Best Understudy (please keep it between 2003-2006)- Page 3

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 11:55am

Kenita Miller (u/s Celie, Nettie) "The Color Purple" and (u/s Dessa Rose) "Dessa Rose)
- yes! she ws fabulous and made me forgot that I was slightly disappointed in seeing LaChanze in Dessa Rose. I didn't catch her in The Color Purple but I can only imagine! If there are any dates that anyone knows if LaChanze is defenitly going to be out, let me know. I'd love to catch Kenita in the role.

[Standing_O]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 1:01pm

I agree about Kenita Miller as Dessa Rose. She's fantastic.

Also, a favorite of mine is Julie Foldesi as Jo in Little Women. Andrew Varela of Little Women was also great in every role he went on for.

And recently I saw Michael Longoria go on as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys and was very impressed.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 1:05pm

I hope Michael Longoria replaces John Lloyd Young when his contract is up. I'd like to see him in the role.

[NJgirl]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 1:13pm

I love Michael as Joe Pesce in the show...but as much as I love JLY's performance, I'd like to catch Michael go on as Frankie one night. All I've read are good things from when he went on as Frankie awhile back

[Doogie]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 1:24pm

agreed with DD that standby and u/s are virtually the same thing. Nonetheless, I don't think we can say Tina Maddigan is the best u/s, as she has yet to go on!

[lite2shine]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 2:42pm

Technically the show has not opened during 2006, but people are writing about a tour cast, so mine is okay too.

Doug Kreeger in Times They Are A-Changin'

He was awesome. Yes I saw Michael Arden in the same role too.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 2:44pm

Standing_O, I agree with you about Julie Foldesi. I saw her go on as Jo on tour a few weeks ago during her brief stint as the alternate while Kate Fisher was out, and she was terrific. Just as good as Sutton!

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 5:31am

Linda Mugleston in anything.
Laura Griffith as Franca in Piazza.
Carlos L. Encinias as any of the Altar Boyz.

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 8:26am

flaemmchen, I'd also add Jim Daly to the list of great Altar Boyz understudies.

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 8:42am

I would like to add to the Lisa Brescia love!

[withoutlovewithoutU]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 10:56am

wow... I was shocked to find that nobody said Shoshana in Hairspray,that one always seems to pop up.

[TimmyG]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 3:16pm

OK--Timothy Gulan in the FROGS. He replaced Chris Kattan when he got fired (before Roger Bart was ready) for 4 shows with ONE DAY OF REHERSAL with Nathan. Oh yeah, and when Nathan Lane got hurt, he went on MID SHOW for Nathan, and then did the next show. Didn't miss a beat.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 4:53pm

I would put Shoshana down only as an understudy for Nessarose. I thought she was terrific in the role, even though she only went on once. I wasnt a big fan of her Tracy, Velma, or Prudy. I prefered her as Shelly.

[Color and Light]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 4:57pm

Vance Avery as the Emcee in CABARET.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 5:21pm

Oh Bobby, you know how sensitive DD can be. DD, a SWING and a Stand-by are different in the sense that although swings may not always be in the ensemble, they cover MORE than one role. A stand-by is ONLY responsible for one role and is never on stage, so there's the difference.

My question is, who cares? One is the actual lead and one is not One gets reviewed, one does not, one might get award nominations, one will not. Once again, the phenomenon of worshiping understudies/stand-by's/Swings/ WHATEVER, lives on and lives strong on BWW.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 5:26pm

Whatever you call them:

Kenita Miller for Dessa Rose in DESSA ROSE
David Burnham for Fabrizio in LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
Joe Cassidy for Freddy in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS

LC

[Sant]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 5:31pm

John Bolton in SPAMALOT. Everyone expected to see Tim Curry and were somewhat disappointed to find out he was out and Bolton was 'on'. Not a nice situation to get on the stage. But Bolton did fantastic job in the role and won the audience over very quickly.

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 10:12pm

Yes, SNL! I love me some Jim Daly! And Vance Avery as the Emcee, too! He's my favorite actor in the role after Michael Hall.

[bigrab1018]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 11:10pm

Michael Longoria went on for JLY tonight and was TERRIFIC! It was my first time seeing Jersey Boys and I was really looking forward to seeing JLY. Michael Longoria totally made up for my disappointment!

[misto625]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 12:43am

Swings have to cover ensemble in additional to principal roles.

I am curious about the Spamalot stand-bys.

Sean McCourt as the Wizard (Wicked)
Justin Patterson (All Shook Up)
John Brady (The Lion King)

[greenifyed]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 10:29am

Caren Lyn Manuel and Karmine Alers in RENT.

And I'd like to second Sean McCourt in Wicked.

Wow, I sound like a fangirl.

[Doogie]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:21am

FYI, Al Dente..... standby's can be billed as a STANDBY for more than one role...

Off the top of my head (its late and I'm drowsy)

Sally Mayes for the two middle aged ladies in STEEL MAGNOLIAS
Ginifer King for the two younger ones (Shelby and Annelle)
and Darrie Lawrence (??) for the two older ones.

and thats JUST off the top of my head.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 9:47am

Karmine Alers (RENT)
Caren Lyn Manuel (temporary replacement in RENT)
Rachel de Benedet (DRS)

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:09pm

Paul Schafer (Jimmy u/s in TMM tour)
Katrina Rose Diderikesen (Tracy stand-by in Hairspray tour)

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:20pm

"Jarad Boortz in Wicked "

I saw him and thought he was really good. The people I was with didn't like him very much. He had a different voice, but it worked for me.