Casting Question

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 5/12/21 at 10:49am

So I was discussing different things with my Dad this morning and he brought up an interesting point...I know leading actors usually have understudies and standbys, but do we think it's possible that they could hire more people just in case people happen to be exposed to COVID? Just a question he thought of that I wanted to bring to this board. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/12/21 at 11:02am

hearthemsing22 said: "So I was discussing different things with my Dad this morning and he brought up an interesting point...I know leading actors usually have understudies and standbys, but do we think it's possible that they could hire more people just in case people happen to be exposed to COVID? Just a question he thought of that I wanted to bring to this board."

Nope. It all stays as always: lead has his 2-3 understudies.  If a lead has a standby, there’s also an understudy.  The odds of all 3 being sick at once defies all odds.  

[ggersten]

Posted: 5/12/21 at 11:19am

BrodyFosse123 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "So I was discussing different things with my Dad this morning and he brought up an interesting point...I know leading actors usually have understudies and standbys, but do we think it's possible that they could hire more people just in case people happen to be exposed to COVID? Just a question he thought of that I wanted to bring to this board."

Nope. It all stays as always: lead has his 2-3 understudies. If a lead has a standby, there’s also an understudy. The odds of all 3 being sick at once defies all odds."

It may defy odds, but I'm sure it has happened. It wasn't the US, but Six in London got decimated by injuries/illnesses so much that Toby Marlow actually went on as Parr in an impromptu "pseudo- concert" version

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 5/12/21 at 11:36am

BrodyFosse123 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "So I was discussing different things with my Dad this morning and he brought up an interesting point...I know leading actors usually have understudies and standbys, but do we think it's possible that they could hire more people just in case people happen to be exposed to COVID? Just a question he thought of that I wanted to bring to this board."

Nope. It all stays as always: lead has his 2-3 understudies. If a lead has a standby, there’s also an understudy. The odds of all 3 being sick at once defies all odds."

I wouldn't say it never happens...during Falsettos Stephanie J. Block and her understudy were sick so the standby had to go on, script in hand. Also see Waitress on the West End-Lucie Jones and both understudies for Jenna were sick so they brought in Desi Oakley! 

[rkade21]

Posted: 5/12/21 at 12:14pm

It’s certainly possible as a COVID precaution - if someone tests positive for it and has been in close contact with other cast members, they could all get pulled as a precaution.

Larger casts with more backups also seems to be a common “demand” by actors for better working conditions, though one of many yet to be addressed issues by unions/League/producers… I imagine there will be some strict policies in place where possible that principals and their understudies/standbys limit close contact wherever possible (likely the Principal + standby?) in case of Covid cases. Hopefully that will all be temporary as vaccinations continue and after a few months that prove there is low risk of Covid or contagion, but who knows ….

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 5/12/21 at 12:37pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "The odds of all 3 being sick at once defies all odds. "

Steph Parry was a standby in 42nd Street and had to run next door to Mamma Mia because the lead was injured and no understudies were available. Parry had played the role on a cruise ship and had understudied the lead in the West End production for five years. 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/12/21 at 12:48pm

They won't hire additional actors. While it's not common, it does happen where there aren't enough performers. Some shows have brought in previous cast to fill in, some bring in someone from the tour (if there is one), sometimes they'll cut an ensemble track. They get creative.

[RunningThatRoad]

Posted: 5/12/21 at 2:03pm

There was an NYT article a few months ago about theater’s reopening in Australia in which a producer of “Come From Away” said they had added two standbys to make sure they were ready for an outbreak:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/27/theater/australia-theater-reopens-coronavirus.html

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/12/21 at 2:36pm

Of course it's always POSSIBLE to add more understudies to any show.  However, what producer in their right mind is going to want to INCREASE weekly operating costs now?  

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/12/21 at 4:02pm

AND.....(I think I'm correct on this) a company can INCREASE it's cast/crew numbers....but it's very difficult to DECREASE it.  So, unless Equity approves something like this as a temporary measure (don't even know if they do this) this is unlikely.