Disney to distribute and release HAMILTON film with OBC in Oct. 2021- Page 5

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/5/20 at 9:23am

@JBroadway, thanks! I now see the earlier post with the comments from her former castmates.

Updated On: 2/5/20 at 09:23 AM

[MyLife]

Posted: 2/5/20 at 10:31am

From her website: https://www.betsystruxness.com/hamilton

"With the move to Broadway, my experience with Hamilton began to shift. Gone were the days of collaborative developmental rehearsals where we all were creating and shaping the piece together. Our run at The Public Theater had solidified the mass of what Hamilton was, and the focus of rehearsals for Broadway were about whittling away some unnecessary story and making clearer the minutiae of the show. It was tedious and quick, necessary, but less enjoyable than the rest of the process. Hamilton being my 6th Broadway show in as many years, burning the candle at both ends was catching up to me. My body hurt. I found the show schedule frustrating and limiting. Performing 8 shows a week was losing its luster. I needed a break. About 6 months into the Broadway run, I was fairly angry most of the time and too tired to be almost anything but miserable, which were major indicators to me that I needed to move on, so I turned in my notice and left the show, ultimately at the apex of its popularity. To this day, I have never regretted that decision even though it meant not performing with the cast at the Tony Awards. Hamilton ushered me into full adulthood and with adulthood come priority shifts that one never dreams of as a child, when dreaming of taking centerstage on Broadway. I had finally accepted wanting both something more and something gentler at the same time. It was completely the correct decision. That being said, I am honored to have been part of such a magnificent show. I don’t think anyone necessarily thinks they’ll ever be in a phenom, like Hamilton or Rent or A Chorus Line. I certainly didn’t. Being in a theatrical game changer, also tends to change the game of life. I was ready for that."

 

It sounds like there's definitely more to the story. And it's not just her. It's clear a lot of cast members felt this way or had other ill feelings at some point after Hamilton exploded.

 

this is speculation but I wonder if she decided to leave because she recognizes she wouldn't be able to give it her best anymore, which is a mature thing to do, and then when they announced filming they didn't invite her back, even though they invited Groff back. And for this reason she feels edged out. They bring the OBC back except her and now they advertise this film as the entire OBC.  Again, speculation...

[phantom39]

Posted: 2/5/20 at 2:35pm

Well well well...

www.betsystruxness.com/hamilton


"Hamilton being my 6th Broadway show in as many years, burning the candle at both ends was catching up to me. My body hurt. I found the show schedule frustrating and limiting. Performing 8 shows a week was losing its luster. I needed a break. About 6 months into the Broadway run, I was fairly angry most of the time and too tired to be almost anything but miserable, which were major indicators to me that I needed to move on, so I turned in my notice and left the show, ultimately at the apex of its popularity. To this day, I have never regretted that decision even though it meant not performing with the cast at the Tony Awards. Hamilton ushered me into full adulthood and with adulthood come priority shifts that one never dreams of as a child, when dreaming of taking centerstage on Broadway. I had finally accepted wanting both something more and something gentler at the same time. It was completely the correct decision."
 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 2/5/20 at 3:02pm

https://mobile.twitter.com/lin_manuel/status/707418058340618240

Her IG post (and other cast members’ comments) make it sound as if something terrible happened to her, and on her site she chalks it up to being tired of a Broadway schedule and needing something different - which is it? Were you aggressively pushed out of a show and wronged, or were you just done with the work it takes to be on Broadway.

Updated On: 2/5/20 at 03:02 PM

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/5/20 at 3:03pm

TaleofTwo said: "Well well well...

www.betsystruxness.com/hamilton


"Hamilton being my 6th Broadway show in as many years, burning the candle at both ends was catching up to me. My body hurt. I found the show schedule frustrating and limiting. Performing 8 shows a week was losing its luster. I needed a break. About 6 months into the Broadway run, I was fairly angry most of the time and too tired to be almost anything but miserable, which were major indicators to me that I needed to move on, so I turned in my notice and left the show, ultimately at the apex of its popularity. To this day, I have never regretted that decision even though it meant not performing with the cast at the Tony Awards. Hamilton ushered me into full adulthood and with adulthood come priority shifts that one never dreams of as a child, when dreaming of taking centerstage on Broadway. I had finally accepted wanting both something more and something gentler at the same time. It was completely the correct decision."
"

Exactly.  The poor thing was absolutely MISERABLE having to do 8 whole performances a week in the biggest hit that Broadway had seen in a generation, and CHOSE to leave on her own accord.  Now she can't understand why the terrible, horrible, rotten producers wouldn't make the girl who replaced her sit out for the filming (which Equity would not allow anyway) and let her traipse back in for a few days so she could reap the rewards of being captured on film.  <<removed by mods>> -- no wonder that her career has dried up.

