facebook when she was in the Legally Blonde tour after being on the Search for Elle show. She posted once something like ‘ughh a 5 show weekend... noooo’ and fans commented angrily saying how ungrateful she was, she was living the life they could only dream of having, etc. She apologized but tried to explain it was still a job and she still gets tired but will be more thoughtful what she posts. I dont know if its for Broadway actors in general or more just for women, but I feel like theres an expectation of just smile and gush about how lucky and grateful you are. Taylors honesty that she DOESN’T feel shes necessarily living the dream is very refreshing to me. Curious for others’ thoughts on this!

Updated On: 9/12/19 at 04:28 PM

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 4:40pm

I appreciate the honesty. She knows it better to leave now than stay any longer and risk hating the job. Eight shows a week is not easy, and the vocal demands of that role are challenging. I'd rather she leave and find an exciting new project than stay in the show for years becoming exceedingly wooden.

The comment about backstage tours made me actually laugh out loud. 

[Kitsune]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 4:42pm

Harpz2006 said: "I just wanted to comment how impressed I am by Taylors honesty about her experience in Mean Girls. I read the exit interview with broadway.com (https://www.broadway.com/buzz/196812/mean-girls-star-taylor-louderman-on-leaving-the-plastics-behind-and-what-shell-miss/) in which she stated its hard to find joy performing anymore. I looked at her Instagram today and saw a post from a couple months ago where she said she was ready to leave the show, and feels sad being in these shoes most days. She also apologized to her younger self for dreaming of this profession.

It reminded me of probably ten years ago when I was following Lauren Zakrin on Facebook when she was in the Legally Blonde tour after being on the Search for Elle show. She posted once something like ‘ughh a 5 show weekend... noooo’and fans commented angrily saying how ungrateful she was, she was living the life they could only dream of having, etc. She apologized but tried to explain it was still a job and she still gets tired but will be more thoughtful what she posts. I dont know if its for Broadway actors in general or more just for women, but I feel like theres an expectation of just smile and gushabout how lucky and grateful you are. Taylors honesty that she DOESN’T feel shes necessarily living the dream is very refreshing to me. Curious for others’ thoughts on this!"

Burnout is real in all professions. I'm not an actor myself, but I would imagine that after doing the same role, 8 times a week for two years, actors *especially* would get burned out.

Good for Taylor for successfully completing her time in Mean Girls, and I hope she finds something that reignites her engagement and excitement as a performer. I too appreciate her honesty.

Updated On: 9/12/19 at 04:42 PM

[devonian.t]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 4:51pm

Maybe this is also a symptom of the get-famous-quick American Idol culture we live in.  Back in the day, stars worked their way up through rep etc and learned from the start that being in theatre is a slog.  Think of all those old-timers who never missed a show (and of course that is also true of many current stars)- whether it was Ethel Merman or Michael Crawford, they knew it was plain hard work all the time.  I congratulate her on her honesty, but Ms Louderman has learned something that has always been true.  Very few have the stamina to maintain a career like Peters or Lupone!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 4:56pm

^AMEN

[treblemakerz]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 5:00pm

I have always had a great amount of respect for Taylor Louderman, and her recent statements have only strengthened that respect. It takes a great deal of courage to chase after a dream, but even more to admit that dream has changed.

I'm glad she was able to finish out a successful run and hopefully she will find something new that sparks joy for her.

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 5:43pm

I agree it is refreshing and truthful. It may seem like a glamorous job to a lot of people, but it is a job and there's going to be times that it sucks.

I was at a workshop with Renee Elise Goldsberry towards the end of her Hamilton run (after Lin & Co. had already left). She chose her words carefully but it was clear she was very ready to be done. She even commented about thinking about her shopping list one night while performing Satisfied because it had become so second nature to her.

I saw Renee in the show around that same time and she was spectacular so it's not like she was giving less than her best. I think that's all we as audience members can ask for. We can't be offended if they're not always loving it as long as they are being professional and giving it their all.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 6:08pm

I’m very interested to see how Taylor’s career evolves, she is a wonderful talent and I admire the transparency in this interview.

Anyone remember when she withdrew from Ride The Cyclone halfway through previews? I was terrified she’d never work again, but 2 Broadway shows and a Tony nomination later, she’s the real deal.

