Lena Hall in Hedwig

[leezy8242]

Posted: 10/1/14 at 11:45am

I've seen that Lena Hall is on vacation from Hedwig now through Oct. 5. Just wondering, since she doesn't have an understudy, who is taking over the part for right now?

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/1/14 at 11:45am

She does have an understudy who is listed in the Playbill. Her name is Shannon Conley.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 10/1/14 at 2:51pm

On this same topic: does Andrew Rannells have an understudy? Or are they following the NPH no understudy trend?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/1/14 at 3:14pm

No. Yes.

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/1/14 at 3:58pm

To echo Lizzie-There is no understudy for Hedwig, only one for Yitzak.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 10/1/14 at 6:04pm

Does anyone know if Lena has called out of a show yet?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/1/14 at 6:27pm

curious as well and would also be curious to know if Shannon Conley is performing the role all next week.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 10/1/14 at 6:38pm

Shannon is on just for this week, Lena will be back on the 7th.

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/1/14 at 6:39pm

"would also be curious to know if Shannon Conley is performing the role all next week."

I'd have to image her only understudy would be performing the role for all the days of her vacation, since that's kind of the point, no?

[LarryD2]

Posted: 10/2/14 at 8:55am

"Does anyone know if Lena has called out of a show yet?"

Lena has never missed a performance, so this will be her understudy's first time on.

[Sauja]

Posted: 10/2/14 at 9:12am

I was there on Tuesday to catch Rannells, so I must have seen Conley's first performance. There was a lot of hugging b/w her and Rannells during the curtain call, so that makes sense!

Conley was lovely in the part. Her voice has rougher edges than Hall's, but she's still got a big sound and did a wonderful job. The relationship between Yitzhak and Hedwig felt more truly combative than affectionately bitter than when I saw Harris and Hall, but I don't know how much of that is also true when it's Hall/Rannells.

Speaking of Rannells, I enjoyed the show in an entirely different way than with NPH. Where he had audiences eating out of his hand from the start, Rannells has less rock star support buoying him, and it allows the show's darker strains to come to light more. It was watching Hedwig have to win the audience over (which she does) vs. them being in the palm of her hand from the start. A totally different experience, and one I can honestly say I enjoyed.