 

Updated On: 2/5/20 at 03:03 PM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 2/5/20 at 4:42pm

None of you know anything about her mental and physical health, or the limits of either. Enough with the harsh judgments, you don’t even know what happened. Good Lord.

Regardless of what went down, not being filmed and not being a part of this has to be heartbreaking and frustrating for her.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/5/20 at 4:58pm

TotallyEffed said: "None of you know anything about her mental and physical health, or the limits of either. Enough with the harsh judgments, you don’t even know what happened. Good Lord.

Regardless of what went down, not being filmed and not being a part of this has to be heartbreaking and frustrating for her."

I think we have a pretty good snapshot of her mental health, thank you!  You know the current TV commercial where an office pool wins a gigantic lottery -- and there's the one guy who was out the day they bought the ticket because his car was broken?  That's her -- except she CHOSE to have a broken muffler! Lol

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/5/20 at 5:59pm

JSquared2 said: "TaleofTwo said: "Well well well...

www.betsystruxness.com/hamilton


"Hamilton being my 6th Broadway show in as many years, burning the candle at both ends was catching up to me. My body hurt. I found the show schedule frustrating and limiting. Performing 8 shows a week was losing its luster. I needed a break. About 6 months into the Broadway run, I was fairly angry most of the time and too tired to be almost anything but miserable, which were major indicators to me that I needed to move on, so I turned in my notice and left the show, ultimately at the apex of its popularity. To this day, I have never regretted that decision even though it meant not performing with the cast at the Tony Awards. Hamilton ushered me into full adulthood and with adulthood come priority shifts that one never dreams of as a child, when dreaming of taking centerstage on Broadway. I had finally accepted wanting both something more and something gentler at the same time. It was completely the correct decision."
"

Exactly. The poor thing was absolutely MISERABLE having to do 8 whole performances a week in the biggest hit that Broadway had seen in a generation, and CHOSE to leave on her own accord. Now she can't understand why the terrible, horrible, rotten producers wouldn't make the girl who replaced her sit out for the filming (which Equity would not allow anyway) and let her traipse back in for a few days so she could reap the rewards of being captured on film. <> -- no wonder that her career has dried up.

"

Well obviously equity did allow to happen with Jonathan Groff, but go off I guess.

[BroadwayAndSports]

Posted: 2/5/20 at 9:12pm

Fosse76 said: "n2nbaby said: "poisonivy2 said: "When this was being filmed wasn't there some scuttlebutt that one of the OBC had refused to sign a release so this couldn't be released? Tell me I'm not dreaming that this happened?"

If I remember correctly, the issue was with Leslie, who ended up doing the recording."

After reading an article where he all but states he would be re-signed because he was irreplaceable, I wouldn't be shocked if he had changed his mind because they point blank said they would use another actor for his role in the recording."

Wait Leslie was gonna sit out the recording? I know there was some tension for the profit-sharing since he was one of the leaders, but I thought once they got that accomplished, the relationships were better. In his Tonys speech he seemed completely gracious to Lin? 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 2/5/20 at 9:29pm

I think she paints a fair picture of her mental state, as do other actors in her comment section (former ensemble Newsies saying “Words Matter, I Matter” because they weren’t asked to be a part of the filming in LA, for the love of God). Even that aside, it just comes off petty and unprofessional to make a big stink about this. She also has contradictory statements on her own website about her experience.

I don’t blame her for wanting something different. A Broadway schedule is not easy by any means, and I applaud anyone who makes the decision to step back and change their situation if it does not fit them. With that being said, she’s originated a Broadway track, is getting a share of the profits, and voluntarily left the show.

Is there an Equity difference for the terms “cast“ and “company”?

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/5/20 at 9:46pm

It seems a bit weird to make a big deal over now. That link on her site basically says she didn't find the Broadway transfer as fulfilling as creating the piece off-Broadway, which seems like that would be the case to me, as an audience member. And then it got too taxing, so she left. So, not sure where the bad blood is... them saying it is the original cast? That seems nitpicky?!

[trpguyy]

Posted: 2/5/20 at 9:59pm

The "Hamilton" page of her website is generic, kind, and has been there for years. She has similar pages for all of her other projects too. It's not in any way connected to her recent social media posts regarding the live capture. 
She WAS disrespected and edged out when she was in the show, and the stories that Sydney Harcourt allude to are in fact terrible. Her grievances now have nothing to do with her non-involvement in the taping; rather that the words chosen to announce and promote the release continue to push her aside and belittle her contributions, and now she's chosen to speak up about it

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 2/5/20 at 10:43pm

Updated On: 2/5/20 at 10:43 PM

[Lot666]

Posted: 2/6/20 at 12:01pm

DaveyG said: "rattleNwoolypenguin said: "
I think this is beautifully generous...Lin Manuel clearly just wants to give this to people and I just think that’s awesome"

Lololol. Lin alone is making 30+million dollars off of this. He’s not giving anything away. This will just reinvigorate the brand. And with Disney behind it, it’s a win-win."

