Sutton gets star billing!

[Hank]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:15am

Yay! Sutton Foster finally gets her name above the title in today's NY Times theatre diectory, along with co-stars Leslie Uggams, and Delta Burke.

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:19am

Oh my god, thank god!

This is the best news I've heard in some time!

Now, when Jessica takes over the role will she get solo above the title or will she share?

[Al Dente]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:24am

Wow and she only had to wait 2 YEARS to get it.

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:25am

AND she has to share it with two other people.

I may not like her performance very much (and I certainly hated the show) but it is about time that workhorse gets above the title.

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:28am

Should they then call it "sorta-star billing"...

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:33am

I enjoy the movie. Is the stage production really not that good or is it a good show. It is one of those I want to see but have yet had the chance to.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:33am

Sutton should dump her agent. When a Broadway actor wins a Tony Award usually their agent begins negotiations to get more for the actor, including over the title billing.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:37am

Robbiej, you mirrored my feelings exactly.

Not crazy about her or the show, but Missy sure works her ass off.

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:40am

I am curious....what is it about her performance that you didn't like? Although I am not crazy over her, I think she gave a decent and overall enjoyable performance. However, I do still go with my feelings that I know some girls who could do what she's doing, just as well, or even better.

[FFARLS]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:42am

She has been out both times I saw it... and I was very dissapointed each time. The movie is much much better than the show. But, anyway, good for her.

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:44am

I will go on record as saying I love that movie. One rainy Saturday, when I was about 11, I was flipping through the channels, desperate for something to watch. Suddenly, I see this movie about to begin starring Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore and Carol Channing. I thought, 'This could be a good way to spend the day'. 40 hours later (man that's a loooong movie), I just couldn't believe what I had seen. At a young age, I already had a highly developed sense of camp (I was the boy, after all, who when watching the Neighborhood of Make Believe section of MR. RODGERS, thought, 'Of course that puppet is called Lady Elaine...cause she looks JUST like Elaine Strich!' I knew who Elaine Stritch was at age 6. How? I don't know.)

The movie is a take-off of THE BOYFRIEND. It's ludicrous, silly, campy, outrageous and FUN! I feel the stage musical stripped every ounce of joy and individuality from the movie. Sutton Foster, a talented girl, did not have the archness required for the role. Indeed, no one connected with the piece seemed to understand the source material or the genre it was based on. In the end, it had not enough camp to be true to the source material, but it's tounge place too much in its cheek to be a good, old fashioned NYC musical like WONDERFUL TOWN...or even 42nd STREET.

It's a middling work willed into existence by committee. People have enjoyed it...but not me.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:47am

Delta Burke is a name beyond Broadway. If you want the world to know this TV star is in your show, then the 'name' has to be billed. Okay, so far, so good.

But the 'name' is not the lead or anything close to the lead, and also there is another semi-name in the show as well as the lead. What do you do?

Solution: give them all billing.

Its cheaper than a raise for a show whose receipts are dragging a bit.

What will be interesting to see is if the billing lasts once Delta departs.

[WhatDoINeedWithLove?]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:58am

I dont understand how people dont love Millie and Sutton! I think Sutton is absolutly incredible! She is so much fun to watch and is so incredibly talented! And I love the show! It is fun. Granted it is not something that I discuss over coffee with friends, bc its simple, but that what is great!

but, oy! The movie is SOOOOOOOOOOO long!!!!! Im not a fan of the movie (except Julie Andrews is great and Mary Tyler Moore is adorable)! I also dislike The Boy Friend which is what the movie is quite similar to

Posted: 10/1/03 at 12:02pm

Awwww yay, that is so awesome. The show really has been dragging which is why they switched to Mondays - only several shows are open on Monday nights and this will bring in more people to their show. The addition of Delta Burke was also a good idea, she's VERY nice and when I was there, she was getting notes from the stage manager on blocking for her song and she was so excited to be there, you could tell. But YAY for Sutton, she deserves star billing!!

[tpdc]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 1:04pm

I agree with you WOSQ. Burke wouldn't have accepted the role without over the title billing either. I would think the billing will go back to the original and tour style when Burke leaves unless they replace her with another equally well known name.

[Hank]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 2:07pm

I also think Delta Burke had a lot to do with the star billing, but I'm happy for Sutton, nevertheless, she's the greatest!
As for Leslie Uggams, I saw her recently, and she is wonderful! That scene with her dressed as the modern near the end of the show is a hoot!

[glitzguy3]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 2:08pm

BOJon,

TMM is EXCELLENT! i enjoyed it thoroughly...and i thought that sutton was incredible. i know that others will not share my opinion, but i thought that it (and she) was WONDERFUL!

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 3:23pm

I cannot wait to see this show! I think it will be great. I don't understand why people hate soo many shows these days. All of the older folks hate the new shows. You have to accept change. Some of them are horrible, but most are not THAT bad. I respect your opinions. I am not telling you to change your opinion, just telling you to expand your interests a little. Rock/pop is ok.

Updated On: 10/1/03 at 03:23 PM

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 3:27pm

Yay for Sutton! I think it's about time for that, even though she has to share it.

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 3:28pm

Being critical of MILLIE or any of the new shows does not in any way, shape or form mean a person has unexapanded (would that be 'collapsed'?) horizons.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 3:34pm

I guess those were the wrong words...I just hate when people say how they hate a show and do not say why. All they say is "I HATE MILLIE!" "I HATE HAIRSPRAY!"

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 3:39pm

Well, BwayTheatre, I think that's a very good point.

I believe I explained (at least in part) why I was disappointed in the show. But yes, I too prefer hearing other's reasoning for both liking and disliking a show.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 3:50pm

I was not talking about you RobbieJ, posters in general. I enjoy your posts!

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 3:51pm

By the way, congrats to Miss Foster!

[billyweeds]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 4:13pm

The show is so much better than the movie there is no comparison. The movie is overlong, drearily directed, largely laughless, and elephantine in general. The show is a delight. And Sutton Foster's performance is one of the most professional and starry on Broadway right now. She not only works her butt off, she is charismatic, hilarious, and possessed of a wonderful singing voice. Never was a Tony award more completely deserved. Now, as to her brother...and his (ugh!) costar...now THAT's a totally different story, better described as "The Sad Affair of Kerry Butler and Sutton's less charismatic bro."