Elena Shaddow- Uncredited?

[BwayFan832]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 9:19pm

According to Twitter and Derek Klena's broadway.com backstage video, Elena Shaddow is Kelli O'Hara's standby in The Bridges of Madison County. In the show's Playbill, however, she is nowhere to be found. Is there a reason why she would be uncredited?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 9:20pm

I forgot the exact show/reason, but I believe I heard this happening with another show in the past too.

(Sorry - that doesn't answer your question. I am curious too.)

Updated On: 2/23/14 at 09:20 PM

[walkedthroughmany]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 9:23pm

They can opt to not be listed in the Playbill but receive a larger insert if they go on -- I think Wicked was the recent example.

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 10:25pm

Yes, standbys have the option to not be credited in the Playbill. Donna Vivino was a longtime Elphaba standby in WICKED who wasn't credited in the Playbill. Right now, Kathryn Meisle who is covering Debra Messing in OUTSIDE MULLINGAR has also opted not to be credited.

[broadwayworldreader]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 10:29pm

Is it advantageous either way or more a matter of preference?

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 10:31pm

As walkedthroughmany noted, not being listed in the Playbill does mean that in the event you go on, the Playbill is stuffed with a full page insert with headshot, which is more noticeable than a little slip. Also, more established actors (like Shaddow or Meisle) may prefer not to have an official credit as a standby.

[mikem]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 11:07pm

It happens from time to time. Off the top of my head, the understudies for Mark Rylance in Boeing-Boeing, Cherry Jones in Doubt, John Slattery in Rabbit Hole, and David Hyde Pierce in Vanya/Sonia all chose not to be listed. (I do not know who their understudies were.)

I have also heard it is because some people do not want to be listed as an understudy, but I'm not sure I understand why that would be considered to be bad.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 2:57am

Jefferson Mays' standby for GGTLAM (can't remember his name off the top of my head) also had a large insert in the Playbill rather than being listed as per usual.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 2:03pm

Many examples of this in Broadway history. For example, Gretchen Wyler was the Margo Channing standby for much (or perhaps all) of the Applause run but she was never credited in the playbill. Going back even further, George Gaynes was the Herbie standby for much of the original Gypsy run but was never credited.

Even further still, shortly into the original My Fair Lady run, Tom Helmore became the Higgins standby, but he was not credited. He left after a few months (following a disastrous performance he was doing that had to be canceled part of the way through because he had lost his voice), and Bramwell Fletcher became the standby for several years. I believe he was never credited.

A bit more recently, I believe that Christine Andreas was still the standby for Teresa Stratas on Broadway in Rags, but she was not credited. She went on for Stratas in Boston, including at the opening, so I was surprised when I saw it at the Hellinger not to see her in the playbill or even in the lobby cast list. But I've been told she was still the standby, just not credited.

It wasn't till the late 1940s that it even became common for Broadway playbills to list understudies.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 9:47pm

Actors and their egos...

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 10:01pm

Before it officially opened, Whitney Bashor was her standby. Elena came on as a stand-by after it officially opened. Considering she doesn't play any other part in the production, it makes sense she wouldn't be in the Playbill. She is only there when Kelli can't be.

[BwayFan832]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 10:06pm

Whitney Bashor was her understudy, but as far as I know, Elena Shaddow has been her standby since the first preview. Standbys are often in the playbill. Kevin Kern, the Robert standby, is in the playbill.

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 10:25pm

You're correct. Elena has been the standby since the first preview, and it is her choice not to be listed.

It's not uncommon for a large role to have both a standby and an understudy (or two undersides). Elena is the standby for Francesca and Whitney Bashor is the understudy.

Updated On: 2/25/14 at 10:25 PM

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 12:19pm

Oh, AC126748. That is my favorite monologue from any play,

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 12:40pm

I assume you're referring to my signature, nobodyhome? Thanks, I love it too.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 8:32pm

Yes, that's what I meant. "Signature." I forget that's what it's called. I've used the monologue as mine on other sites. Love that play so much.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 9:05pm

"Before it officially opened, Whitney Bashor was her standby. Elena came on as a stand-by after it officially opened."

I know Whitney, and I think she would be surprised to read this. Seeing as that's patently false and was never true.