Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

I love the fact that Vivian(Ethel Mertz)Vance was the standby for Ethel Merman in ANYTHING GOES. Adore the fact that Elaine Stritch stoodby for the much older Ethel Merman in CALL ME MADAM. Love the fact that Gretchen Wyler stoodby for the Broadway Margos in APPLAUSE. Mary(the original matron mama morton in chicago, GYPSY national tour, the original singer of "Who's That Woman", the mirror song in Follies) McCartey stoodby for Patsy Kelly in the IRENE revival.
Love that Gene Rayburn understudied Dick Van Dyke in BYE BYE BIRDIE and Charles Nelson Reilly understudied Paul Lynde at the same time. Of course Reilly and Rayburn later worked together on MATCHGAME.
I guess the most famous understudy is still Shirley MacLaine; becoming a movie star because Carol Haney injured her leg opening night of THE PAJAMA GAME. In the musical APPLAUSE, at one point they sing a lyric referring to the character of an understudy going on stage and "pulled a Shirley Maclaine."
CAN YOU think of any other very interesting understudy/standby folks? Oh yes, of course there was the delightful Bibi Osterwald who stoodby for Broadway's Dollys and Thelma Carpenter who stoodby for Pearl Bailey's Dolly. :)

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Maureen Moore....She stood by Bernadette in a couple things.
Cheyenne Jackson....he stood by for a couple roles before landing his own.

I LOVE IT!!! thank you so much...I had forgotten everyone you folks have mentioned. thanks you so very much,,,please keep em coming. :)))))

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Nancy Andrews for Mildred Natwick & Lillian Roth in 70 GIRLS 70
Tom Poston for Eddie Bracken in SHINBONE ALLEY
Christine Ebersole & Judy Kaye for Madeline Kahn in ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Barry Humphries for Ron Moody in OLIVER!

Larry Kert for Peter Allen in Legs Diamond (a much better choice for the role IMO)

Eileen Rodgers for Ethel Merman in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
Jerry Orbach for John Raitt in CAROUSEL
Phyllis Newman for Judy Holliday and
Hal Linden for Sydney Chaplin in BELLS ARE RINGING
Karen Morrow for Tammy Grimes in UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN

Updated On: 4/17/05 at 12:42 PM

capn! i never knew that about you! are you still waiting for Q or have you moved on to another show?!?! if you're ever called on, better let me know

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Several years ago there was an off-Broadway revival of The Cocoanuts. Michael McGrath was playing the role created by Groucho Marx. Since they wanted to re-create the sort of anarchy that went on during Marx Brothers musicals he was given a certain degree of ad-libbing freedom.

McGrath had just finished a gig standing by for Nathan Lane in Forum. The night I saw him in The Cocoanuts, he made his first entance as Groucho, then stopped and looked around the theatre in brief confusion -- then blurted out, "Wait a minute... this isn't the St. James!" Me and one other guy in the back let out a couple of big laughs. The rest of the audience obviously had no idea what he meant. I assume that was the only night that line was used.

I can't believe this one hasn't come up yet.

Brittney Spears and Natlie Portman for Laura Bell Bundy in RUTHLESS!

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i knew it was

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Updated On: 4/17/05 at 01:05 PM

Nancy Dulsault for Bernadette in some junk
Eden Espinosa is gettin more famous
Saycon is probably known across the country for rent and she also did porn modeling (I believe?)

anne reinking for roxie in the original chicago(she's not listed as an ensemble member or understudy on ibdb.com but from all the video clips i've seen she was in the ensemble)

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