Best Understudies- Page 2

[singer234]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 7:25pm

Mskuphantm said: "Hairspray 2005 saw two understudies of Link and Tracy, Andrew Rannels and Leslie Kritzer(in a fat suit), 2007 -110 in shade revival saw Will Swenson go on as Starbuck, his and Audra's chemistry was natural. I DID seeChritine Ebersole in Grey Gardens part of me hoped Maureen Moore would have gone on, I became enraptured by her voice and presence from the Sondheim at Carnegie celebration Dvd of weekend in the country and of course from the into the woods demo of cut song Boom Crunch"

 

I remember seeing Kritzer as Tracy and having no idea who she was, but being blown the hell away.

 

[ChiDoc]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 8:10pm

I saw Paradise Square multiple times in Chicago for Joaquina, and while I was disappointed she was out when I went to see it New York, Aisha Jackson was on fire.  She’s a big reason I’m going to Wonderful Town this spring.

 

(I know, I saw Paradise Square too many times.  But I couldn’t lose the lottery, and I wanted to believe they’d make big changes every time.  Alas.)

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 8:48pm

steven22 said: "binau said: "IdinaBellFoster said: "I saw Jessica Phillips go on for Alice Ripley for I think the first time during previews of NEXT TO NORMAL (the “Costco” song was very much still there). She absolutely blew me away."

I thought Jessica Phillips first went on the night after Alice Ripley won the Tony, or am I misremembering?"

I’m 99.9% sure Jessica Phillips went on for the first time (in the Broadway production), the night after the Tony awards."

I believe you are correct, but she did go on off-Broadway during previews (I have the slip). This is even before the Arena Stage run in DC.

[The Other One]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 8:59pm

singer234 said: "I remember seeing Kritzer as Tracy and having no idea who she was, but being blown the hell away."

I saw Rannells as Link, but I don't think he was understudying at that point.  He was a blast, a total dynamo in the role

 

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 8:56am

bwayphreak234 said: "rosscoe(au) said: "I had no interest in seeing Josh in Sweeney Todd, so saw it after they both left, and got ( sadly don’t know names ) the two brilliant understudies. Both spectacular."

Agreed. Nicholas Christopher Jeanna de Waal werethe best pairing in the most recent revival. Leagues better than Groban/Ashford and Tveit/Foster."


Ah thank you. It was a stunner of a production. Both of them perfect.