Jagged Little Pill Understudies

I've seen JLP in Cambridge and in NY. I'm looking forward to seeing it again but would like to see an understudy or two. Anyone know of any upcoming cast vacations or scheduled absences? I loved Elizabeth Stanley but would like to see Laurel Harris as Mary Jane!

Updated On: 12/11/19 at 09:14 AM

steven22 said: "I've seenJLP in Cambridge and in NY. I'm looking forward to seeing it again but would like to see an understudy or two. Anyone know of any upcoming cast vacations or scheduled absences? I loved Elizabeth Stanley but would like to see Laurel Harris as Mary Jane!"

Jane Bruce has been doing a lot of events singing MJ songs, I wonder if she is going to go on first.

E Rosoff said: "I’ve been waiting for this day since the show opened and I missed it. I was right there too. I could have easily gone. I know she was fabulous. It’s weird that there seems to be no mention besides one audience member posting it in their story and Jagged Little Pill posting that post in their story. And of course the post here.

Does JLP frown upon their cast announcing when they’re going on for roles they cover? Some shows do. I don’t know why. People who follow cast members of shows want to see them go on. I hope that if it happens again, we’ll get some notice. Because Laurel Harris as MJ is something I NEED to see...her ensemble parts throughout the show are some of my favorites and her Elphaba and Carole King and other roles I’ve seen her play were all amazing.

Waiting patiently for anyone who was there to tell us how awesome it was. And if anyone knows if she’s going on again tonight or in the near future."

Well the first thing to address here is the sense of entitlement I'm getting. Is it awesome when we're given notice about which understudies/standbys are performing? Yes. Are we entitled to it or owed it in any sense? Absolutely not. It is up to the production. Something like this could have been an incredibly last minute thing. Maybe Elizabeth Stanley thought she'd be able to make the show, but come a few hours, or even an hour before the show she realized she wouldn't be able to go on. But even if it wasn't last minute, it is not up to us to say, "they should always tell us when an understudy is going on beforehand!" because no, that's not their job. I LOVE how many people buy tickets expressly to see understudies, but if they don't announce it before, that is absolutely NO reason/does not give anyone the right to get upset if there's no ahead of schedule notice.



We have grown incredibly entitled as audience members. It is SO awesome that people buy tickets with the sole purpose of seeing understudies (I myself have done that numerous times) but I never felt like I was OWED their schedule ahead of time. If they made it public knowledge? Great! If not, you need to find something else to be upset about, because this is most likely something that is not easily controlled by the actors, unless things are made public knowledge. It's not worth getting upset about.

ALSO just thought of something--if people expressly buy tickets thinking they're going to see a specific cast, sure there will be people who are thrilled that instead, they have an understudy, but there may be some people who don't want to see the show if they know they're not seeing who they want to see, and that involves them getting angry at the actors, which something actors do not deserve. Things come up that are out of their control.

E Rosoff said: "I just wasn’t sure how it all worked. I definitely don’t think they are under any obligation to tell us anything about anyone. And I’m excited for her and I hope it went well. I’m just kicking myself because I almost got a ticket randomly yesterday and I didn’t."

Ah man that stinks!! But I'm sure she'll be on again! I hope you get to see her when she is! Sending good vibes so you get to :) Sorry I was so quick to be so....defensive? Whatever I was. I'm sorry :/

Has Ezra Menas been on for Jo yet? Not a commentary on Patton, but I think it would be thrilling to see a non-binary actor in the non-binary role.

Sauja said: "Has Ezra Menas been on for Jo yet? Not a commentary on Patton, but I think it would be thrilling to see a non-binary actor in the non-binary role."

Ezra made his Jo debut on Feb 18th. It was beyond thrilling seeing him.

mailhandler777 said: "hamiltonstradition said: "JLP has no problem with understudies posting, John a lot of the others have already posted about going on. I know Laurel was injured when they had the put-in so I'm sure she was rehearsing and busy. It's also not her 'job' to announce when she's on."

At the beginning they could post. Now they get into trouble for posting. Ezra wasn't allowed to post when he went on as Jo and neither was Ken allowed when just went on as Steve on Tuesday."

I think it might depend on the actor. Sean did post that he was in some cabin in the woods for a day off on Tuesday afternoon, so clearly they're not that strict about it - I think Ken just isn't that active on socials. Lauren got such good reviews, they may be worried about her specifically announcing that she's out and the box office impact.

Elizabeth called out after the matinee so I'm sure Laurel was too busy to post anything anyways. I'd be interested to see if Laurel would post when she has advance dates. Elizabeth has already said she's going to France in June so I bet those dates will be announced in advance.

thedustsettles said: "mailhandler777 said: "hamiltonstradition said: "JLP has no problem with understudies posting, John a lot of the others have already posted about going on. I know Laurel was injured when they had the put-in so I'm sure she was rehearsing and busy. It's also not her 'job' to announce when she's on."

At the beginning they could post. Now they get into trouble for posting. Ezra wasn't allowed to post when he went on as Jo and neither was Ken allowed when just went on as Steve on Tuesday."

I think it might depend on the actor. Sean did post that he was in some cabin in the woods for a day off on Tuesday afternoon, so clearly they're not that strict about it - I think Ken just isn't that active on socials. Lauren got such good reviews, they may be worried about her specifically announcing that she's out and the box office impact.

Elizabeth called out after the matinee so I'm sure Laurel was too busy to post anything anyways. I'd be interested to see if Laurel would post when shehas advance dates. Elizabeth has already said she's going to France in June so I bet those dates will be announced in advance."

Ironically the day Ezra went on as Jo was one of the few Tuesdays that sold out but I agree that Lauren is a big draw for the show as she does most of the promo spots for it.

thedustsettles said: "Ironically the day Ezra went on as Jo was one of the few Tuesdays that sold out but I agree that Lauren is a big draw for the show as she does most of the promo spots for it."

I think announcing understudies definitely draws in audience members and can boost sales, especially on a show like this and with someone like Ez who has a lot of fans (as does Laurel). But I can also see why the team is hesitant to do it. It makes sense both ways. I'm just pointing out that I don't think Laurel would have posted even if she had been allowed."



Laurel isn't the best on social media either. I love her but she will be the first to tell you that she is terrible at it.