Chita is out of Drood.

[theatreguy]

Chita has been out the past week due to a knee injury. She was out for about a week in January and a few days earlier this month due to illness.

[dramamama611]

Equity doesn't care about a track being dropped -- the actors PAY isn't going to be altered.

[ghostlight2]

"Are there union guidelines regarding cutting entire tracks from the show/putting actors in in tracks that aren't theirs?"

Tracks get cut often. The union doesn't have a problem with that. Putting someone into a track that isn't theirs is a different issue.

" Shannon Lewis could totally handle Helena...why isn't she an understudy?"

They'd have to pay her more.

"Does anyone know why Chita has been out so often? She has a reputation for not only not missing shows but being hard on other actors she works with who miss shows, so it's very odd to me that this has been happening so consistently."

I've never heard of Chita being hard on other actors' attendance records - perhaps you're thinking of Harvey Fierstein, who can actually be very nasty about it. You are correct that her own attendance has previously been stellar. The only show she missed in A Dancer's Life was due to a massive snow storm.

She had a couple scheduled absences due to award shows. In addition to the fact that this has been one of the worst flu seasons in nyc in years (which she fell prey to), and the knee injury, please bear in mind the lady is EIGHTY YEARS OLD.

[somethingwicked]

No, ghostlight2, I'm definitely talking about Chita in regards to her reputation for being hard on other actors missing shows. Seth Rudetsky has talked about it extensively from having worked with her on KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN- when other actors were out, they had Chita to answer to. She has a stellar work ethic and expects that of everyone else around her, which is why I found these extensive absences particularly odd, though by no means any less legitimate.

[ghostlight2]

Thanks for the clarification. I have never heard that about her.

[Kelly2]

No disrespect to Chita, she is AMAZING and to do this show at eighty is absolutely insane in and of itself, but how serious is her injury? What can the show even do if she and Mueller are out at the same time this week?

[wdwfreak]

Roundabout is either scrambling together to get one of the other girls to learn the track and re-negotiate contracts, or they would have to cancel the show.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Emergency understudy situations (where somebody goes on last minute for a part they are not actually contracted for) happen quite often, probably more than most people realize. There is extra pay involved, higher than the bump a contracted understudy gets for going on in a role. Obviously it doesn't happen quite as often on Broadway, but it is not a rare occurrence at all, both regionally and even on the road. The tour of Legally Blonde, for instance, had a few times where due to an unforeseen amount of injuries/illnesses happening concurrently with scheduled vacations and personal days they had to have a male or two wearing the "ELLE WOODS" hoodies in "So Much Better."

A lot of shows don't have emergency covers either, including shows on the actual Production contract (remember that Roundabout operates under a LORT contract). There was the situation where A Little Night Music had to call Sara Jean Ford back to the show from Phantom when both Leigh Ann Larkin and Ramona Mallory got sick while the swing was taking a personal day, so they only had one girl in the company that day who could cover both parts.

Basically no matter how well you plan you never know what's really going to happen and how quickly all that planning can get thrown right out the window.

[ghostlight2]

"Basically no matter how well you plan you never know what's really going to happen and how quickly all that planning can get thrown right out the window."

This isn't entirely true. Sometimes freak occurrences happen, but Roundabout was really cutting close to the bone here - and they're paying for it now.

[shrekster224]

Seriously don't know how they thought they were gonna get away with two swings and one understudy per two leads. That being said, Shannon Lewis could probably pull off Helena for a show if the occurrence of Chita calling out this week deems true and they taught her the part.

Could it be possible that there are vacation swings on contract that they just do not want to pay unless absolutely necessary for them to come in for a week? Don't even know if vacay-swings are paid when they are not technically in the playbill certain weeks, just posing the question.

