Best Understudy Ever?

No suprise to those who read the worst understudy thread, but to start, Mamie Duncan-Gibbs as Velma.She was one of the Honeys in Jelly's Last Jam,too-but she originated that role.
eta:loved Belle Callaway as Roxie-though now she often headlines,she was once an understudy,and Nancy Hess as Velma,too-I once saw her come in to Chicago after the show started when Uta Lemperer rather unexpectedly left during Act 1.The curtain was rung down, and Ms Hess had to start cold w/I Can't Do It Alone, and brought down the house.

Updated On: 1/25/05 at 12:47 AM

I didn't see her myself as I was not alive, but I've heard sensational things about Terri Klausner, who was Patti Lupone's alternate/stand-by in the Original Broadway Production of Evita

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You heard right, priest.Evita was one of the first shows I ever saw on Broadway-I used to second-act it quite a lot,and I saw Klausner,who was excellent.If I remember correctly,she performed weds & sat matinees.

Last time I saw "Phantom" the guy playing Raoul was an understudy. I don't remember his name, but he had the most incredible voice--this booming, operatic high baritone. This is, of course, not the proper sound, as Raoul really should be a tenor, but he was so amazing to listen to, it didn't matter. However, I had a hard time believing he was in love with Christine, if you know what I mean...

Lenora Nemetz for Chita in the original CHICAGO. She was actually the best thing about the whole show.

There is a terrific book available called SING OUT, LOUISE! which has a whole chapter on understudying and replacing during the "Golden Age".

when I saw WICKED, melissa bell chait was in as glinda. she was amazing...

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I love Susan, she is such a nice woman and a joy to work with. Glad to hear she was liked.

My fave US has got to be Karen Mason in Sunset Blvd. I was 17 and visiting NYC and so excited to see Betty in SB and then they announced that she wouldn't be going on. I was upset to say the least. But Karen was astonishing. She is and was no where near the appropo age, but embraced that part and I was a big fan afterwards. Plus, it was great to find out that she was from Illinois and I had the pleasure of meeting her about 2 years later (unfortunately at a funeral), but she was just amazing.

At the end of the first act of Movin' Out, Michael Cavenaugh started sounding a little off. He cleared his throat a few times too, and it seemed like he was getting sick.
When act two started, Wade Preston was Lead Vocals instead. He went into the show halfway, and was incredible. Imagine being on your toes like that! Actually, I'm sure many understudies are on their toes like that. What I was really impressed by was that he won the crowd over so quickly. There were murmurs of "this guy is great too!" and nobody seemed disappointed even though I'm sure some had been looking forward to Michael Cavenaugh. I actually felt lucky that I got to see both of them!

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Best ones I've seen:
Eden Espinosa- wicked
Linda Muggleston- wonderful town
Aymee Garcia- Q
Victor Hawks- Urinetown
Hollie Howard- Hairspray
Peter Matthew Smith- Rent (Nat'l Tour)

Linda Mugleston as Ruth in WT.

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You're absolutely right, Margo. Nancy Opel was an excellent Evita. I was like 12 when I saw her-it was my second time, saw LuPone, too-and I knew she was going to be a big theatre star.

Wasn't she also Bernadette's understudy in "Sunday in the Park with George"?

Whatever happened to having a regular star, and then also having a designated matinee performer? I know that Hilary Swank was going to have a Wednesday matinee Annie Sullivan, before the show was scrapped alltogether.