Why would an understudy not be in the Playbill?

[mikem]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 6:26pm

I saw Rabbit Hole last week, and there is no understudy/standby listed in the Playbill for John Slattery, although apparently he has one. (For all the other understudies/standbys, there is both line credit in the cast list and a photo on the photo page.) My understanding from other posts is that Equity requires understudies for all roles, but why would an understudy not be listed?

[Tag]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 6:29pm

Most likely the Playbill was printed before the understudy/standby was hired or confirmed. In the case that the understudy/standby actually goes on they will either put an insert in the Playbill or make an announcement.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 6:36pm

i know laura bell bundy was never listed in the wicked playbill. when she went of for glinda she got a full page insert w/ her headshot and bio, also when she covered cheno's vacation she had her own playbills with above the title billing

[mijofly19]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 6:36pm

Are shows required to make an announcement if a swing goes on for an ensemble member? Also, are shows required to tell you who the swing is replacing? When I saw Hairspray last month, there was a slip that said the part of A Dynamite would be played by ... But it didn't say which of the regular dynamites was out.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 6:38pm

They do not have to do inserts or an announcement when a swing takes over a nonspeaking role.

Some understudies do choose not to be listed either because of where they feel they are in their career and/or because they do often get a pretty cool insert.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 6:49pm

i know laura bell bundy was never listed in the wicked playbill. when she went of for glinda she got a full page insert w/ her headshot and bio, also when she covered cheno's vacation she had her own playbills with above the title billing

She was, in fact, listed, just w/o a headshot or bio.

Also, according to my Doubt playbill and Broadway yearbook, Cherry didn't have an understudy.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 6:50pm

But Cherry always has had an understudy. :)

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 8:37pm

Yeah, Laura Bell Bundy def. is listed in my playbill as the standby for Glinda.

kmc

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 8:42pm

Cherry and Eileen's standby was/is Lizbeth MacKay. She just chose not to be listed.

[jsrocks]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 8:47am

There is no understudy for John Slattery listed in the Playbill because John Slattery is IRREPLACEABLE!!! ha!

Updated On: 4/5/06 at 08:47 AM

[mikem]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 9:37am

I am confused, and I apologize if the answer is obvious to those in the business. Why would an actor choose not to be in the Playbill? I understand that someone may think that they should be at a point in their career where they shouldn't be taking understudy positions, but they took the job anyway and the relevant people are going to know anyway -- keeping yourself out of the Playbill for that reason makes it seem like you're ashamed you took the job or something. (I understand the rationale that you get a special insert if you're not ordinarily listed, but I don't really completely get that either -- why would a producer keep you out of the regular Playbill if you want the special insert? It doesn't cost any more to have 5 understudy pictures than 4 understudy pictures (or does it)? Thanks in advance from someone who is clueless about the workings of the industry.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 1:47pm

Charlotte D'Amboise was never listed as Christina Applegate's standyby in "Sweet Charity."

My LSOH playbill lists no understudy for Audrey, though I understand it was Mylinda Hull.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 1:55pm

Jessica Snow Wilson was the Audrey understudy for the original cast of the recent revival.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 2:02pm

I'm referring to when Jessica Snow actually replaced Kerry Butler.

[WhenURScrap]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 2:17pm

Number one, I believe any actor can be replaced...

Number two, I had replaced someone in a regional theatre and they refused to place anything in the bill for me replacing someone. Granted, I wasn't Equity ... however, I wanted the replacement notice.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 2:20pm

My understudy won't be listed for Jerby: Fully Loaded and I can't be replaced.

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 2:26pm

You could always get Madge Allsop.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 2:33pm

Grrr..Calvin..you beat me to it.

I wonder if Linda Muggleston is available.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 2:35pm

I wouldn't let Linda be my understudy! She'd do the show better than me!!

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 2:36pm

Hush your mouth...she's lousy...
Hugs and Kisses,
Donna Mur-...er...Princeton78

[jsrocks]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:08pm

"Number one, I believe any actor can be replaced..."

Yeah I was joking around. But still John's great!

Updated On: 4/6/06 at 04:08 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:20pm

I have a WICKED playbill in front of me right now that lists Laura Bell Bundy as the Glinda standby and has a bio and headshot.

The Sister Aloysius understudy is not listed in the playbill by choice. I believe that is also the deal with John Slattery's u/s in RABBIT HOLE.

[andyf]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:27pm

I think for VIRGINIA WOOLF, too, there was an understudy or two who wasn't listed in the playbill, I believe by choice.

[Horton]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:27pm

Charlotte D'Amboise was never listed as Christina Applegate's standyby in "Sweet Charity."

This was because she was also in Chicago, and you can not be listed in two Playbill's at once.

[X x Fiyero x X]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 5:38pm

This is pointless