Question about Alternates

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Question about Alternates

Posted: 1/24/11 at 2:26pm

I saw Fela! twice- both times on Friday nights- and Kevin Mambo played the title role. Come Tony time, Sahr (I have no clue how to spell his last name) was nominated for the role. There was no listed schedule when Kevin would go on, but I assumed that if he was in fact the alternate, Sahr would go on for what I believe is a prime theatre night (Friday).

Alternates happen quite a bit in musicals. There's always a Christine alternate in Phantom, but the Playbill does state when she goes on.

In Spider-Man, Reeve Carney has an alternate who seems to be going on matinees. Having seen the show, the character of Peter is not overly physical or vocal.

Then there's Billy Elliot, where 3 (now 4) different boys equally share the role of Billy, were nominated (and won) their Tony together. I know the powers that be change up the Billy schedules, and it is not announced. The role of Michael, however- not sure if there's an understudy, but David Bologna was solely nominated for his role.

So, here's my question. What makes an "alternate"? How is it decided? While I completely support Fela! having alternates, as the role is very demanding, I'm not sure if Peter Parker needs one. Why didn't Diana in Next to Normal get an alternate?

Question about Alternates

Posted: 1/24/11 at 3:01pm

I'm sure someone else who is more knowledgeable than I will have a fuller answer, but I believe the short answer is that it's up to one of the higher-ups: either the producers or creators.

Children's roles often have alternates (such as Mary in The Secret Garden or Louise in the recent revival of Sunday in the Park With George), as do vocally demanding roles (Evita). However, if the producers decide that they have a child actor (or actors) who are able to perform their role eight times a week, there is no need for an alternate (there were no alternates for Noah in Caroline, or Change or Jackie and Lee in Grey Gardens).

There have also been alternates added later in an actor's run, due to contract stipulations (Patti Cohenour was the alternate for Victoria Clark at the end of The Light in the Piazza's run). My guess is that had Alice Ripley decided to stay with Next to Normal, but said she would only stay if there was an alternate who performed on Sundays, her request would have been granted.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

Updated On: 1/24/11 at 03:01 PM

Question about Alternates

Posted: 1/24/11 at 3:08pm

There was an alternate for Scrooge in the 1997 production of Madison Square Garden's A Christmas Carol the Musical. I don't know if 1997 was the only year that they did alternates.

"I never think of the classic musicals as old-fashioned; I think of them as timeless."--Kate Baldwin

Question about Alternates

Posted: 1/24/11 at 3:18pm

The Billy's were petitioned for them all to be nominated as one. The Michael went by the opening night credits, as did Sahr/Kevin.

I can't help but wonder if the SPIDERMAN alternate is because Carney isn't a trained performer who could handle the demands of the score (is the score demanding?) 8x/wk.

Question about Alternates

Posted: 1/25/11 at 9:37am

The spiderman role isnt exactly demanding - although Reeve Carney's range CANNOT hit some of the notes in 'Boy Falls From the Sky'... (see the promo performance on youtube, and yes its worse live!) I think his voice is awesome but when he tries to hit that high note his rustic voice sound like nails on a chalkboard.

But the fact that hes not a trained performer is prob why he has an alternate. 8 shows a week is hard work, no matter what the role is. And i gotta believe that his label is looking out for him/his voice since he is also the frontman in his band (his day job?).

Question about Alternates

Posted: 1/25/11 at 2:34pm

Some of the actors want an Alternate.

I think this is the same for Reeve, Yes he wants to be in the show, but he only wants to play 7 (or 6 or whatever) shows a week. So he has time of to work on his singingcareer. Or something like that!

Question about Alternates

Posted: 1/25/11 at 3:23pm

Thanks for your help. So the reason the Billys were nominated together (as opposed to pretty much ever other role with an alternate) is because the producers petitioned for it? I guess it's the other time where there truly was no 1 "star" in the show (like Reeve), where the alternate is the "other guy". For some reason, I thought Fela! was a little more equal, but I guess Sahr was "the Fela".

Question about Alternates

Posted: 1/25/11 at 3:30pm

While it is true that some of the actors creating a role feel the need to have an alternate, some performers who do the role latermight not feel the need to have one. For example, Brightman felt that she needed one in Phantom due to the role being vocally demanding (keep in mind that the highest nite she sings in the show is pre recorded.) Yet, there have been other actresses who have played the role and didn't feel the need to have one. And in any event, I believe that if you're the lead in a show where you have an alternate your pay doesn't change. In other words, the actress playing Christine as the lead gets paid as if she did the full eight shows. And I don't think that anyone would argue with having to take an extra two paid days off.

"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear" Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll

Question about Alternates

Posted: 1/27/11 at 10:45pm

So what is Matthew James Thomas's alternation schedule? Hopefully he's on Sunday, as I might rush for the show.

#10

Question about Alternates

Posted: 1/27/11 at 11:48pm

The role of Michael, however- not sure if there's an understudy, but David Bologna was solely nominated for his role.

The producers of the show really did not think they would get the nomination which is why they never bothered campaigning for Frank to considered too.

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