Supporting/Lead

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 10:17am

Would you rather replace a lead in a show, or originate a supporting role? I'd rather originate, because you have a chance for a tony, and you get to be a part of the sculpting process.

[jasobres]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 10:20am

Are...errr...those the only choices?

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 10:25am

What? Would you rather be...ensemble member? Updated On: 6/21/05 at 10:25 AM

[bwaybaby4966]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 10:26am

This is a LITTLE off-topic, but it sort of relates: I always feel bad for an understudy to a well-known lead because when they actually get a chance to perform, the audience is usually pretty upset because they've bought tickets to this show JUST to see that specific actor and then he's not there! That makes it so much harder for the understudy, who has to live up to the actor's standard without having a name for himself.

Did that make ANY sense?

[broadwayboy1939]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:00pm

I totally agree bwaybaby4966.. My choir teacher at school went to see WICKED last summer, and was dying to see Idina and Kristen. Well, when she arrived for the show, she saw that Idina and Kristen were both not performing that night and she got pissed off. But, even though the understudy for Kristen wasnt as good, she saw Eden Espinosa play Elphaba, and she thinks that Eden was sooooooo much better than Idina. So, her first look at the situation was bad, but at the end, she was happy with the outcome!

[arishmoof]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:27pm

when you enter the theater pised about not seeing the star you wanted to see, and end up being blown away by the u/s its all the better for them because they make that much more of an impact! everyone knows that thats how understudies get recognized, because theyre being compared to the person that got so much noteriety for the role. if they stand up to that standard, then more power to them. what i HATE is when the u/s ends up imitating the star, which is what Tim Curry's understudy did the other night when he wasnt there at Spamalot. Eden took Elphaba and made it her own, and i was blown away by her performance. Curry's u/s- bolton or whatever his name is, imitated his voice thinking that maybe we wouldnt be able to tell the difference.

[arishmoof]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:34pm

to answer your original question- from a tactics and good/bad career move point of view, i would first replace a lead in a show as an unknown, because youre more likely to gain an established respect in a role that is already established (of course not always true- i.e. spelling bee) and then go on to originate a smaller role, once there was a secure fan base or whatever. in terms of the experience itself, originating a role is of course much more fun!

Posted: 6/21/05 at 1:40pm

i dont know about that, i think itd be easier to develop a fanbase by originating roles and avoiding comparison to someone else...