Laura Benanti's Comment on MY FAIR LADY- Page 2

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 7:10am

henrikegerman said: "I'm not familiar with this use of the phrase "hard pass." I take it to mean turning someone down regretfully because you like their work and what they have to offer... is that right?"

It's "an unequivocal rejection with no possibility of a later change of mind." It's an absolute no. 

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 9:00am

Still worth the 2 minutes, but I will say her first video ("The Bridges of Madison County: is about Kelli O'Hara making out with my ex husband) is the best.

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 9:03am

It's "an unequivocal rejection with no possibility of a later change of mind." It's an absolute no.

I thought like Henrikeger that it meant it was a really tough decision but I’m going with someone else. The alternate just sounds really, really cold, even for Broadway vets. Soften the blow, no?

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 9:26am

I found the comment to be an attempt at self-deprecation based on personal disappointment that fell a bit short of being funny, but it was a nice effort. The whole thing seemed a bit too forced comedy wise. It was like the Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell Golden Globes skit but far less natural and funny and I remember some back then not finding that skit to be that funny back then, namely Tommy Lee Jones.

Updated On: 5/22/18 at 09:26 AM

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 9:45am

'Hard pass' is as cold as it sounds.  It's not that it was a difficult decision and this phrase softens the blow.  This phrase is meant to let you know how absolutely and complete the rejection is.  I've had the phrase used about me and I've had people use the phrase in front of me about actors we were casting.  I hate it.  I never, ever use it when discussing people (but "Wanna go see 54 Below sing Savara?" "Hard pass." is totally acceptable).  It makes me cringe that this phrase gets back to actors...and that no one thinks to maybe not.  

[RicardoMagon]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 10:39am

Its all in good fun.

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 12:04pm

The concept of "auditions," as discussed in this thread, for this production's Eliza strikes me as odd. Does anyone think Ambrose auditioned?

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 12:05pm

KnewItWhenIWasInFron said: "The concept of "auditions," as discussed in this thread, for this production's Eliza strikes me as odd. Does anyone think Ambrose auditioned?"

Yes, she did. She went into detail about her audition process during an interview with Richard Ridge (seen here).

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 12:06pm

KnewItWhenIWasInFron said: "The concept of "auditions," as discussed in this thread, for this production's Eliza strikes me as odd. Does anyone think Ambrose auditioned?"

Stars typically don't audition --- they have "creative meetings" with the director.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 12:32pm

There were definitely stars auditioning for this.  And with something like 80 pages of music and book sides.  I mean...if you're right for Eliza, you should probably know the score anyway, but that is still A LOT of stuff to prepare.  

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 2:15pm

Updated On: 5/22/18 at 02:15 PM

[enjoyable2]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 6:03pm

[BWWMatt]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 7:59pm

Re: enjoyable2: This is likely the result of an ad or script blocker that you are using on your browser. If you disable, you should be able to use the board as normal. 

[upinlights]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 8:09pm

Wait, am I the only one who had NO IDEA she was once married to Steven Pasquale? OMG!

[BJR]

Posted: 5/22/18 at 10:58pm

SonofRobbieJ said: "There were definitely stars auditioning for this. And with something like 80 pages of music and book sides. I mean...if you're right for Eliza, you should probably know the score anyway, but that is still A LOT of stuff to prepare."

I'm so curious who else auditioned... Remember how SOUTH PACIFIC reportedly was considering Scarlett Johanson and Reese Witherspoon but Sher (either couldn't get the first two, so instead covered and said he) decided he didn't want a big star, and cast Kelli O'Hara.

Haven't seen this production yet, so no knock to Ambrose, but I really would love to see Benanti in this. She was born to play it.

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 5/23/18 at 12:08am

upinlights said: "Wait, am I the only one who had NO IDEA she was once married to Steven Pasquale? OMG!"

Um, yes sweetheart.  You are.  

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/23/18 at 12:10am

BWWMatt said: "Re: enjoyable2: This is likely the result of an ad or script blocker that you are using on your browser. If you disable, you should be able to use the board as normal."

I use an ad blocker on here in order to use the site as normal. Completely unusable without it. Can barely click a link with ads turned on...

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/23/18 at 12:18am

As an active auditioner- I've seen so many Broadway vets waiting in the hallways - their scripts in hand - going over lines, etc. People still audition. I'd love to know how the Bernadette in Hello Dolly process went. If she audition, or simply said "I'm interested." But Ambrose for sure audition. And 80 pages is a lot. But not unheard of. She probably didn't do all 80 pages at the outset. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/23/18 at 12:21am

RippedMan said: "I'd love to know how the Bernadette in Hello Dolly process went. If she audition, or simply said "I'm interested.""

She says she saw Bette on opening night, and Bette supposedly said you should do this after me? Not sure what transpired after that, but that is the version she tells on chat shows.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 5/23/18 at 12:48am

Elegance101 said: "As a fan of hers, these videos are never that funny. You have to sift through the cringeworthy ones ("The Band's Visit" is about aband that is visiting...someone) for one or maybe two actually funny comments. I'm not sure if they should keep doing this every year.

I think she softballs a lot of her comments with the conceit that she hasn't seen the shows instead of going for a more pointed joke. It's probably not worth it to make enemies for an under 5 minute comedy video.