Famous Standbys-Understudies, etc.- Page 3

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:05am

I don't know if Sutton really counts as a "Millie understudy." Sure, she was cast as such, but she wasn't by the time the show opened.

[hak]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 5:05pm

Norbert Leo Butz for Adam in RENT

[Buscee]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 7:08pm

Debbie Shapiro was Lucie Arnaz's undertudy, Donna Murphy joined the cast long after Lucie left. Debbie left the show early in the run , and never went on. A week after she left Lucie Arnaz got sick.

Posted: 7/25/05 at 7:19pm

I think Jesus was God's understudy

[proscello]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 10:14pm

In The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Donna Murphy was the understudy for Cleo Laine as well as Betty Buckley. Patti Cohenour was the alternate and understudy for Linda Ronstadt in the Off-Broadway production of La Boheme and for Sara Brightman in Phantom of the Opera.

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 10:32pm

Laura Bell Bundy for Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda in Wicked.

[darkmist115]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 2:16am

just to reply to what some others have said, yes taye diggs REPLACED butz in wicked for a month or so while he was out on back problems. however, kristoffer cusick also covered for a few weeks. and as for eden being the famous u/s, wicked is what made her famous.

[aeichler]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 10:42pm

Thelma Carpenter, who stood by for Pearl Bailey in "Hello, Dolly!", also eventually took over all of the matinee performances with "billing" in the ABC ads, so technically she ranks among Broadway's official "Dolly's".

[Nick Murphy]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 11:29pm

Catherine Zeta Jones understudied Peggy Sawyer in London and eventually went on to play the role.

[ILuv2shop531]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 11:35pm

More recent, Krysta Rodriguez understudied in quite a few shows before she originated the role of Wednesday.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 11:38pm

I once told my uncle (who is retired from the industry) that I wanted to be a Broadway STAR! He told me to set my sights at being a decent understudy...wow.

[rougeduck]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 11:43pm

Earlier in the thread, someone said saycon did porn...wtf?

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 11:46pm

Great thread! Some recent ones I can think of:

Chris Fitzgerald understudied Malcolm Gets in AMOUR
Katie Finneran understudied Lannyl Stephens in MY FAVORITE YEAR and Kali Rocha in IN THE SUMMER HOUSE
Jonathan Groff understudied Christopher Hanke in IN MY LIFE
Jessica Molaskey understudied Carolee Carmello in PARADE
Both Lynda Gravett and the recently passed Jane White understudied Phylicia Rashad in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF.
Tony nominee Maureen Anderman understudied Vanessa Redgrave in both THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING and DRIVING MISS DAISY.
Montego Glover understudied Fantasia in THE COLOR PURPLE.

[ILuv2shop531]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 11:49pm

Karen Olivo was a semi early Mimi understudy in RENT
Aaron Tveit understudied both Mark and Roger on the tour

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 6:04am

My post utilizes a sort of reverse logic, but is interesting to me at least. Re. the Lincoln Center 1965 revival of CAROUSEL, the stars were the original Billy--John Raitt and Eileen Christy. My ex-sister in law Dorothy Emmerson was the understudy for Eileen Christy and went on for her for the final two performances of the Lincoln Center engagement. Dorothy called me and left a house seat for me for the Saturday matinee. I was thrilled for her. The show then toured wih the Lincoln Center cast intact. Eileen Christy was out for a great number of performances, allowing Dorothy to go on for her on numerous occasions. Richard Rodgers was producer of the show and had picked Dorothy to be Christy's understudy. Despite all of this luck accompanying Dorothy, she nevertheless was never able to capitalize on the experience wih regard to her theatre career. She appeared with Dustin Hoffman in JIMMY SHINE and also was in the cast of the comedy NORMAN, IS THAT YOU? and then she just disappeared from Broadway and the Road, never ro appear on stage again. The life of an actress or actor is surely a difficult one; fame is fleeting, like quicksilver disappearing through your hands.

Updated On: 8/2/11 at 06:04 AM

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 8:06am

Julie Christie played Julie Jordan? I cannot picture that at all.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 9:34am

I don't think I've seen this mentioned in this thread ...

Joanne Woodward was the understudy for both Madge and Millie (Janice Rule and Kim Stanley) in the original Broadway production of PICNIC. Paul Newman played Alan after being elevated out of town from understudying both Alan and Hal (and playing the smaller role of the newsboy Bomber), and this is the play where they first met and got together. They were the out-of-town understudies for the leads in Picnic.

Updated On: 8/2/11 at 09:34 AM

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 11:22am

I actually just heard about this on THE VIEW the other day. Cloris Leachman was the understudy for Mary Martin (as Nellie Forbush) in the original production of SOUTH PACIFIC.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 11:48am

Eileen Christy played "Julie Jordan" in the 1965 Lincoln Center revival of CAROUSEL, *not* film actress Julie Christie.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 12:24pm

Well that makes a lot more sense. I was trying to picture twenty-three year old Julie Christie, fresh off an Oscar win, doing a rep revival of CAROUSEL. It's quite an interesting picture.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 12:32pm

CarlosAlberto and AC126748: You are both absolutely right. Julie Christie was/is a film actress. My ex-sister in law was the understudy to Eileen Christy in the 1965 Music Theater of Lincoln Center production of CAROUSEL. My apologies for the error.
I have edited my original post to correct the mistake.

Updated On: 8/2/11 at 12:32 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 12:40pm

No need to apologize, Gypsy. It was quite amusing picturing one of the quintessential 1960s mod girls in a petticoat singing "What's the Use of Wond'rin".

Speaking of, whatever happened to Eileen Christy? It seems like she fell off the face of the earth--that CAROUSEL appears to be one of her last credits.

[ajh]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 3:03pm

Victoria Clark understudied Faith Prince as Adelaide in the Jerry Zaks directed revival of Guys & Dolls back in the early 90s. Also, Jere Shea (the original Giorgio in Sondheim's Passion) understudied Peter Gallagher then Burke Moses as Sky in the same production.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 3:58pm

No one has mentioned the understudy's understudy, Patti Karr.

Patti covered so many people because she was a quick study and a pro. I just checked IBDB, and there is at least one understudy job that is missing, So Long 174th Street. She also stood by for industrial shows like the Millikin show.

Shows she covered in include the Rink, Seesaw, Pippin, Forum (1972 revival), Do Re Mi, Redhead and Bells Are Ringing.

She was one of those sing-dancer-actresses who always worked (takeover, standing by, road, stock) and was often offered jobs without an audition.

Famous? Not really. Well known within the biz? You bet. It made a lot of people feel good when she took over Seesaw and her name was above the title.

I knew her during 174th Street.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 5:45pm

I didn't know that about Jere Shea understudying Sky. Speaking of him, he was evidently offered Joe Hardy (a role that won Jarrod Emmick a Tony) in the revival of Damn Yankees (I think he played it during the out of town tryout) but chose to originate Giorgio instead. What a tough choice (although a nice problem to have). Hasn't he since left the business? I think he now is like, a corporate public speaking coach or something.

BTW: Patti was offered The Witch but then "negotiations broke down"? WTF? I don't care if you have a Tony Award. Stephen Sondheim wants you to originate a leading role for him, you ask where to sign. Unbelievable.