[singer234]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 6:14pm

I think she’s always been a homebody, and not having that access to travel is probably difficult. Film and TV should be more forgiving, but she’s really smart and I also think she would make a really fantastic director or producer. Whatever she does I hope she’s happy! Sometimes people are just born with “it”, and she has it.

[Kitsune]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 6:17pm

I keep thinking about this topic. I work in the helping professions sector. (I used to do non-profit work, and I'm currently in government). It's very different than theater, but it's another profession where people (usually) land because of their passion for it, rather than the money. 

There's a misconception that if you love something, you have to love it 100% of the time. And if you don't, you must not love it enough. In the helping professions sector, this often gets translated to "If you REALLY cared about XYZ issue, you would be okay with working long hours for low pay." There are some things you accept just come with the field of work (like no one is going to get rich being a teacher), but frankly it's an argument can get pushed too far and is used to exploit and burn out people.

I'm really grateful to have my current job, and overall I really like it. Same with my past jobs in the non-profit sector. But I think everyone goes through periods of burnout, no matter how much you love or care about something. Especially when it's done under strenuous conditions. And I think actors can love their craft AND be really happy to take a break from 8-show weeks.

I haven't seen Mean Girls, but it sounds like Taylor did a solid job throughout her run. I said something similar earlier, but good for her for finishing strong, and for being realistic about when she was hitting her breaking point.

Updated On: 9/12/19 at 06:17 PM

[greensgreens]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 6:36pm

Her performance as Regina was so strong and so fierce, it's easy to see she'll have no problem achieving whatever else she may want to do in this life - or even a return to the stage later. I was not a fan of the musical, but boy, I am a Taylor Louderman devotee for life!

[zainmax]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 7:12pm

VotePeron said: "I’m very interested to see how Taylor’s career evolves, she is a wonderful talent and I admire the transparency in this interview.

Anyone remember when she withdrew from Ride The Cyclone halfway through previews? I was terrified she’d never work again, but 2 Broadway shows and a Tony nomination later, she’s the real deal."

AGREED!

[darquegk]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 7:43pm

I'm glad we're getting to the point where theatre is a church, and actors are priests and nuns of the Divine Stage. It's an art form, and it's a job. And like any other art and any other job, it's human beings doing it. You struggle. You burn out. Whatever you do every day, no matter how lucky you feel to be doing it, it's work.

[BJR]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 8:01pm

treblemakerz said: "I have always had a great amount of respect for Taylor Louderman, and her recent statements have only strengthened that respect. It takes a great deal of courage to chase after a dream, but even more to admit that dream has changed.

I'm glad she was able to finish out a successful run and hopefully she will find something new that sparks joy for her."

THIS. It’s a job. It might be a dream job for many but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a job. And if it doesn’t bring her satisfaction, saying so isn’t being ungrateful. 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 8:20pm

I’ve been struggling a lot with this as well as a performer. It’s like you study for 4 years, do all these great shows at University. And then your first auditions are for Spongebob, Margaritaville, etc. And it’s like “Do I really want to do this? Does this fulfill my passion?” And it doesn’t, really. But the money, the connections, the chance to perform do. I guess you just want to be passionate about every role, but it’s a job and it’s not always like that. So you fake it and get that paycheck.

I remember Michael Arden tweeting about “We did all this work for nothing” or something like that when Hunchback didn’t go to Broadway, and I remember him getting serious flack. But I get it! It’s a ton of work. You basically live like a monk and have no social life.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 8:44pm

I just want to add my voice to the chorus of people saying this is some refreshing honesty. The Broadway community is so dead-set on being all positive all the time about everybody and virtually everything! I personally didn't care much for Louderman's performance in Mean Girls, but I respect that she was working hard, and I respect that she took this risk and opened up. 

However, I think the Michael Arden situation was a little different. Arden's mistake was to imply that doing a successful run at a major regional theatre wasn't worth squat, because it wasn't the #NextStopBroadway gig he felt entitled to. He worked hard, yes, but no harder than any other actor in a regional production that has no prospects of moving to Broadway. 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 8:48pm

I agree to disagree, only because he was in a high-profile “regional tryout” which had its sights set on Broadway. So, I think, putting myself in his shoes, doing that role 8x a week for 6 months - a grueling role - and then not getting that icing on the cake (a Tony nom, etc). I think that would sting me too. And again, I appreciated his honesty. It’s not always about doing it “for the art.”