If Mr. Miranda was concerned with "beautiful generosity" and "giving this to people", he wouldn't be charging $449 for orchestra seats, which is a considerable drop from what he was selling those seats for a year ago.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/6/20 at 12:51pm

Lot666 said: "DaveyG said: "rattleNwoolypenguin said: "
I think this is beautifully generous...Lin Manuel clearly just wants to give this to people and I just think that’s awesome"

Lololol. Lin alone is making 30+million dollars off of this. He’s not giving anything away. This will just reinvigorate the brand. And with Disney behind it, it’s a win-win."

If Mr. Miranda was concerned with "beautiful generosity" and "giving this to people", he wouldn't be charging $449 for orchestra seats, which is aconsiderable drop from what he was selling those seats for a year ago."

Mr. Miranda isn’t the one charging $449, but once again, go off.

 

Trpguyy, are you able to go into more detail or are you trying to be as ambiguous as possible?

[trpguyy]

Posted: 2/6/20 at 1:56pm

I’m not going to spill someone else’s tea, so to speak. If she wanted to publicize her grievances she would have. I do feel comfortable, however, corroborating what she and some of her castmates have written, and shooting down the idea that she’s simply upset that she was left out of the live capture for one reason or another. That idea is not supported by her public statement nor the private facts.

[Baldwin 2]

Posted: 2/7/20 at 2:22am

BroadwayAndSports said: "Fosse76 said: "n2nbaby said: "poisonivy2 said: "When this was being filmed wasn't there some scuttlebutt that one of the OBC had refused to sign a release so this couldn't be released? Tell me I'm not dreaming that this happened?"

If I remember correctly, the issue was with Leslie, who ended up doing the recording."

After reading an article where he all but states he would be re-signed because he was irreplaceable, I wouldn't be shocked if he had changed his mind because they point blank said they would use another actor for his role in the recording."

Wait Leslie was gonna sit out the recording? I know there was some tension for the profit-sharing since he was one of the leaders, but I thought once they got that accomplished, the relationships were better. In his Tonys speech he seemed completely gracious to Lin?"

 

Exactly. Fosse brings up the alleged article in which Leslie claimed to be “irreplaceable,” again and again, but for some reason, NEVER posts a link to it. 
 

It is because no such article or video clip or social media posting exists. A total fabrication by someone with an agenda as they post the same thing at the mere mention of the man’s name. 
 

The added fantasy about how negotiations ended for Mr. Odom and he was filmed in the role he originated alongside most of the rest of the original broadway company seems just as ridiculous as the article invention. 

 

[ChildofEarth]

Posted: 2/7/20 at 8:32am

Having seen a few iterations of the show, I do believe much of the original cast has been largely irreplaceable - namely Philippa, Leslie, and Daveed.

I understand why Betsy is upset but I don’t understand why she thought ~this~ was a good idea.

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 2/7/20 at 11:06pm

Hm....

http://www.theensemblist.com/blog/2020/2/6/especially-the-dancers

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 2/7/20 at 11:18pm

Alexander Lamar said: "Hm....

http://www.theensemblist.com/blog/2020/2/6/especially-the-dancers"

Wow what a brilliant post. So much to think about. She really nailed it. 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 2/7/20 at 11:25pm

... except as a member of the original cast, isn;t she getting royalties from the show's profit, something that does not happen in other shows? So she is getting a much better deal than most ensemble actors in Broadway shows. I also am confused by her post. She isn't claiming she was abused, harassed, or even poorly treated. If those things happened she absolutely does have the right to spill the beans. And she should spill the beans. Because the abuse/poor treatment/harassment that is often accepted as part of show biz isn't acceptable. But what I got out of this post was that Hamilton was hard work. Like all of theater. 

Also, it sounds as if she left Hamilton of her own accord. There are revered Broadway icons who were infamous for "checking in" on a show and randomly firing longtime ensemble members on the spot with no explanation. 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 2/8/20 at 7:35am

She’s saying that the “Original Broadway Cast” wording speaks to the larger issue of the industry dismissing or eliminating the dedicated work that an ensemble puts into every show.

Can’t argue with that. Start a movement on the bigger picture. This specific issue? Doesn’t hold water.

Lin Manuel Miranda announced the filming of the ‘Original Broadway Cast’ on Periscope - that exact wording, and we didn’t hear from her. He even mentioned that Jonathan Groff would be coming back and Rory would be stepping aside, because Groff had only left the show due to his Mindhunter series filming.

Lin said in the announcement that filming had been in the works for MONTHS. Betsy knew the filming was happening and still left the production voluntarily, due to her own personal desires. Now her ego is bruised. It’s as simple as that, and getting it mixed up into a larger issue isn’t necessarily going to help that cause.