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Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc. — Page 2

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#26

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 1:37pm

I may be wrong Jon but I'm not sure if she was in the original ensemble of Chicago. She's not listed in the playbill. I think she was doing, or getting ready to go into ACL but I may be wrong, either that or Goodtime Charley(I may be several years off on the second point).
I got rid of my teeth at a young age because... I'm straight. Teeth are for gay people. That's why fairies come and get them
#27

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 1:47pm

Judy Kuhn, Donna Murphy and Rob Marshall were all understudies to the leads in the original production of DROOD.

Bryce Dallas Howard was understudy in a couple of Broadway shows before being plucked to be the lead in the movie THE VILLAGE

A CHORUS LINE had lots of great Broadway understudies early in their careers -- Karen Ziemba, Bebe Neuwirth etc.

Before she became a comedian, Rita Rudner understudied principle roles in ANNIE and MACK AND MABEL.

Blythe Danner was the understudy to the female lead in the flop MATA HARI

Diane Keaton was the understudy for the female lead in the OBC of HAIR.

Updated On: 4/17/05 at 01:47 PM

#28

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 2:44pm

Carl Magnum , you may be right but i've seen clips of orbach's all i care about and i could have sworn she was in there (maybe someone who looked like her?)
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
#29

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 3:16pm

Am I going crazy? Sherie Rene Scott was the original Amneris in AIDA- After all, she is on the OBCR and if I remember correctly, Idina Menzel was brought in to replace her.
"I need to know that someone out there cares...Are you there?"
#30

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 4:10pm

Ann Reinking was not in the original cast of CHICAGO. She joined the cast when the part of Roxie was vacated by Gwen Verdon, playing opposite Lenora Nemetz as Velma when Chita departed. Jerry Orbach remained. Reinking's star was already well on the rise when CHICAGO opened, she was never in its ensemble. At the time it opened I believe she was starring with Joel Grey in GOODTIME CHARLEY (do I have that title right?)............Ms. Reinking of course also replaced Donna McKechnie's Cassie in A CHORUS LINE on Broadway.
"Blow out the candles Robert and make a wish. Want something, want SOMETHING."
#31

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 4:19pm

I cannot believe that Charlotte d'Amboise hasn't been mentioned yet. Also:

Nora Mae Lyng for Claudia Shear in DIRTY BLONDE
Karen Mason for Close, Buckley, Paige in SUNSET BLVD.
Patricia Hodges was the stand-by for Mary Tyler Moore, and then replaced MTM, in ROSE'S DILEMMA
#32

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 4:24pm

Lauren Kennedy for Emily Skinner in SIDE SHOW
Anita Gillette for Ana Maria Alberghetti in CARNIVAL
Elaine Stritch for Uta Hagen in VIRGINIA WOOLF
#33

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 4:26pm

Ann Reinking replaced Donna McKechnie in Chorus Line? Was her voice better back then? I can't imagine her singing that song. I can imagine her dancing the crap out of it, though!
Eeeeeeyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaannnnnddddd aaaaaaaiiiiiiiiyyyyyyaaaaaammmmmmmm teeeeeeeelllllliiiiiinnngg yyyyooooooouuuuuuuwwwaaaahh...
#34

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 4:28pm

Scott was never Menzel's understudy and yes, she (Scott), originated the Amneris role which Mentzel performed for a short time down the line. She was also Menzel's first replacement in RENT, not her stand-by.
#35

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 4:37pm

BJ, Ugh... I can't find the exact quote now, but I seem to recall that Cassie's song and dance were altered a bit to fit the replacements, at least at first. The costume was also adjusted for Ann... she wore it lower and the opening was on the opposite side.
Happy, smile! Sad, frown! Use the corresponding face with the corresponding emotion! - Kate (Meg Ryan), French Kiss
#36

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 7:09pm

This is my new fave thread! (And that's saying something after the Famous feuds one). Someone should collect all these and put out a book!
#37

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 7:17pm

Norbert Leo Butz was the original understudy for Roger in Rent, originated by Adam Pascal.
Yes, I'm pinay. And I'm proud of it!

Updated On: 4/17/05 at 07:17 PM

#39

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 8:08pm

Sean McCourt is a well-known actor for a lot of off-Broadway work, but he is understudying the roles of the Wizard and Dilimond in WICKED (as well as playing Witch's father and other ensemble roles).
David walked into the valley With a stone clutched in his hand He was only a boy But he knew someone must take a stand There will always be a valley Always mountains one must scale There will always be perilous waters Which someone must sail -Into the Fire Scarlet Pimpernel
#40

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 8:13pm

I don't think Nancy Dussault understudied Bernadette Peters in "some junk" but she was a replacement Witch late in the run of INTO THE WOODS after Betsy Joslyn.

Also Elaine Stritch didn't actually understudy Uta Hagen in VIRGINIA WOOLF, she was part of an alternate company who played matinees.
#41

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 9:15pm

I personally think everyone that has understudied or went on for Elphaba (Idina, Shsoshana, Kristy, Saycon, Eden, Stephanie, Jenna..) will all go down in history. They all gave outstanding performances from what I hear.
#42

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 10:21pm

Kevin Spirtus, Dr. Craig (chloe's dad) of Days of Our Lives, stoodby for Hugh Jackman in Oz. he was not allowed to go on.
I'd fire you... if you weren't so g*dd*mn beautiful out there. - Blades of Glory blog
#43

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/17/05 at 10:47pm

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the always amazing Linda Mugleston!

She's understudied Lea Delaria in "On the Town", Marin Mazzie in "Kiss Me, Kate", Vanessa Willaims & Kerry O'Malley in "Into the Woods", Mary Stuart Masterson in "Nine" and of course, Donna Murphy in "Wonderful Town."
#46

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/18/05 at 2:57am

Speaking of Marin Mazzie. She played Rapunzel and understudied the roles of Cinderella for Kim Crosby and the Witch for Nancy Dussault in the original Into the Woods production. She has a cute story about having to go on as all three in one week. Reaally crazy
#47

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/18/05 at 8:58am

AMEN Tbone, but you know how this board is, there's BWW "famous" and then, there's the real world.
#48

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/18/05 at 11:25am

You mean like...
Pia Zadora for Neva Small in HENRY, SWEET HENRY?

I thought everyone knew ALL those names...
#49

re: Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.

Posted: 4/18/05 at 9:32pm

As a member of the original cast of "Birdie", Apr 14, 1960 - Oct 7, 1961... Please, allow me to correct you re: Gene Rayburn's understudy to D.V.D. Charles Nelson Rielly was the understudy for Dick, and Lee Howard was Paul Lynde's understudy. When Dick left to do the movie version of "Birdie", Gene Rayburn came in as his replacement. FYI, Gretchen Wyler was Chita's replacement.


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