Standbys/Understudies Question

[felineofavenueb]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 11:03pm

What's the difference between a standby for a role and the understudy for that role?

[KLeighPSU]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 11:05pm

a standby only plays that part..and only goes on for it. Understudies normally have numerous roles in a musical, and most likely will be cast as an ensemble member.

[PJ]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 11:06pm

Standby doesn't have a smaller role within the show. They're just called in to replace the actor that's out. Whereas an understudy has a role in the show, and when they go on, a domino effect takes place and you have about 3-5 white slips of paper in your Playbill.

[wildcat]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 12:30am

Standbys are sometimes well known performers themselves, as when Harvey Evans covered Jim Dale in "Barnum", Gretchen Wyler stood by for Bacall in "Applause", Bibi Osterwald for many and varied Dollys...

[alphieboy]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 12:54am

i have another question.....
do standbys always have to get ready to go on, regardless the circumstances?

[wildcat]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 1:02am

They don't have to be in the theatre during the performance but they always have to be reachable...if they're at a movie, the theatre manager has to know what seat you're sitting in!

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 2:41am

Do standbys get paid only for the show that they fill in?

[wildcat]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 8:22am

Usually its a weekly salary with a loading for each performance played. A standby peforming for a full week would make a lot of money.

[badkarma719]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 11:35am

what about a swing
what is that

sorry if its stupid
but its me if that explains it

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 11:56am

I don't know what a swing is, either, so thank you for asking that question.

[TjonC2]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 7:51pm

A swing is someone who covers (understudies) an ensemble member. Wether they are out sick or on for a lead role. The "swing" will step into the ensemble peron's roles.

Hope this helps!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 10:09pm

These questions have been answered probably 100 TIMES ON THIS BOARD. Please search the past for exsisting threads, as there are TONS.

Thanks

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 10:13pm

well, now they've been answered here, too

[badkarma719]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 11:10pm

These questions have been answered probably 100 TIMES ON THIS BOARD. Please search the past for exsisting threads, as there are TONS.

this is gettting really old
anyonw else agree

In the words of the great MargoChanning "Broadwayworld.com -- Your One Stop on the Internet for All Things Broadway, Nasty Political Discussions, Meltdowns, Name-Calling and General Nonsense along with being a Premiere Pick-up Joint for Hotties, Shut-ins, Rambunctuous Teenagers With Bad Grammar, and All Manner of Bitter, Jaded Theatre Queens with WAY Too Much Time on Their Hands"?

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 1:05am

Yup. I agree. By the way, I haven't been accessible to an internet, so I haven't been updated with threads for quite some time. Sorry.

[eslgr8]

Posted: 12/31/04 at 1:38am

Don't feel bad about posting an "old" question. People who've already read a similar thread can just skip this one.