How to Research Schedules

[AHLiebross]

How to Research Schedules#1

Posted: 3/16/15 at 4:39am

I'm hoping that some of the New Yorkers can tell me how to research a performer's schedule. I'm not talking about the general weekly schedule, such as the main Christine going on for everything but, e.g. Wednesday night and Thursday matinee. Instead, I'm wondering how to find out whether the main performer is scheduled to go on during a particular time period, or is on vacation.

One thing I have noticed is that, when a show announces discount tickets for a set of performances, that's often the time period that the understudies go in. However, beyond this, I'm stymied.

I apologize if this has been covered before. If so, I didn't find the discussion. Instead, I saw a lot of questions about, for instance, whether Ramin and Sierra had firmed up their Les Miz and Phantom schedules yet for which weekly performances they would sit out.

Audrey, the Phantom Phanatic, who nonetheless would rather be Jean Valjean, who knew how to make lemonade out of lemons.

[LizzieCurry]

How to Research Schedules#2

Posted: 3/16/15 at 9:14am

This might be your best bet.

https://twitter.com/understudies

There doesn't appear to be any kind of master calendar maintained by anyone, which is probably for the best.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

[LarryD2]

How to Research Schedules#2

Posted: 3/16/15 at 9:25am

Telecharge or Ticketmaster will usually publish any pre-scheduled absences of a production's major stars. For example, Matthew Broderick is out of IT'S ONLY A PLAY this week, and that information has been available on Telecharge for some time now.

For unplanned absences, there's really no way to know other than conferring with the box office, or checking social media (which isn't always reliable).

[neonlightsxo]

How to Research Schedules#3

Posted: 3/16/15 at 9:57am

Their individual Twitter accounts.

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

How to Research Schedules#4

Posted: 3/16/15 at 10:37am

You can call the box office and ask if [insert performer name] has any scheduled absences coming up. It might not be perfect but if something has been set they'll tell you.

I like a good rhyme more than a good time

[adamgreer]

How to Research Schedules#5

Posted: 3/16/15 at 1:33pm

One thing I have noticed is that, when a show announces discount tickets for a set of performances, that's often the time period that the understudies go in.

I almost always use a discount code when I see shows, and I have never known this to be the case. I've seen understudies at performances where I've paid full price and the full cast at performances where I've been in TDF seats.

The only exception I can think of to this is when I particular star is going to be out for a vacation/ absence, and the producers announce a sale to drive ticket sales (though if it's a big enough star, they'll just cancel performances). Night Music drastically discounted tickets the week Catherine Zeta Jones was out.