Never used an understudy?

#1

Never used an understudy?

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

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

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"Needless to say the crew is well acquainted with my ass and that's ok because they are the coolest guys ever." - Idina Menzel

#2

re: Never used an understudy?

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.

#3

re: Never used an understudy?

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

Carole Shelley in WICKED never missed a performance.

...Margo?

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#4

re: Never used an understudy?

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

kelli o'hara never missed a performance of dracula.

#5

re: Never used an understudy?

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???

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"Needless to say the crew is well acquainted with my ass and that's ok because they are the coolest guys ever." - Idina Menzel

#6

re: Never used an understudy?

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

yes.

#7

re: Never used an understudy?

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

Kerry butler nevr used her understudy when she was in hairspray

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Save him please, just save him My poor Boq, my sweet, my brave him Don't leave me till my sorry life has scene Alone and loveless here, just the girl in the mirror Just her and me, the Wicked Witch of the East

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

#8

re: Never used an understudy?

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!

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Praying Decca Broadway will put "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" on CD!

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

#9

re: Never used an understudy?

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.

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"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

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

#10

re: Never used an understudy?

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.

#11

re: Never used an understudy?

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.

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"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher

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

#12

re: Never used an understudy?

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.

#13

re: Never used an understudy?

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

I know that Carole missed a few performances in Wicked.

#14

re: Never used an understudy?

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.

#15

re: Never used an understudy?

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?

#16

re: Never used an understudy?

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...

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because when it's theatre, nothing else matters

#17

re: Never used an understudy?

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

#18

re: Never used an understudy?

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

#19

re: Never used an understudy?

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!

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because when it's theatre, nothing else matters

#20

re: Never used an understudy?

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

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

#21

re: Never used an understudy?

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...

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#22

re: Never used an understudy?

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

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

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"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

#23

re: Never used an understudy?

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.

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"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

#24

re: Never used an understudy?

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").

#25

re: Never used an understudy?

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

Sandy Duncan never missed a performance of "Peter Pan"