Leads understudying another slightly bigger lead- Page 2

[ThisIsMyYouth]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 11:01pm

Valarie Wright played Dolly Tate and understudied Annie in the Bernadette Peter's "Annie Get Your Gun"'

Marina Prior played Cosette and understudied Fantine in the Australian production of "Les Miserables"

There have also been cases of Joanne's understudying Mimi in some productions of "Rent" but I might just be making that up in my head.

In the recent Troika (Voytko/Litzinger) tour of "Evita," the guy who played Magaldi understudied Che (I forget his name) and Kate Manning played the Mistress and understudied Eva.

Most of the Nehbka's in "Aida" understudied Aida.

Jackie Hoffman played the Female Authority Figure in "Hairspray" and understudied Velma.

I can't think of any others right now...

[Matters]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 11:59pm

In the Toronto production of The Producers the Lead Tenor understudied Leo, and in my school production of Les Mis our Javert understudied Jean Valjean if that counts.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 8:38am

Has anyone seen Jackie Hoffman as Velma or John Cudia as the Phantom?

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:58am

i *heard* jackie hoffman's baltimore crabs it was a hoot

[thejcm]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 12:44pm

ThisIsMyYouth:

The only Joanne who u/s Mimi case I can think of is Rebecca Jones from the 2nd leg of the Non-Eq tour did. I know many actresses have played both parts, I just don't know if any were full time. I think maybe Shayna Steele did but I don't know if she ever played Joanne full time.

[turquoisefish]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 12:56pm

In the UK tour of Rocky Horror Frank's understudy is Brad. In Blood Brothers in London Mrs Johnstone is understudied by Mrs Lyons who is understudied by Donna Marie who is understudied by Brenda. That would be interesting to see
Updated On: 4/26/06 at 12:56 PM

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 12:59pm

turquoisefish- wow the rocky horror one is weird, are your sure you didn't flip it, brad is the bigger part


ETA i re-read that post twice before i posted this and both times i coulda sworn that said brad understudied ROCKY not frank. since yes frank is obviously a much much bigger part

Updated On: 4/26/06 at 12:59 PM

[algy]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 1:01pm

I know its not a popular musical in theatre circles, but In We Will Rock You in London, Jenna Lee James was Meat and 1st Understudy for Scaramouche for an aaaaaaaaaaaaaaage.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 3:09pm

Most of these examples seem to be of featured roles understudying leads, not leads understudying leads....

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 3:45pm

Patti Cohenour plays Signora Naccarelli and understudies Margaret Johnson in PIAZZA.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 3:56pm

Florence Lacey covered Carol Channing in the mid 90s Dolly.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 5:31pm

let's just say that nobody here is fooled by your euphemism and the insinuation that broadway is full of size queens is just reprehensible!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 5:36pm

According to my Playbill (actually, it's a Showbill), Tony Vincent, who played Judas in the JCS revival, also understudied Jesus (along with three other people).

Anyone know if he ever went on?

[turquoisefish]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 4:06pm

Jonartdesigns & ddtruit - sorry for the confusion i did type it wrong (Rocky / Frank) and edited it about a second later. you must have got it in that second.

[mijofly19]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 4:14pm

"Has anyone seen Jackie Hoffman as Velma or John Cudia as the Phantom?"

I saw John go on as Phantom a little before he left and he was very good. He and Hugh are the only two I've ever seen, and though I prefer Hugh, John was very good.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 7:11pm

Patti Cohenour (Sra. Naccarelli) understudies, and is the alternate Margaret in Piazza.

[sanda]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 8:19pm

Did Matthew Cammelle play Marius while u/s Enjolras in Les Miz london cast?

[mrkringas]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:43pm

Not too sure but Glyn Kerslake played alternate Arnaud in Martin Guerre as well as playing Enjolras around the corner in Les Mis!!!

Or something like that. There was def one actor who was in both shows at the same time. For some reason his name seems to be sticking in my head.

So playing a lead in one show but getting to go on twice a week in a much bigger lead in another Cam Mac show

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 10:20pm

I find it interesting when an understudy is appearing in another show at the time.

When I saw "Grand Hotel" on Broadway, Brent Barrett went on for David Carroll as the Baron. But Brent was appearing in "Closer Than Ever" Off-Broadway. So, his understudy had to go on for him that night!

It's kinda like the Circle of Life...

[DreamFlyer22]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 12:36am

Yeah, a lot of these examples are conspicuous FEATURED roles that cover the leads. Another example- Michael Longoria who plays Joey in "Jersey Boys" also covers Frankie Valli. Dunno if he's gone on for the part yet, but he's listed.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 3:09am

Yep, Kringas, I remember that. I actually have a brochure from that time and was rather amused at the amount of facial hair on Enjolras.

[algy]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 5:00am

"According to my Playbill (actually, it's a Showbill), Tony Vincent, who played Judas in the JCS revival, also understudied Jesus (along with three other people).

Anyone know if he ever went on?"

I don't think that he did. I didn't know that he understudied Jesus, but I know he was bumped from Simon Zealots (who he played in the DVD version of the revival) to Judas before opening. If it's indication, he didn't meantion in his biog for We Will Rock You that he'd played Jesus, but it did mention Simon and Judas, and also that he played Roger and Mark (I think)in Rent.

(Ok so I'm a Tony fan...)

[mrkringas]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 11:06am

Wasnt it around the same time that David Shannon was playing the bad guy in Martin Guerre? Great show that never really got the buzz going in London. Big soaring ballads, choral numbers and a death or two.. what do you want from a mega musical?

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 11:48am

Did no one mention Patti Cohenour (Signora Nacarelli/Understudies Margaret Johnson)?

Updated On: 4/28/06 at 11:48 AM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 12:02pm

Yes, iluvtheatretrash, Patti Cohenour was mentioned eight and fourteen posts back.

"Whoever is playing Franz Liebkin (sp?) in The Producers understudies Max and Roger."

Back when Jim Borstelman played Franz, that was true. He still understudies those roles, but now he's reverted to his original role(s).