Steve Kazee -- In or out?

[regnad kcin]

Seeing Once next Thursday, and I've read conflicting items on whether Steve is out of the production right now due to Lyme Disease. Anyone know whether he's had to take time off, and, if so, who has been taking over?

[ucjrdude902]

Can't you just call the theatre and ask?

[saisai]

He tweeted that he wouldn't be missing any performances.

[once a month]

Thought we were talking belly-buttons here.

[broadwaydevil]

He hasn't missed a single performance as a result of Lyme disease. Obviously he could miss any specific performance but his attendance record has been impeccable.

[henrikegerman]

So happy to hear this. I and some of my family are seeing the show for the first time Friday night and I had expected he would definitely be out.
Hope this doesn't sound selfish as I hope his being a trooper isn't too taxing for him as he recovers.

[florida theatre kid]

Kazee and Milioti were both out tonight, Friday 12/28. I was disappointed when I saw the board as I wanted to see them, but Ben Hope and Laura Dreyfuss were both incredible....especially Dreyfuss who really, really blew me away.

[henrikegerman]

Finally saw it last Friday. Loved it. Kazee was in. Dreyfuss went on for Milioti. She was very good.

[ACL2006]

They're also doing 9 performances this week. I know Kazee was out Wednesday night(with J. Michael Zygo on as Guy). I wonder if they simply scheduled the leads to only do 7 or 8 shows this week considering they have 9 shows scheduled in 5 days.

[Kelly2]

I just have to say I hate this. I feel like in the past 5 years, performers have been calling out more than ever in the past and while I didn't care for "Once" and don't have particular affection for Kazee or Milioti, I could see how many would want to see them and would be disappointed if they did not.

What ever happened to the performers like Michael Cerveris who don't miss shows unless the world's about to end? Honestly, I have so much respect for people who take their contracts and their jobs seriously, it seems like many of the young actors now really just don't.

Sorry, rant over, but jesus, how hard is it for these two to show up? These roles are hardly the most demanding on the boards right now.

[gstrus2]

Steve Kazee has not been out due to Lyme Disease, but was out due to a fever, but normally has good attendance. But, Cristin on the other hand I've heard has had very poor attendance. Was out when I saw the show.

[broadwaydevil]

Steve has rarely been out. He was out when his mother died of cancer and for the past two days due to a fever. That's very good attendance. Cristin has missed more performances but it doesn't even approach how often some stars call out.

[saisai]

I think it's the luck of the draw. I've seen Once 15 times now since May and Steve was out once. I think Cristin was out 2-3 times. I hope Cristin didn't catch the flu from Steve!!

[Kelly2]

I don't know either of their attendance records, and neither do any of you, so those of you asserting he has "great attendance" are basing that on hearsay as much as I'm basing my assessment on anecdotal evidence.

I was making a general point. Though I will say that of the 8 friends I have who have seen the show, only 2 saw both leads. And this was over the course of the past year, not just recently.

[broadwaydevil]

Actually, I do know, but thanks for your comments. :)

[Kelly2]

You know the exact number of times he's been out and when those dates were? Every single one? Are you Steve Kazee? If so, get back to your show, girl.

[Blockhead24]

Kelly I'm so sick of you being such a you- know- what about this..get over it. You've made your point..many times. We get it.

[Kelly2]

And I'm sick of people with no freakin' work ethic. If I missed as many days at my job as some of these people miss I'd be fired real quick.

There are thousands of people who would kill to perform on Broadway just once. Maybe a small moment of remembering how lucky they are would be apropos.

And so this isn't totally negative: there are MANY actors with impeccable attendance who are worthy of commendation for that fact. Michael Cerveris is the most obvious example, but there are many others.

ETA: And if it's in fact true that Steve Kazee performed despite his Lyme disease, good for him. That's a great example of the dedication I'm talking about.

[jv92]

I must agree with Kelly. If you're scheduled/contractually obligate to do EIGHT SHOWS A WEEK...do 'em! Unless you're quite ill, or something awful has come up. Sorry, kids.

[little_sally]

Are actors paid for the shows they miss?

[broadwaydevil]

In every line of work people take days off for various reasons. If you're ill and can't perform or have some other obligation it isn't unreasonable to take day(s) off. Even the infallible Michael Cerveris missed 1 (or 2 I cant remember) performances in the Evita run. People like him are impressive but they're the exceptions to the rule, like those you see every so often on the news in any line of work retiring after 40 years without missing a day of work. I'm not saying there aren't actors who have attendance issues and abuse their "days off" but seriously I find it offensive whenever someone is out invariably people will come here and complain.

Steve Kazee has freakin' Lyme disease and has missed only two days of performances due to another illness on top of it.

[Kelly2]

Broadwaydevil, no one is complaining "every time" someone is out. As I said in my previous post, that's commendable re: Steve and Lyme disease. I have many friends who missed him when they saw the show, maybe that was just bad luck, but it seemed a bit overwhelming to me.

People complain when it becomes clear that actors, especially leading actors whose performances are well-reviewed and awarded, are regularly missing performances more frequently than is really reasonable. Amy Spanger, anyone?

[dramamama611]

And you don't know that this ISN'T the case. They DO get sick days built into their contract. Some people are more prone to illness than others. I seldom get sick...and to that I have scads of sick days accrued. Others get sick easily -- or cannot perform their duties well when they are under the weather.

There are likely some performers for whom simple illness doesn't affect their performance, and others that do -- with the most simple of ailments. We all know darn well, that if an actor gave a sub-par performance people would be griping that "if they were that sick, they should stay home and let the understudy do it.

We are a now a society that are encouraged to stay home so as not to get pass on illness and to recover more quickly with lots of bed rest.

[broadwaydevil]

People complain when it becomes clear that actors, especially leading actors whose performances are well-reviewed and awarded, are regularly missing performances more frequently than is really reasonable.

Agreed. Karen Olivio is just as bad. Towards the end of his run in Memphis, it seemed like you had a 50/50 shot at seeing Chad Kimball. I think we're actually agreeing here.

And I wasn't specifically referring to you in terms of complaining. It's just there's always someone complaining when they know nothing of the situation and are perhaps complaining about an actor who actually has an impeccable attendance record.

ETA: Dramamama thanks for that point, I agree wholeheartedly.

[Kelly2]

Dramamama, I'm not saying if someone is legitimately contagious they should force themselves to go and infect everyone else backstage. Obviously, if you are physically unable to perform the requirements of your role, then it is what it is. And yes, some get sick more than others, sure, why not. But no one is sick enough to miss as many performances as some have, and there are plenty of facts/evidence to support many of the people mentioned in this thread not being gravely ill when they are absent. You're arguing about something that I'm not referring to in any way.

Broadwaydevil, I think I'm reading your posts more as you intended them now. I didn't mean to jump on you or single out Steve Kazee, he was just someone that I had heard personal stories about people being upset to miss out on seeing. Karen Olivo is another great example. I never really followed Memphis so I can't speak to Kimball.

My point was much more general than some people are interpreting it. I worked on a show where one of the actresses would call out every other week for Saturday matinees because she liked to go out drinking with her friends on Friday. That is the kind of irresponsible crap I hate. "I don't feel like it" is very different than "I am deeply ill and if I perform I could injure myself or infect half my cast."

[saisai]

There's 2 sides to a coin. I've watched the show on 15 random dates and Steve's attendance has been 93%. Just sayin.