Hamilton understudies on ALL the time. — Page 2

Why is does it have to be either one or the other? Why can't it be both? I think Lin was the star, garnering a lot of free publicity for Hamilton and deservedly being lauded for his accomplishments. But he also wrote a great piece that is capable of selling tickets without him. It's different because they didn't write the show but I think you could say Idina and Kristin were the stars of Wicked... but clearly the show has become the attraction.

HogansHero said: "macnyc said: "I think I wouldn't mind the understudy parade as much if there were at least a permanent Laf/Jeff! The fact that the role has gone unfilled for so long is disturbing to me. And why Equity is allowing it, that's a mystery too. I'm hoping all will be revealed soon."

I'd love to understand why you say all this but it is beyond me. How or why is it "disturbing" to you? Do you even have plans to see it? Why do you care why "Equity is allowing it." Do you even know that there is anything to be "allowed," because I don't. And perhaps if it is, as has been rehearsed here before, it is to and for the benefit and advantage of the Equity members that it is being done.



I am not a broadway person, just an average Joe/Jane theater go-er. I think it devalues a show not to have a principal cast; to have understudies constantly. I feel this way about the ballet, about the opera, and about theater. I am not talking about having understudies APPEAR because of all the many things that may happen to members of the principal cast on any given performance day....but frankly, just like I get bummed when I see NYCB filling its principal roster with members of the corps for a show I've looked forward to, I too would get bummed if I saw that with any broadway show including Hamilton. You may judge that, but it's how I would feel paying the prices that are paid for live performances in NYC....By rotating Jefferson/Lafayette, in my ignorance it makes me think neither is deemed "good enough" or 'star enough' by the producers to get the role permanently. To me, that devalues the performers/performance. I don't understand it, but since you seem to, please enlighten me.



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Sometimes understudies are "better" (however you want to quantify that) than the principal, but there's conflict among the creative team; the understudy covers other roles so is more valuable in the ensemble for that reason, etc... And most people, if they were not given a cast list nor enough photos or enough listens to the cast recording to know better, wouldn't be able to tell anyway.

LizzieCurry said: "Sometimes understudies are "better" (however you want to quantify that) than the principal, but there's conflict among the creative team; the understudy covers other roles so is more valuable in the ensemble for that reason, etc... And most people, if they were not given a cast list nor enough photos or enough listens to the cast recording to know better, wouldn't be able to tell anyway.

I agree with you, but that is not the point.

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It's funny that you used NYCB as an example. I've seen some of my favorite performances there (much like on broadway) done by non-principals being put into leading roles. Once upon a time, I got to see then-soloist Robert Fairchild play Romeo in R&J. It's still one of my favorite performances.

Similarly, I've seen some of my favorite Broadway performances come from understudies. Recently - Alysha Deslorieux as Eliza. I know this will be unpopular around here, but I thought she was far superior to Philippa Soo.



That being said, I do think the amount of understudies I saw last week was a bit odd. There were understudies for Eliza, Mulligan/Madison, Lafayette/Jefferson (obviously), Phillip Hamilton, James Reynolds/Phillip Schuyler, and obviously all of the respective ensemble tracks.

@Mediamaven, obviously there is a reason it is being done as it is, and it is I gather to the satisfaction of the parties involved. What I don't get is why you care. Why you would feel better about the performance you saw based on the actor's contractual status? To me, my satisfaction with a performance depends on the performance, not on a technical detail that strikes me as someone else's issue.

@Islander,it is well known that Hamilton, like some other shows, uses a full insert at every performance. So even if there are no understudies on, there is a full insert rather than the smaller lap bombs.

LOL "lap bombs."

I once had a new company member specifically request that there not be a "joining the company" insert for her, she didn't want her name/face trampled on by hundreds on strangers in the street every night for a month.

HogansHero said: "trpguyy said: "LOL "lap bombs."

I can't take credit for it. It's an old advertising term that is used to refer to the unmissable ads that falls out of magazines.



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It's a great term (for both of these "products" and I'm really glad you revived it here.

Do you mean Lexi Lawson? She has missed a lot of shows.

I feel like people often misinterpret the actual number of people out of a show based off the understudy board. Case in point, when I saw Edwin Drood, Will Chase and Chita were out. Their understudies played named characters in the ensemble (the whole ensemble had character names), so the board listed 4 changes. A gentleman in charge of one of those bus trips threw a fit like a toddler that "no one told [him] six months ago that 4 of the STARS were going to be out tonight" I believe the Les Mis understudy board used to break down " principal roles" and "ensemble roles" to prevent such freak outs.

Honestly though, if I manage to score tickets to Hamilton, I really don't care who is playing what, those understudies are amazing.

saxpower said: "Is it possible they have someone in mind for Lafayette/Jefferson who just isn't available yet?"

Posts like this give me the tiniest sliver of hope that it may be James Monroe Iglehart :) (even though I'm sure it won't be, I just think he would be amazing)

In addition to the really fascinating ASL interpretation, this weeks' digital Ham 4 Ham gives a little glimpse of Michael Luwoye's Hamilton and Jevon McFerrin ( i believe?) as Jefferson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI0V3MNAXQU

(I don't recognize the Washington cover)