The Best Understudy You Have Seen- Page 2

[hairspraydude1962]

Posted: 5/16/10 at 11:37am

TWO "HAIRSPRAY" ONES:

Hayley Podschun as Penny in HAIRSPRAY

and

Gretchen Bieber as Velma in HAIRSPRAY
Updated On: 5/16/10 at 11:37 AM

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 5/16/10 at 11:46am

Jessica Phillips as Diana in N2N. The only time an understudy has surpassed the regular actor, for me.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 5/16/10 at 12:30pm

I've seen many many shows (both plays and musicals)... Probably over 100...

The best performance I've ever seen from an understudy/standby was Lisa Brescia in Wicked.

[rosekwbp]

Posted: 5/16/10 at 1:09pm

Maureen Moore in Grey Gardens simply amazing.

[manaboutown]

Posted: 5/16/10 at 1:12pm

Shannon Lewis as the Wife in Contact. The woman next to me said at intermission "that was the best standby EVER!" I agreed. Amazing.

[Chuck012]

Posted: 5/16/10 at 1:48pm

Shirley MacLaine for Carol Haney in the original production of Pajama Game.

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 5/16/10 at 2:01pm

Michelle London as Nessa and as Glinda in the 2nd National Tour of Wicked

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/16/10 at 3:07pm

"Shirley MacLaine for Carol Haney in the original production of Pajama Game."

You were there that night, Chuck012?

Mine would be Maryanne Plunkett, who went on for Carrie Fisher in "Agnes of God." That was a long time ago, but it's still the best understudy performance I've ever seen. Carrie was out a lot when she took over on Broadway for Amanda Plummer. And Maryanne eventually took over the role regularly. She also went on to win a Tony as Best Actress in a Musical for "Me and My Girl."

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 5/16/10 at 3:34pm

Mamie Parris as Mother in RAGTIME
Libby Winters as Heather in AMERICAN IDIOT

[Hiram]

Posted: 5/16/10 at 4:32pm

The wonderful Jessica Phillips and Michael Berry in NEXT TO NORMAL. Both were sensational. The miraculous Maureen Moore in GYPSY.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/16/10 at 5:29pm

* Randal Keith as Jean Valjean (yes, this was about 10 years ago)
* Another good word in for Karmine Alers as Mimi
* Joseph Dellger as the Phantom
* Steven Goldsmith as Frankie Valli

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 5/16/10 at 5:40pm

Jayne Paterson as Desiree in A Little Night Music
Linda Mugleston as Lilli in Kiss Me, Kate
Meghann Fahy as Natalie in Next to Normal
Paris Remillard as Claude in Hair

All fantastic, particularly the lovely Jayne Paterson.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 12:14am

-Jessica Phillips as Diana in Next to Normal
-Michelle London as Nessa in Wicked(2nd National Tour)
-Julie Hanson as Christine in Phantom of the Opera(she was the alternate)

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 12:25am

I would say Rondi Reed on for Elizabeth Ashley as Mattie Fae in the closing performance of August: Osage County. Though, I don't know if you can really count that as an understudy. :-P
Updated On: 5/17/10 at 12:25 AM

[AC126748]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 9:02am

Easily Victoire Charles subbing for Portia in RUINED.

[once a month]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 9:45am

Judy Kaye for Madeline Kahn in On the 20th Century

[afaye11]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 10:07am

Michael Berry as Dan in Next to Normal.
J. Robert Spencer played the role brilliantly, and I was thrilled to see that Michael Berry gave a completely different, yet still incredible performance.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 10:09am

Adriane Lenox in CAROLINE OR CHANGE. TOTALLY different take on it than Tonya had. Both were brilliant but Lenox was astounding.

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 1:34pm

from awhile ago: Julie Reiber as Natalie in ALL SHOOK UP, as well as her standby performance as Elphaba in WICKED

Cara Cooper as Holly in WEDDING SINGER... so much better than Spanger.

Courtney Reed's Nina and Vanessa in IN THE HEIGHTS

and I recently saw Liz Pearce's 1st performance as Mrs. Wilkinson in BILLY ELLIOT. She was my favorite Mrs. W. by far... and on her first performance!

[wonkit]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 1:45pm

Maureen Moore in GREY GARDENS. A wonderful performer, and I had not seen her since NIGHT MUSIC at City Opera. I was thrilled.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 2:10pm

Fuscia Walker as Effie in Dreamgirls. One of the best performances I've ever seen.

[thirtythirtyninety]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 2:17pm

I have to agree about Maureen Moore in Grey Gardens. Amazing performance.

[madbrian]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 2:21pm

Joe Cassidy for NLB in Scoundrels.

[regnad kcin]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 2:34pm

and Joe Cassidy for Greg Jbara in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

[darwhite915]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 2:49pm

I saw La Cage in London in January 2009. Hodge was out sick and his understudy was out sick, so they had Robert Maskell play Albin. Before curtain they explained to us that Maskell had never even walked through the entire role before, and had about a 30 minute put in. He was, however, AMAZING, and earned a huge standing ovation from everyone there.