Never used an understudy?

[hyperchet]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 4:21pm

Have any broadway performers or touring people never had to use a stand-by or understudy?

[apdarcey]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 4:23pm

please search. we've discussed this many times. most recently hugh jackman never had an understudy go on.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 4:23pm

Carole Shelley in WICKED never missed a performance.

...Margo?

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 4:24pm

kelli o'hara never missed a performance of dracula.

[hyperchet]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 4:29pm

Wow hugh jackman...movie stars do have stamina...and he did like OZ for a whole year right???

[apdarcey]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 4:30pm

yes.

[elphie30]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 4:33pm

Kerry butler nevr used her understudy when she was in hairspray

Updated On: 6/28/05 at 04:33 PM

[CastAlbumFan]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 4:34pm

Harvey Fierstein never missed a performance of HAIRSPRAY, correct?

It's been well-documented that Carol Channing never missed any of her performances of HELLO, DOLLY

Little known fact: Tom Bosley was present at all 700+ performances of FIORELLO!

Updated On: 6/28/05 at 04:34 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 4:40pm

Harvey Fierstein never missed of full performance of Hairspray (I heard that once he was sick and had to leave at intermission, but he made it back for the next show) or Fiddler.

Jefferson Mays didn't have a standby for "I Am My Own Wife" and when he got sick, they simply cancelled performances. Generally for one person shows with a star (Billy Crystal, Stritch, Whoopi Goldberg, Lily Tomlin etc....) there is no standby.

Historically, pros like Merman, Mary Martin, Lunt & Fontanne, Helen Hayes rarely if ever missed a performance, through show after show for decades.

There are other threads on this topic.

Updated On: 6/28/05 at 04:40 PM

[apdarcey]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 4:42pm

i assume, though i'm not positive, that tovah feldshuh never missed a performance. and did phylicia rashad last year? sorry to keep it so current, but those two were on my curious mind.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 4:42pm

Harvey actually missed Act Two one day when he had a bad cold and the show sent him home.

Carol Channing missed a performance of Dolly once on the road when some meds she was on for her allergies knocked her out. Still she is/was known for going on in all sorts of ill health, so one performance in a career isn't too bad.

Lauren Bacall for all her temperment, never missed in two years of Applause and two years of Woman of the Year.

Marian Seldes never missed any performances of Deathtrap including the out-of-town tryout and previews and a 4 1/2 year NYC run. Never took a vacation either.

Updated On: 6/28/05 at 04:42 PM

[ken8631]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 4:45pm

When Hugh Jackman was out (scheduled vacation), they shut down the show. He did have an understudy, but he never went on.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 4:45pm

I know that Carole missed a few performances in Wicked.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:02pm

Kerry Butler missed a performance or two I believe, it just wasnt until AFTER Jenn Gambatese left the show the first time.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:04pm

Carole definetly missed a few performances in Wicked. I know a friend who saw the understudy. And didn't she take a little vacaction to film Bewitched?

[green_duck]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:09pm

I don't think Carole is in Bewitched. I only know of Kristin being involved. I could be wrong though...

[Derek]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:17pm

No Carole is in Bewitched and she was out a few times. I saw her understudy as well. I think Shoshana Bean has only missed one performance since she's been in Wicked

[CaTheatreGirl]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:18pm

Carole Shelley played Aunt Clara in Bewitched.

PS You beat me to the answer, Derek, as I double checked the spelling of Carole's name!
Updated On: 6/28/05 at 05:18 PM

[green_duck]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:19pm

Oh wow. I can't believe I didn't hear about that before. I guess I've really fallen out of the "wicked" obsession circles.

well, I guess I would have found out anyway, seeing as I'm going to 'bewitched' in about two hours

thanks guys for setting me straight!

[sassypanz]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:56pm

No. Shoshana has missed at least 3 performances. Good thing cause Saycon is a horrible Elphaba.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 6:09pm

I don't think Ethel Merman missed any performances in any of her shows.

Bernadette Peters has never missed a show in her career. Oh wait...

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 6:13pm

Harvey missed Act 2 of one performance of Hairspray due to food poisoning, not a cold.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 6:20pm

Merman burst a blood vessel in her throat during Gypsy and for the first time in her career, missed performances (not sure how many). She also had it in her contract that she would miss one performance later in the Gypsy run, in order to attend her daughter's high school graduation in Colorado.

[broadway86]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 6:29pm

Henry Fonda did every single performance of "Mister Roberts", as did Myron McCormick (the original Luther Billis in "South Pacific").

[Phantom487]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 7:02pm

Sandy Duncan never missed a performance of "Peter Pan"