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 9:59pm

The Social Media of it all doesn’t help anything, especially for a cast that was as socially-active as MG. It’s almost like a second performance happening behind-the-scenes at the show you’re actually in — but you’re not getting paid for it. It must feel “fake” to be doing it for a year+, especially if you don’t get along with all your colleagues.

There’s also pressure when you’re LEADing a company of actors, which is a lot different than someone like Donna Astbury or Lewis Cleale and even Jen Collela sticking with the same show for years. It’s a lot of material, an iconic character, and her performance can set the tone for how the evening’s going to go.

She and Ashley P also did more than the average amount of press leading up to the Tonys. Glam events and borrowed dresses and cars and stylist budgets and people fawning over you and whatnot. And then, suddenly, that (mostly) goes away. Of course they were grateful for more time off, but the transition can feel like an ego knock. “Good times and bum times,” ya know.

I appreciate her honesty. She’s really talented, and film/TV might have a more appealing schedule for her. And hopefully she’ll return to the boards when the next great role comes along.

Updated On: 9/12/19 at 09:59 PM

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 9/13/19 at 2:16am

On another topic, I just saw mean girls last night, and let me tell you, Taylor’s replacement needs a lot of work.

[dshnookie]

Posted: 9/13/19 at 5:27am

A few things -

1. I love this thread
2. I read her Instagram post from a few weeks back and it gave me pause but this new context is refreshing
3. This made me think of BIG BROTHER SPOILER -

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Tommy Bracco’s exit interview posted on YouTube tonight where Julie asked how much the money was a motivator for playing the game. He said the money would’ve been life changing in allowing him to pursue some of his interests and goals like opening a dance studio. He said in his profession there isn’t a lot of stability and booking a job and doing it - is the vacation. Auditioning and that grind is the real job, and once you have one you don’t know for how long. A bit sad especially since he doesn’t know (and won’t know for two more weeks) that Pretty Woman closed. But, I think that’s also a big component that I never really thought of - that constant instability and hustle for most actors - that can impact one’s desire or even reality of continuing to pursue it. 

 

Updated On: 9/13/19 at 05:27 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/13/19 at 6:09am

Its a grind, no doubt, and just because its what many dream about...the reality of that world isnt going to be for everyone. (And this is teue of almost any field -how many teachers leave the profession after only a few years?)

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 9/13/19 at 7:55am

In thinking about Taylor, I thought of a few things: 

1) In her 3 Broadway shows, she has played a high school student twice. I know Bring It On and Mean Girls are different characters for her, but I wonder living in the world of high school for 2 shows makes it harder. 

2) I wonder if announcing her replacement months before she left, and selling it as an actual high school student will play a high school student got to her?

3) As someone her age, I can verify that (not myself personally), but family and friends of the same age are constantly looking for new jobs, or new oppertunites because after a year, year and a half they want something else and sometimes leave without another job lined up. What attracted them no longer makes them happy for whatever reason and think there is soemthing out there. Personally, I know how hard it is to get a job, and am now at a job that I can't wait to go to everyday, so I leaving is never an option for me. 

4) I appreciate her honesty. In a world where mental health is becoming more of an issue we can speak freely about, it is great she isn't holding back those feelings.

P.S. dshnookie, I too wonder what Tommy will think when he finds out that Pretty Woman is closed.  

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 9/13/19 at 8:48am

After reading the interview, I too have much respect for Louderman and her honesty. There are people who decide the they aren't happy with the filed of work that they are in, and so, they find another one. Happens all the time. This reminds me of when Bobby Steggert wrote an open letter, explaining why he's left theatre to become a social worker. 

[massofmen]

Posted: 9/13/19 at 10:46am

Most performers look for external adoration instead of internal. this is the cause of demise once you reach the "top" and realize it will never be enough. 

 

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/13/19 at 10:55am

Her interview on Broadway.com was quite the interesting read. I applaud her for her honesty.  I would have put my foot down with the backstage tours!