[FishermanBob]

I saw Drood last Tuesday evening and it's funny but after reading this thread, I now consider myself "fortunate" that the only one of the major cast members who was out that night was Chita. I guess it could have been a lot worse. And yes I thought Alison was terrific in the role. I really enjoyed Samonsky as well. And a tip of the cap to Robert Creighton as Durdles. He really tackles the part with relish. I saw him go on for Joel Grey in Anything Goes and I think he's a talented and very underated actor.

[Hairspray0901]

I saw Drood for the first time this past Thursday. both Chita and Stephanie were out. I LOVED both of their understudies. Janine Divita has been a favorite of mine after seeing her in Grease and I must say, Alison Cimment was fantastic. I can't even imagine Chita in this role after seeing her. I bought tickets to see it again this week with a friend with hopes of seeing Block (though as I said, I loved Janine) and my friend informed me about Jessie Mueller being out. She was my favorite part of the cast! Hoping Chita makes it back by Thursday (hope her injury is healing) because I'm not looking for them to cancel due to not having enough understudies to cover Helena and Puffer! Hope they can think of something if Chita is still out!

[Kelly2]

I would assume that Drood, having had their close shave on Saturday, has realized that given Mueller's commitments this week they need a back-up plan. My guess is Janine DiVita may have to learn the Helena track, she would "look" the most right for it, besides Cimmet, and she was a very capable Drood.

I do feel for the girls though, certainly puts one in a pressured situation to feel like they "can't" get sick or miss a show, because their understudy is already spoken for.

[ken8631]

Anyone know if Stephanie has any planned absences? Want to see it before it closes....

[wdwfreak]

^ Stephanie has no more planned absences.

[ken8631]

Good - just checking since someone said she was out last Thursday..... Saw Boy from Oz 28 times, she wasn't out even once during that span (Jackman either).....

[wdwfreak]

^ She sounded rough during the first act on Wednesday night, so I wasn't shocked to go to the theater and see she was out. She probably just needed some rest. She gives a fabulous performance! I hope you enjoy it!

[Kelly2]

Any idea if Chita will be back tonight? Hoping so, for everybody's sake.

[wdwfreak]

My friend checked and said it is indeed full cast tonight. Hopefully it stays this one, but a part of me is hoping they are rehearsing Shannon just in case and she gets to go on.

[Kelly2]

Glad to hear it! I would hope they're rehearsing someone in the track to be safe. Hopefully all will be fine but I agree, I'd be curious to hear how Shannon would be in the role.

[ken8631]

Good to hear - I try to see anything Stephanie is in..... Pirate Queen was just so-so, but happy with everything else she's been in so far (including some Birdland performances)...

[broadway_show_fan]

I went last night and Chita was in, but the following were out:

Jessie (as planned), so Alison Cimmet was Helena
Peter Benson, so Nick Corley was Bazzard
and then Nick Corley's part was played by Justin Greer

I was front and center, and Chita showed no sign of being stiff or injured, so hope she is healed!

[ajh]

Saw the Matinee last sunday and was so disappointed not to see Chita, although I was surprised at what a small role Puffer actually is, especially when she isn't chosen for anything at the end. I thought Alison Cimmet did a sterling job but I felt that the role had been blocked and directed for a recognised and beloved Star. In terms of the show itself I think the absences of Will Chase, Stephanie J Block, Jim Norton and even Erin Davie would be more impactful. Overall, I must say I had an absolutely wonderful afternoon. Great fun.

[phantomcrazy14]

I'm seeing the show Saturday, has everything cleared up, or are they still facing absences and looking for people to cover tracks?

[Kelly2]

Jessie Mueller is scheduled to be out of the show on Saturday as she will be performing in Carousel at Lincoln Center. However, no other absences are scheduled. Chita has been out on and off for the past few weeks, but I was told she will be present for this week's performances barring an unforeseen complication.

[mikem]

After Carousel is over, are there any scheduled absences for anyone for the show's last week?

And do we know if Peter Benson is sick or on a scheduled absence? It seems like he's been gone for over a week.