Cloris Leachman was Mary Martin's understudy in SOUTH PACIFIC...

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 10:58am

Okay, so it turns out that future multi-award winning Cloris Leachman was Mary Martin's understudy in the original Broadway production of SOUTH PACIFIC. What other future stars were understudies/standbys to leads in other Broadway shows?

Jo Anne Worley -- Carol Channing's standby in HELLO, DOLLY!

Lainie Kazan -- Barbra Streisand's standby in FUNNY GIRL

Jamie Donnelly (1978 GREASE film-version Jan) -- Liza Minnelli's understudy in FLORA, THE RED MENACE

Louise Lasser (of TV's MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN) -- Barbra Streisand's standby in I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE

Mary Louise Wilson -- Angela Lansbury's standby in the 1974 Broadway Revival of GYPSY (she played Tessie Tura in the revival)

Judy Kaye -- Madeline Kahn's understudy in ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Christine Ebersole -- Judy Kaye's understudy in ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Shirley MacLaine -- Carol Haney's understudy in THE PAJAMA GAME


... can't wait to read others.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 5:00pm

Freda Payne - Leslie Uggams understudy in Halleujah Baby
Jane Runalfson - Julie Andrews understudy in Victor Victoria

Updated On: 4/15/08 at 05:00 PM

[thatgirl712]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 5:04pm

I'm not surprised to hear about Cloris.

Diane

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 5:05pm

They're much more recent, but BroadwayUnderstudies.com collected a list: http://broadwayunderstudies.com/facts.php

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 5:14pm

One error: Karen Ziemba was NOT an understudy (or swing) in the original Broadway production of A CHORUS LINE. She made her Broadway debut in A CHORUS LINE in the early 1980's as a replacement.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 5:15pm

Nancy Opel was Patti LuPone's Evita u/s.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 5:47pm

Jenifer Garner was Katherine Erbe's understudy in A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY at the Roundabout staring Helen Mirren, F. Murray Abraham and Ron Rifkin.
Updated On: 4/15/08 at 05:47 PM

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 5:58pm

I believe Vivian Vance was Ethel Merman's understudy in Anything Goes, and later did the national tour.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 5:59pm

Stritch and the Merm

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 6:00pm

Roxy, I believe you mean, Anne Runolfsson.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 6:05pm

Ethel Merman: Elaine (Stritch) just go to New Haven and sing the *&%$ song.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 6:13pm

Mary Testa for Stockard Channing in "The Rink". Can't remember, but did Stockard at some point understudy Liza? I know it was originally Lenora Nemetz, but I thought I once heard something funny about Stockard wishing Liza would get sick.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 6:19pm

let us not forget Phylicia Rashad being the understudy for Sheryl Lee Ralph in "Dreamgirls".

lord knows she won't let us forget it!

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 10:44pm

Brody, is IBDB wrong then?
http://ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=66016

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 10:48pm

Ben Vereen (Tony Winner for PIPPIN) was an understudy for Hud in the original 198 production of HAIR.

I don't know if Ben Vereen is quite THAT old...

[bohemianqueen]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 11:30pm

shesamarshmallow - read IBDB properly. The dates it gives are the dates for the PRODUCTION of ACL not how long Karen Ziemba was in the show, otherwise that would indicate she was in the show for 15 years. Also beside the roles she played it clearly states 'replacement' supporting what Brody has said.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 11:47pm

A Chorus Line [Original, Musical, Drama]
Performer: Karen Ziemba [Bebe] - Replacement;
Performer: Karen Ziemba [Hilary] - Replacement;
Understudy: Karen Ziemba [Bebe] - Replacement;
Understudy: Karen Ziemba [Cassie] - Replacement;
Understudy: Karen Ziemba [Diana] - Replacement;
Understudy: Karen Ziemba [Maggie] - Replacement

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/16/08 at 12:28am

Donna Murphy was Betty Buckley's understudy in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, and eventually replaced her at Rupert Holmes' request (When Buckley decided to leave the show of course).
Elaine Stritch understudying Merman also came to mind.
Megan Mullally understudied Rosie O'Donnell in the GREASE revival.
Victoria Clark understudied Faith Prince in GUYS & DOLLS.
And of course who could forget about Natalie Portman and Britney Spears understudying Laura Bell Bundy in RUTHLESS?

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 4/16/08 at 10:15am

How about Northern Calloway as understudy/replacement for Ben Vereen in PIPPIN?

[allofmylife]

Posted: 4/16/08 at 10:39am

I love the fact that Gene Kelly was replaced in the tour of "Pal Joey" by a guy named Georgie TAPS.

And Fred Astaire was replaced by someone on the last few dates of "Gay Divorce" when he was filming "Dancing Lady."

[phantomo88]

Posted: 4/16/08 at 10:51am

As mentioned, Stritch understudied Merman in Call Me Madam. She also went on to play that role on tour, and in Louisville,Ky.

Wow, Gay Divorce? I doubt thats getting a revival anytime soon!

[Buscee]

Posted: 4/16/08 at 11:00am

Stockard Channing was not Liza's understudy, she was her replacement. However she started 2 days earlier than expected because Liza called out sick so instead of Liza ending her run on a Saturday night. She left on Thursday and Stockard started on Friday instead of that Monday. Cloris Leachman I dont believe was Martin's understudy, I believe she was the last replacement in the original run.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/16/08 at 11:48am

shesamarshmallow -- I stand corrected. I overlooked the 'understudy' listing.

BUT, my original post is asking about future stars understudying/standbying well-known (if not famous) performers.