9 to 5 understudies

[dg22894]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:32pm

Who covers who? Has any of them gone on?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:34pm

No.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:35pm

Kristin Chenoweth is going to be the stand-by for Megan Hilty, and Idina Menzel is going to be the stand-by for Steph J. Block.

Sorry, I really wanted to say that!

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:36pm

Violet - Ann Harada, Lisa Howard
Judy - Gaelen Gilliland, Jessica Lea Patty
Doralee - Gaelen Gilliland, Autumn Guzzardi
Hart - Michael X. Martin, Wayne Schroeder
Roz - Ann Harada, Karen Murphy
Joe - Paul Castree, Kevin Kern
Dwayne - Justin Bohon
Dick - Jeremy Davis, Wayne Schroder
Josh - Justin Bohon, Michael Mindlin
Kathy - Tory Ross, Maia Nkenge Wilson
Margaret - Tory Ross, Gaelen Gilliland
Maria - Jessica Lea Patty, Jennifer Balagna
Missy - Brandi Wooten, Gaelen Gilliland
Tinsworthy - Dan Cooney, Wayne Schroder

Updated On: 2/2/09 at 09:36 PM

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:36pm

Galean(sp?) Gillind understudies Doralee & Judy. She has gone on as Judy.

[dg22894]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:38pm

What is with Ann Harda she orignated a lead in a long running show and still is understuieing? What happened?


Thanks Piragua and Timesquare
Updated On: 2/2/09 at 09:38 PM

[zepka102]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:41pm

Wow! Gaelen sure covers a lot of roles!

I think Ann is originating a role. I don't know how big it is though.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:42pm

I know - I feel bad for Ann. She has, like - the 7th biggest part in the show, though.

[dg22894]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:46pm

Still I feel bad she had one of the best and largest parts in avenue q. She is understudying Kathy Fitzgerld who has not originated parts of the magnitude that Ann has. It just strikes me as odd. I am happy to hear she has like the 7th biggest part. She is one of my favorite performers.

[keithp]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:50pm

I think it is called the life of a working actor. There really is nothing odd about it.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:52pm

I love her too and hate to se former stars "slumming it" (i.e. Merle Louise in Billy Elliot).

Still, a paycheck's a paycheck, and at least she gets some stuff to do (she pops in and out of the story, is one of the lead parts in "Tattletales", and has one hilarious, wordless moment that is one of the high points of the show that I won't spoil for everyone).

[Kelly2]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:59pm

I wish Andy Karl understudied Marc Kudisch, but then on the other hand, I'm glad he isn't, because he shouldn't have to be an understudy.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 10:01pm

No offense to Andy, but he would be disastrous in that part.

And he already has the second male lead.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 10:06pm

"No offense to Andy, but he would be disastrous in that part.

And he already has the second male lead."

He'd be excellent, actually. I saw him play a very similar role when he went on for Professor Callahan in Legally Blonde, and he was EXCELLENT. Really, ask anyone who saw him, he gave an incredible performance in that role.

He's much more versatile and a more tremendous actor than most people give credit for.

[Amaranth9]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 10:08pm

Kathy Fitzgerald is fabulous as Roz though. =)

Ann does so much with the part she has. I feel the entire cast is the same way no matter their role, which is what really made seeing this a treat.

Though I would be very interested to see Ann go on as Violet, or the other understudies for the other lead women. Megan, SJB, and Allison have such great chemistry together that I wonder how that change in the dynamics would look. I hear that Gaelen did great as Judy. It is very hard for me to conceive of these roles without the cast as it is because they inhabit them so well.

PiraguaGuy2, that moment is classic! And Ann plays it perfectly. =)

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 12:20am

I would love to see Ann or Lisa Howard as Violet (though I'm sure none of them would be better then the FABULOUS Alison Janney)

I loved Lisa Howard on the OBCR of Spelling Bee!

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 12:24am

What's even sadder to me is to see Lisa Howard, who was the frickin' LEAD in a hit show, in the ensemble and understudying.

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 12:37am

^^^^^^^ Exactly

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 1:18am

I don't understand why it's 'sad'? She has a paying gig, being a part of something new and exciting.

Haven't you heard the adage: There are no small parts, only small actors?

MANY, many actors that have originated roles do not go on to continually landing 'starring roles'. I would think MOST stage actors are perfectly ok with that. (There was much discussion about this in the "curse of Sondhiem" actors thread.)

[dg22894]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 7:03am

I liked Lisa on the recording too. I would love to see Ann go on the replace one of the lead girls. Same with Lisa

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 7:43am

I know it's paying work in an economy that has none, but somehow it still saddens me to see someone who was a lead in something new and exciting becoming an understudy in something new and exciting. I started that Sondheim thread for the same reason.

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 8:27am

i feel so bad for gaelen gilliland because she is so talented and gets stuck as many understudies. as recent as legally blonde where she had like 6 roles in the show and then she would understudy paulette, serena, enid and others. but i wish her the best of luck because she is so nice and very talented

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 8:30am

ok Gaelen Gilliland did not understudy Serena, she is too old for Serena
9 to 5 [Original, Musical, Comedy]
Performer: Gaelen Gilliland
Apr 30, 2009 - ?
Legally Blonde [Original, Musical, Comedy]
Performer: Gaelen Gilliland [Ensemble];
Performer: Gaelen Gilliland [Mom];
Performer: Gaelen Gilliland [Whitney];
Understudy: Gaelen Gilliland [Enid];
Understudy: Gaelen Gilliland [Paulette];
Understudy: Gaelen Gilliland [Vivienne Kensington]
Apr 29, 2007 - Oct 19, 2008
Wicked [Original, Musical]
Performer: Gaelen Gilliland [Ensemble] - Replacement;
Understudy: Gaelen Gilliland [Madame Morrible] - Replacement

[theatregirl2]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 10:17am

Gaelen Rocks!!!
I've known her for many years- she is so talented and I hope she scores something big out of this cause she deserves it! Many performers have to live the u/s life before getting their big chance, so I hope hers comes soon. As for the other actors who have done leads and are now in ensemble- man, it's a paycheck, it's another credit on your resume, and in this economy, you take a good gig when you can. Certainly, you don't take just anything, but this show is gonna be a hit, so why not!!

There are photos on her facebook/myspace pages as Doralee and as Judy, and her myspace fans page has video of her as Paulette in LB as well as Mme. Morrible in Wicked. I think she is too young-looking/sounding for either of those roles, but she played them very well. She looks amazing as Doralee and with her comic timing, I know her Judy will be great too! Can't wait to see the show!

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 11:44am

Can someone post the photos of Gaelen in costume as Judy/Doralee? I can't find them anywhere.