Replacements in Famous Shows- Page 2

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 8:25pm

I vividly recall the New York Times doing a front page story about Lainie Kazan replacing That Streisand Woman for at least one performance of FUNNY GIRL. Obviously she had enough notice to call reporters who reviewed her with such glowing encomiums that Streisand had her fired. For a while Streisand had no understudy and it was understood that if she missed a performance the show would not go on. Eventually, though, Linda Gerard was hired to cover the role of Fanny Brice. From what I recall, she never played the part in New York.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 8:32pm

Sean McCourt-joel grey
laura bell bundy- kristin chenoweth
Kathy Brier-marrissa jaret Winokur
maya days-heather headley
the understudy for young peter in BFO (I dont remember his name)

[timote316]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 9:42pm

lol, I saw Chistery's understudy when I saw Wicked. Yes, I know, exciting lol.

I actually half-wished for George Hearn to be out when I saw Wicked. I'd heard GREAT things about Sean, and really wanted to see him, but oh well.

[kikki327]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 9:46pm

Ted Banfalvi for John Selya
Wade Preston for Michael Cavanaugh
and I saw Desmond Richardson in his second week of Movin' Out and he was amazing!!!

[mint0621]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 9:54pm

I saw Barrett Foa instead of John Tartaglia. I scored Ave Q tickets the 1st time I waited for lottery, but was disappointed cuz I wanted to see John T! But was pleasantly surprised at Barrett's performance, boy, was he easy on the eyes! *wink*

But now I'm wondering since Barrett was good, maybe John Tartaglia is amazing... Maybe I'll get lucky and score more lottery tix to see John Tartaglia.

[BwayLover]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 1:28am

I'm not even going to try explaining how WRONG that story about Barbra Streisand is.

Like I said- people will believe anything bad said about her.

[andyf]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 2:16am

I've seen a LOT of understudies, mostly in Wicked and Q, but here goes:

Gregg Goodbrod as Trevor Graydon
Carmen Ruby Floyd for Natalie Venetia Belcon
Peter Linz as Brian and then as Trekkie, Nicky, Bear, etc.
Aimee Garcia as Mrs. T, Bear, etc.
Sean McCourt as the Wizard and then as Dr. Dillamond
Taye Diggs for Norbert Leo Butz

mint - lucky you, getting to catch Barrett go on. I've heard he was awesome. I got to see JTags every time and he really is amazing, but I wouldn't hate getting to see Barrett.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 4:52am

Michael Shawn Lewis as Raoul when John Cudia was out (Phantom of the Opera)

[Liz_Bennet]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 9:14pm

He was a replacement rather than an understudy, but I saw one Norbert Leo Butz as Roger in Rent back in the late 90s. I thought he was just OK, but what do I know?
I have a bit of an understudy curse. Every time I see a musical, one of the leads is out. Strangely, this never happens with plays- I've never seen a play with an understudy in a significant part. Do they miss less often or am I just not entirely unlucky?

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 9:17pm

Barret Foa in for John Tartaglia. He was REALLY good.

[alterego]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 10:24pm

Ive heard the the Streisand/Kazan/Critics/firing story many times over the years and it would appear to be true.

Another Streisand story (true) is that when she exited the London Funny Girl she nixed her replacement (who had performed the show to great acclaim in Australia). She apparently had money in the show and veto power. So when she left (due to pregnancy) the show closed.

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 9:37am

I saw Leonard Bernstein play Madam Dilly in ON THE TOWN when Zamah Cunningham was sick. It wasa performance to remember!!!!

[nycdncr]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 9:51am

I thought this thread was about replacements....not understudies going on.

My favorite replacement of recent years was Meredith Patterson who replaced Kate Levering in 42ND STREET. Saw both, and I must say Meredith was TONS better than Kate. I had the great fortune to do the show in Moscow with Meredith right after she finished her run on Broadway.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 10:25am

Streisand did not get the same glowing reviews in the West End that she did in New York.

It was said that "overplayed" comedy and did not have a good handle on romantic scenes. (Of course, by that time she had played Fanny for over two years and was perhaps a little tired w/role.)

Also, many UK theatergoers thought FUNNY GIRL had as much to do with the real Fanny Brice as a Lexus does to a Model T. (Similar thoughts were raised in NY by some critics but most were too overwhelmed by Streisand's performance to make a big deal about it.)

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 10:33am

As TGC said about That STreisand Woman:

"A barrel of laughs she ain't"

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 10:42am

When I saw "Chicago," Nancy Hess played Roxie in the second act (Ann Reinking did the first). It was really weird. Hess said at the stage door that Reinking's stomach was bothering her and felt she couldn't finish the show. That's live theater for you! Although it sounded like kind of a lame reason to not finish a performance.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 10:47am

Whoa--Glinda, Elphaba, and the Wizard were all understudies? That must have been an interesting performance. I hope they all knew their lines!

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 10:55am

When Debbie Reynolds broke her ankle during the pre-Broadway tryout of IRENE, she sat in a chair to the far right of the stage and recited her lines while her understudy sang and dance when role required it! (Management did that so audience could not ask for refunds because Debbie wasn't in the show!)

[grownupgroupie]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 8:04pm

For all the talk about Donna Murphy's absences (saw her once, Linda once, Brooke once. And yes, I liked ALL three!).....I've had worse luck with Wicked than WT. Went 3 times and saw Laura Bell Bundy twice, Kristen only once.

Saw Barret Foa in for John Tartaglia, and OMIGOD. So adorable, so heartfelt, so talented. Loved him.

I think I saw one of the equally-forgettable daughters' understudies in Fiddler, but hell if I remember

[nycdncr]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 11:44pm

Until you've been onstage in the situation of feeling sick, I would suggest you don't judge people who can't finish a performance.

You would complain if they did finish and gave a bad performance, and you certainly complain when they send their cover on.

C'mon....give us a break.