Sweeney Todd -- any use of U/S for leads yet?

[Lenexajones]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 2:16pm

Going to NY to see Sweeney Todd next week and wondering if the leads have had to use their understudies yet. Anyone know?

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 2:18pm

yes. Patti and Benjamin have missed one performane each.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 2:36pm

I hear that Donna Murphy will be subbing for Patti on her vacation. Linda Muggleston is deep in rehearsal as we speak.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 2:39pm

Donna Murphy?? For real? That's interesting.

Will Linda Muggleston be replacing LuPone? I can't see Patti leaving before the Tony Awards.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 2:41pm

This is in response to Princton's comment:

Stewie: "Ha ha ha! Oh gosh that's funny! That's really funny! Do you write your own material? Do you? Because that is so fresh. You are the weakest link goodbye. You know, I've, I've never heard anyone make that joke before. Hmm. You're the first. I've never heard anyone reference, reference that outside the program before. Because that's what she says on the show right? Isn't it? You are the weakest link goodbye. And, and yet you've taken that and used it out of context to insult me in this everyday situation. God what a clever, smart girl you must be, to come up with a joke like that all by yourself. That's so fresh too. Any, any Titanic jokes you want to throw at me too as long as we're hitting these phenomena at the height of their popularity. God you're so funny!"


Had to do it. Really, the "joke" if thats what you can call it is getting old.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 2:43pm

Strangely, I didn't find it to be a joke either, each of the 3 times I paid to see "Wonderful Town," and Ms. Murphy did not appear.

Bravo to the cast of "Sweeney" actually showing up for work!

[hen88]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 3:04pm

Donna Murphy?!? Is this true? Who is your source? I would travel to NYC to see the show again. Well...I would see it again anyway, but I would love to see Donna in it. She's perfect for this incarnation of the show. Linda Muggleston would be good too.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 3:12pm

Princeton made a joke. A bad one, but a joke nonetheless.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 3:12pm

People, people, people.....

Humor. Look it up.

Anyway, huzzah! for the Sweeney cast.

[jasobres]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 3:20pm

In response to the first message, Patti LuPone has only been out once and her understudy, Dorothy Stanley, was not in peak condition. That night, she was lyric fed by Alexander Gemignani. Other than that night, neither Patti nor Michael have missed one single performance.

[hen88]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 3:22pm

Oh...ok...

Well - I can still hope, can't I. I would love it if the show ran long enough to get a replacement cast. I would love it even more if it toured.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 3:28pm

They've apparently all been getting sick. Yay dedication.

[Horton]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 3:56pm

Look, before you make some panzy ass excuse about Donna Murphy, let me ask you do you know why she was out? Do you, do you? I dont think so, so unless you know 100% why she was out, and know its not a good reason shut your trap!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 4:08pm

Donna was out once as well.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 5:47pm

Yes, Lauren updated on her myspace that her voice was getting fried. They are all so amazing to stick through it all! It just makes the show that more amazing when you see actors that are trying their absolute best.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 5:52pm

The third time I went, I literally noticed half of them were sick. Especially poor Lauren, her voice went so thin during Kiss Me during the "I still don't know your name", on name she just gave out, I felt so badly for her. Went back last week and she sounded perfect.
This cast is by far my favorite on broadway. Aside from them being one of the most talented casts I have ever seen, they are kind and so damn dedicated, love em

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 5:52pm

Alex also missed one performance (got that from an inside source).

And John Arbo has missed at least 2.

But for the most part, it's very rare for Sweeney castmembers to miss a show. Which is very commendable, especially since it's such a draining show to perform 8 times a week.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 6:00pm

John Arbo was just last weekend right? friday and saturday I believe? Out of 10 people, only 4 were out over nearly a 6 month period of time, thats insane.
What I would like to hear is how the understudies were in their roles

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 6:27pm

I was just at the Matinee yesterday. When I was at the stage door Dorothy Stanley (Patti's standby) came out. All of the cast performed so I dont know if she was there just to practice or if they thought Patti might be going on. I think a few of the other standbys were there as well.

As for the cast being sick, Donna is currently sick so she was using her own Sharpie. When Patti came out I wanted her to sign in red but she wouldnt so I think she is afraid of catching anything. The whole cast are troopers and incredibly dedicated to the show, so dont expect to see stanbys that often.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 6:58pm

I know Lauren is getting/is sick. She mentioned it on her myspace blog.

[mijofly19]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 7:31pm

"I think a few of the other standbys were there as well."

Actually, I think that understudies are required to be at every show. I know that's the case in Wicked and Spelling Bee. When Idina got hurt, Shoshana had to go on. Same goes for when Deborah S. Craig got hurt in Spelling Bee.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 7:33pm

This is something that always makes my head spin, but I think understudies typically have another part in the show, and move up if whoever they cover is out. Stand-bys don't; their only function is to do just that -- stand by. They're required to be there every night for a certain amount of time. Having stand-bys rather than understudies avoids the ripple effect created by moving understudies up; then you need an understudy for the understudy, etc.

[mijofly19]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 7:38pm

Yes. Understudies are usually part of the ensemble, while Stand-bys just stay backstage and "stand by." Unless you have a show with no ensemble like Sweeney, Spelling Bee, etc. Where everyone's a stand-by.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 7:39pm

What happens when someone's sick in a show like Sweeney, then? Do they have extra people in addition to the regular cast, or are they short a person?

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 7:40pm

I do know that they have hired more understudies for ST so they might be able to put them on to round out the cast.