Kristen/Bebe Matinee performances

[Ryguy7]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 2:57pm

Hey everyone,
I'm going to New York to check out both Chicago and The Apple Tree (I hope) at the beginning of January. Just wondering if both actresses play the Wed. matinee roles. If one doesn't, that will help me determine which show to see when on that day.
Thanks!
Ryan

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 2:58pm

They're contracted for 8 shows a week.

[Ryguy7]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 3:01pm

Thank you!
Ryan

[Horton]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 3:03pm

I believe Kristin does not have an understudy,

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 4:40pm

She has to have an understudy if its on Broadway.

[AC126748]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 4:44pm

In this case, she doesn't. Since it is at Roundabout, a non-for-profit, it is a special contract show and she is not required to have an understudy. Should she ever be out, the show will be cancelled. BD Wong did not have an understudy when he did PACIFIC OVERTURES at 54 two years ago.

[jasobres]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 7:54pm

Yes, he did. He might not have gone on for him, but Joseph Anthony Foronda was listed as Wong's understudy.

[mikem]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 8:41pm

Sorry to be betraying my ignorance, but why wouldn't Kristin have an understudy? According to the Actors Equity website (which describes specific changes in the Roundabout/Studio 54 contract but as far as I can tell doesn't say anything about the understudy requirement being waived -- maybe I'm just missing it), the understudy for a principal part for a Roundabout production at Studio 54 only gets $33 more a week, and it would be helpful to have someone to rehearse with BDJ and Marc Kudisch's understudies. And what if Kristin gets injured or sick mid-performance? (Sadly, not entirely out of the question since she's been injured already.) The producers can certainly decide that the show will be cancelled if they know Kristin isn't going on, but it seems that there might be some benefit in having someone around who knows the part.

Updated On: 11/29/06 at 08:41 PM

[cooperross]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 8:50pm

if Kristin gets injured or sick the show will be over. Roundabout has no intention of putting on any performances of this show without Kristin performing.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 10:19pm

On IBDB, Sarah Jane Everman is listed as Chenoweth's understudy, fyi.

[myManCape]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 10:26pm

Sarah Jane Everman is the understudy for Eve/Barbara/Passionella. The fact that she will never go on is a different story.

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 10:34pm

As myManCape said, she Is Kristin's understudy, though she'll never get to go on. I sort of wish I could see her do the show just for a different take.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 10:41pm

It's Kristin, not Kristen

[Joshua488]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 2:52am

I wonder if they even bothered to have Sarah Jane Everman learn the roles.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 3:11am

Poor Sarah Jane, she seems to have caught the John Hill disease.

[myManCape]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:18am

I'm sure Ms. Everman knows the roles and has rehearsed them. She is after all, getting paid to know them. I'm also sure that she knows that it is extremely unlikely that she would ever go on. In fact the only reason I can think that she would go on is if Kristin has to leave mid-performance, and the producers choose not to cancel the remainder of the show.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:13pm

Where do you people get this inside info? Do you work for the Roundabout? Are you intimates of Kristin Chenoweth?

What if she gets extremely sick and can't go on for several days or even a week? Is a nonprofit theatre like the Roundabout going to cancel all those performances? Refund all those tickets? Seems highly unlikely.

Of course, I'm sure that Kristin Chenoweth hopes to play all the performances. But if she can't, my guess is that the understudy will go on. I suppose the Roundabout might cancel one performance (though I rather doubt even that). But if it went on for several performances? Not likely.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 1:18pm

It reminds me of when Hugh Jackman had a couple of pre-scheduled absences from BOY FROM OZ. The producers simply cancelled those shows (and willingly took a six figure loss of potential income) rather than allowing his standby Kevin Spirtas to go on for him.

The producers of I AM MY OWN WIFE also simply cancelled several performances when Jefferson Mays got sick at one point during the run. Even though Mays was hardly a "star name" his performance in many ways WAS the show and, although auditions were held, I don't believe the producers ever hired a standby for him.

Updated On: 1/2/07 at 01:18 PM

[cooperross]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 1:49pm

'Of course, I'm sure that Kristin Chenoweth hopes to play all the performances. But if she can't, my guess is that the understudy will go on. I suppose the Roundabout might cancel one performance (though I rather doubt even that).'

They already DID cancel one or two performance..opening night of Previews postponed one day due to an injury Kristin suffered in rehearsal. The next day's matinee was also cancelled.

They also cancelled the performances on Friday Jan 19th and the matinee of Saturday the 20th as Kristin is appearing in concert at the Met Friday evening.

Updated On: 1/2/07 at 01:49 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 1:51pm

They never had a matinee that day.

[cooperross]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 1:53pm

well regardless..they still cancelled a performance and did not put the understudy on.

And they will not, period. If Kristin is unable to perform the show will be cancelled.

Updated On: 1/2/07 at 01:53 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 1:59pm

I would go see THE APPLE TREE without Kristin, I like her, but her acting was weak in this show, all tricks no heart.
Like to see another take on it.

[myManCape]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 2:26pm

I may be wrong, but didn't Roundabout cancel a few shows of The Pajama Game when Harry Connick Jr. couldn't perform, even though Michael Halling was listed as an understudy.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 3:02pm

Margo-
I thought John Hill was the understudy/standby for Hugh Jackman in BFO...if not then my reference totally doesn't make sense....

[myManCape]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 3:11pm

Michael Halling and Kevin Spirtas were listed as standbys for Jackman. John Hill and Brad Anderson were listed as understudies. I wonder why the producers bothered to have 4 backups if they never intended for anyone else to go on.

EDIT: I was just thinking, was Jackman equity? If he wasn't that would explain the need to cast 2 standbys.

Updated On: 1/2/07 at 03:11 PM