Any help appreciated: Question about tours during the holiday season...

[VoiceofReason]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 6:53pm

I was curious if anyone could shed some light on this topic for me...
There is a tour (which shall not be named) that will be in my neck of the woods during hte winter holiday season. I have suggested to the family that we go see it Christmas day night, and all but one agreed, citing: "Won't we only see understudies, since all the leads will want to be with their families?"
I quickly said no, but snuck up here to see what you guys thought/know...any information would be useful before I decide when to book the tics...I don't personally care about the udnerstudies (I think it's fun to watch), but I know said family member would throw a fit.

Thanks!
~m

Updated On: 8/1/05 at 06:53 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 6:56pm

They do get paid extra on Christmas, New Year's, and July 4th, if there are performances that day -- so it could be an incentive.

A cousin of a friend of mine saw Les Miz on Christmas about a year or two ago. IIRC, the only understudy was for Valjean.

[DreamFlyer22]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 7:21pm

Interesting. My initial reaction would have been "Yeah. Understudies galore!" But if you think about it... actually, it might not be so bad. Like, the stars would spend the day with their families and then have them come see them perform on stage that night.

[Sunfish]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 7:51pm

But this is a tour. So the stars' families are probably not in the town where the show is. Unless they all uproot and come to visit the actor. So if the actors cast in the roles were not going to be there, chances are they would not be there for at least a couple of days, to allow for travel and such. I don't know....can actors on tour just up and leave for holidays?

[CostumeGirl2]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 8:04pm

Many professional actors are used to not seeing their families around the holidays. So I wouldn't think there would be a tremendous amount of understudies. And if it isn't their "vacation period" many equity actors get docked for missing shows. Usually 1/8th of their pay check.

[VoiceofReason]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 8:46pm

Thank you so much for all of your help! In the end, we decided to see it opening night here in DC (the musical was Wicked), so I am very excited, and very appreciative of all of your comments.
Thanks a mil,
~m