Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

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Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

Posted: 8/11/10 at 7:10pm

Sorry for the thread title, i just can't think of another way to put it. What I'm talking about is cast members of a show taking over a role (either on broadway or on tour) that they did not understudy.

Some Examples;
Mitch Jarvis as Stacee Jaxx- Rock of Ages
Natalie Joy Johnson as Paulette- Legally Blonde
Donna Murphy as Edwin Drood (oops)
Michael McCormack as John Adams- 1776

any others?

Oh and better title suggestions will be accepted

"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

Updated On: 8/12/10 at 07:10 PM

Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

Posted: 8/11/10 at 7:17pm

Edmund?

Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

Posted: 8/11/10 at 7:25pm

The thread title is clunky but clear. Brad Oscar stepped into the role of Franz during The Producers out of town try-outs, when the original actor developed knee trouble. Don't know whether or not he understudied the role prior to that, though.

Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

Posted: 8/11/10 at 8:37pm

A better term is "outside hire."

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

Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

Posted: 8/11/10 at 9:16pm

Cris Groenendaal went on to play George in the original production of SITPWG after not understudying it while playing Louis the baker. That'd be weird to see...

Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

Posted: 8/11/10 at 9:22pm

There was the Joanna Pacitti "Annie" scandal where they replaced her with one of the other orphans who hadn't been her understudy.

Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

Posted: 8/11/10 at 9:25pm

Wouldn't an "outside hire" mean hiring someone who wasn't in the show?

Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

Posted: 8/11/10 at 9:34pm

Gwen Stewart wasn't an understudy for Joanne when she was the "Seasons of Love" soloist/Mrs. Jefferson in the original cast of "Rent", but she went on to replace Fredi Walker.

Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

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

Drew Sarich taking over as Jean Valjean in Les Miz.

#10

Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

Posted: 8/11/10 at 10:40pm

"Cris Groenendaal went on to play George in the original production of SITPWG after not understudying it while playing Louis the baker. That'd be weird to see..."

When Robert Westenberg, the original George understudy, took over as George, Groenendaal became the George understudy. Groenendaal only went on as the understudy and as a vacation replacement for Westenberg.

#11

Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

Posted: 8/12/10 at 12:29am

Roger Bart as Leo Bloom in the Producers. I'm pretty sure Brad Oscar was understudying Franz when he took over for Ron Orbach though.

Was Allie Schulz a Rizzo u/s before she played the role on tour?

Dean: Can I tell you something? Lorraine: That depends on what it is. Dean: I think you're really really pretty. Lorraine: (after a pause) Ok, you can tell me that.

#12

Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

Posted: 8/12/10 at 2:18am

Speaking of Cris Groenendaal, he did do this in Phantom. I don't think he was ever a Phantom understudy on Broadway. He was a Raoul understudy, as well as the first Monsieur Firmin. But then he was (IIRC) the third Phantom, taking over when Tmothy Nolen was let go.

Another example: David Ford, the original John Hancock in 1776, never understudied Dickinson, but he was a replacement in that role.

Also in that show, Charles Rule moved from Hewes to Witherspoon to Chase, but I don't think he ever understudied the two replacement roles. (Of course, that's kind of minor.)

And if we want to count this, Jim Walton was not the Franklin Shepard understudy in Merrily We Roll Along when he took over the role during previews. David Cady was the Frank understudy. He took over Walton's role as Jerome when Walton took over as Frank. Cady remained the Frank understudy.

#13

Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

Posted: 8/12/10 at 2:39am

None of the Debbie Wilkinson's(Maria Connelly, Izzy Hanson Johnston, and currently Georgi James) because all of the replacements so far have been understudies. Maria Connelly, Izzy Hanson Johnston, and currently Georgi James. Maria is in the role in Chicago.

Two replacements for Sherrie so far have been understudies for the role and waitress number one, they are Savannah Wise and Emily Padgett. Note Emily will be in the role of Sherrie until March.

Most replacements have been understudying, Standby's, or the production decided to hold auditions for an replacement.

#14

Internal Replacements who did not understudy the role previously

Posted: 8/12/10 at 7:32am

Michael McCorrmack was the Adams understudy in 1776. (At least he is listed in my Playbill as such.) And much as I LOVED Brent Spiner in this show, I thought Michael was a better Adams!

And I believe Brittany Kissinger was an Annie understudy to Joanna Pacitti before replacing her. But I'm not 100% sure on this one. Brittany was okay, but too young at the time. She was almost as small as Molly!

<-- Tevye, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, March 2018

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