Rashad Naylor understudies a Dynamite in Hairspray!

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/20/03 at 11:54pm

That's what it says in the Hairspray program! He's a guy. I hope this is a typo. Otherwise- do they dress him up in a wig or something?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 4:12am

Nope. Not a typo. He is listed as understudy in the program and and on www.ibdb.com. Brooke Tansley (a white girl who aslo understudies Penny and Amber) in also a Dynamite understudy.
Judine Richard is a Litle Inez understudy. She is as talla s Chester Gregory and about an inch or two taller than both understudies, and taller than one of the Motormouth understudies.

Dunamite understudies in Hairspray, for those without a program right now are :: Daniellle lee Greaves, Rashad Naylor, Nicole Powell, and Brooke Tansley Updated On: 8/21/03 at 04:12 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 8:49am

Wow, the height measurements that I gathered on the original cast of Hairspray (taken with a tape measure as each came out the door of the theater after a performance last summer) are so much different! I'm surprised they would change this drastically once replacements came in. It's hilarious to think about the statistcal variance now in shoe sizes! The cast were super nice about my taking all their measurements but it's the sort of stuff I just HAVE to know so I can talk about it here.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 1:00pm

Funny, Namo. But any dolt can see those height differences I mentioned.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 1:04pm

So Rashad is really an understudy? Is that the 1st male who understudied a female role on Bway?!?!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 1:10pm

Bryan Batt understudied Rosie O'Donnell and Cathy Rigby in seussical
In Jerome Robbins's Broadway, Charlotte D'Amboise sang "I'm Flying" (as Pater Pan, obviously) and for that sketch, her understudy was the male who played John Darling in that sketch. His name escapes me at the moment, but I can look it up. Updated On: 8/21/03 at 01:10 PM

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 1:12pm

Well it is ok for a male to understudy Rosie for Suessical. That, in a way, is very different. Anways, why was Rosie not on the OBCR of Suessical?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 1:14pm

well, like I added, her also understudied Rigby.

Rosie was not in the original cast. David Shiner was the Cat. he took a "vacation" (let go eventually) and Rosie came in for a month.


opps. Jack Noseworthy understudied Charlotte D'Amboise as Peter and Steve Ochoa as John in that song. I think Steve Ochoa, who played 'John' understudied her later. Updated On: 8/21/03 at 01:14 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 2:12pm

I think it's absolutely ABSURD for a man to understudy a woman in a Broadway musical, particularly in something as traditional as Hairspray, in which heretofore all the men have been played by men and all the women have been played by women.

[www.ScottNevins.com]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 2:29pm

Rashad DOES understudy the Dynamites role...and Ive seen him rehearse it....its GENIOUS! he is NOT in drag, it is done more as a group from that era with a lead man and two girls. He's an amazing talent! Pray that you can see him and Shayna Steele sing together 'welcome to the 60's' - its unbelievable!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 2:33pm

What a sell out. Do they have a different poster ready to go, just in case?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 2:33pm

I figured as much.

I would love to hear that version of it.

Question though -- When Rashad goes on, do they have another version of teh poster on the wall?? Or is it one minute you see three women, next you see a man and two women flanking him?? that is the question.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 2:44pm

That makes great sense now. So Rashad just probably wears a read suit with a black undershirt. I thought you meant he wears the wigs and everything. Yes that would be great to see him perform Welcome to the 60s. Another good question about the poster. Amneris, you work there, can you ask someone?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 4:20pm

To Bway Theatre 11,

Years ago when I lived in NYC and worked at "Les Miz" there was a time when one of the girls playing "young Eponine" was out and they had to put one of the Gavroche covers on in her place.

Just thought you'd like to know.

Dottie

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 4:23pm

I bet Rashad would be amazing to see as a Dynamite.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 4:25pm

Several Yong Cosette/Young Eponines have gone on as Gavroche.
I also read an article that one time in London, one Gavroche was out of town, the other was sick.. so they took one of the shorter female members of the adult cast and put her on as Gavroche.

[www.ScottNevins.com]

Posted: 8/21/03 at 8:08pm

Yes they have another poster with Rashad :) - they didnt want him in drag because they already had Harvey in drag and it would take away from the effect of that!

Posted: 8/12/04 at 8:03pm

what part is Dynamite? i'm completely ignorant to the characters minus the principals.

[ponine24601]

Posted: 8/12/04 at 8:08pm

it a trio of 3 african-american singers who sing 'welcome to the 60's' in Hairspray. they were in the beginning song for the tony's this year.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/12/04 at 8:12pm

Jo-Ann Hunter, an ensemble member in Thoroughly Modern Millie, also understudied the part of Bun Foo. She probably could have understudied Ching Ho as well, but they didn't want her to kiss Miss Dorothy (my guess!).

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 8/12/04 at 8:17pm

If you listen to the archive of On The Boards with Scott Nevins where he interviewed Rashad you can hear more about being a Dynamite understudy.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/12/04 at 8:18pm

Can't they change genders of Council Members in Hairspray? For example, if "Shelley" can't be in the show, they put a male on and call him "Sheldon" or something like that? That is, if there are no females to go on.

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 8/12/04 at 9:14pm

brooke tansley isnt the casy anymore and neither is danielle lee graves

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 8/12/04 at 9:15pm

brooke tansley isnt the cast anymore and neither is danielle lee graves

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 8/12/04 at 9:15pm

brooke tansley isnt the cast anymore and neither is danielle lee graves