How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
worrell4077
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/04
#1How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 2:45pm
I'm really curious about this. When a lead or an ensemble member goes on vacation or call out sick, how do they decide which understudy goes on?
Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
#2re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 3:04pm
Most shows (in the case of two understudies) have a 'first' and 'second' understudy system where they designate which is the main cover and which is secondary.
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Updated On: 1/5/07 at 03:04 PM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Bdwy24
Leading Actor Joined: 8/17/05
#3re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 3:08pm
My guess is whichever one is better. Or whichever is more prepared to go on. Whichever deserves to go on. Whoever is sleeping with the Stage Manager....
Overall, I think it's the stage managers call.
#4re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 3:10pm
They rotate.
Not always. For various (occasionally unfair) reasons, some understudies rarely go on and others go on all the time.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#5re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 3:27pm
no they dont actually rotate....... the character of elphaba for instance has a standby, 2 understudies, and a swing
in the case that a lead is out, the standby goes in, if they are unable to perform, then the first understudy goes in, if they are unable to perform, the 2nd understudy goes in, and if all understudies are unable to perform, they have a swing play the lead..... the only problem is the further down the line you go, the less of the part they know, so a swing for instance may only know a few lines and know the songs
what do u think they would do if no one could perform?
Can, can I have it?
#6re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 3:31pm
But not all shows have standbys.
what do u think they would do if no one could perform?
Fly someone in! It's been done.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
Updated On: 1/5/07 at 03:31 PM
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#7re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 3:41pm
the only problem is the further down the line you go, the less of the part they know
Why would that be?
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Josephine2
Leading Actor Joined: 9/29/06
#8re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 4:03pm
It all depends. There are some contractual factors and there are some "other" (some may say "political") factors that go into determining who goes on. Some possible factors include...
~some negotiate in their contract to be given 1st preference (ie-they are "1st cover")
~sometimes it depends on who the director, and subsequently the stage manager prefers/feels is best suited (or is most prepared).
~sometimes if an actor is out for an extended period, and the producers choose not to hire a temporary replacement, they may rotate understudies. There are often rules as to how many connsecutive times an understudy may go on for a role before he/she must be offered the part.
Basically, it's all a case-by-case, show-by-show decision as to which understudy gets to go on for a role.
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#9re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 4:06pm
He's speaking more of interpretation...they rarely get a chance to go on, so they are not as comfortable on stage.
There is no common rotation. Generally speaking, this is how it works:
LEAD
1ST UNDERSTUDY
2ND UNDERSTUDY
Basically, as pants2 said, a lead is out, the 1st understudy is called to go on. Also, the first understudy will often times be given pre-scheduled vacation weeks for the lead over the second, same going for personal day, etc. Sometimes the week will be split between the understudies, one doing Tuesdays-Thursdays, the other Fridays-Sundays.
The split-week scenario also can, seemingly, depend on if both understudies are in the ensemble. If the first understudy is a swing, they'll likely play the role for the full week. If both understudies are in the ensemble, the first generally performs full week, although they may sometimes split between the two.
Every so often, depending on how amicable the management may be, both undertsudies will get nearly equal opportunities to play the role.
ETA:
I have purposely left out standbys and swings (the swing could be included as a first or second understudy) to give a general overview.
How to properly use its/it's:
Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...
Updated On: 1/5/07 at 04:06 PM
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#10re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 4:11pm
Lead
(Standby)
1st Understudy
2nd Understudy
Swing
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#11re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 4:12pm
Most shows do not have first and second understudies anymore.
That is mostly an outdated procedure, but I wish it wasn't, than you wouldn't have chorus girls crying in the wings when they don't get to go on.
I like the idea of sleeping with the Stage managers also.
(well, a few of them)
#12re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 4:15pm
That's interesting, CPD, I did not know those rules had changed.
When I used to work on B'way shows, it was indeed very cut and dry, the exact way Yankee posted it. I wonder why it's been changed, that always seemed to work just fine - there was never a reason to question who was going on for whom.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
#13how do they decide which understudy goes on?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 4:22pma fight to the death using conductor's batons and jars of battery acid.
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...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#14re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 4:23pmI think CPD is right, to an extent....some shows are using the order less and less, but most still keep it going (sometimes to an extent, though). I know that The Woman in White used 1st and 2nd's (ie, Lisa Brescia always went on for Maria Friedman, but Leah Horowitz never did.
How to properly use its/it's:
Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#15re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 4:34pmIf you're in the original cast of Chicago and you're an understudy and Gwen Verdon gets a feather caught in her throat, you can kiss your chances of going on goodbye because Bob Fosse will fly out Liza Minelli.
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#16re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 4:34pmMiNNelli.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
#17re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 4:45pm
Not exactly true, Matt. Lenora Nemetz went on many, many times for both Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera, and eventually replaced Rivera as Velma. She also went on for Verdon before Minnelli joined the cast.
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#18re: How Do They Decide Which Understudy Goes On?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 6:03pmDidn't they have to cancel a performance of "Brooklyn" because the Understudy and the standby fought over who went on when the lead was sick and the Understudy took a baton to her eye and the Standby got battery acid in her ear?
#19how do they decide which understudy goes on?
Posted: 1/5/07 at 6:39pmno, brooklyn was so lame they used rock paper scissors and both of them threw paper and dislocated their thumbs.
r.i.p. marco, my guardian angel.
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
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