The Best Understudy You Have Seen- Page 3

[Chuck012]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 3:29pm

"Shirley MacLaine for Carol Haney in the original production of Pajama Game."
You were there that night, Chuck012?

Yes, I was there. So was Hal Walis who signed Shirley to a movie contract.

It was my first Broadway musical (2nd balcony, St. James.) I saw Haney do "Steam Heat" on Ed Sullivan. Haney then broke her ankle and Shirley went on. I was devastated not to see Haney, but Shirley brought the house down. A great night all around. I still have the Playbill.

[shrekster224]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 3:43pm

"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!"

Broadway show fan,
I was really curious about her as Mrs. Wilks. What did she add to the role and how did she play it?

[iluvny04]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 5:01pm

Belle Callaway in Chicago, was supposed to see Charlotte, but after seeing Belle, Charlotte pales in comparsion

Jeanne Schweppe in the Weissler Grease, was on for Angela Pupello

[ACL2006]

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

From my experiences with the B'way A Chorus Line:

*Jessica Lea Patty as Cassie
*Joey Dudding as Paul
*Lyndy Franklin as Bebe
*Lyndy Franklin as Judy

Others:

*Russell Fischer as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys
*John Arthur Greene as Riff in West Side Story

[wendilin622]

Posted: 5/17/10 at 7:30pm

Meghann Fahy was remarkable as Natalie. LOVED her.

[bryan2]

Posted: 5/28/10 at 4:40pm

maryann plunkett gave an amazing performance in Agnes of God
to bad she isnt recognized for what a talent she is

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 5/28/10 at 6:16pm

Drew Sarich back when he was the understudy for like, everyone in the Les Miz revival

Matt Doyle was also excellent in Spring Awakening

[CandiceElyse]

Posted: 5/28/10 at 6:56pm

Chelsea Morgan Stock as Ariel in TLM
and Kyle Dean Massey as Fiyero in Wicked...everything about him was fantastic.

[kate86]

Posted: 5/29/10 at 6:36am

julie reiber as elphaba
eryn murman as wendla
becky gulsvig as elle woods

[shrekster224]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 11:46am

Jackie Burns was officially announced to replace Donna Vivino on tour as Elphie.

[keleighannah]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 11:26pm

Randal Keith was the best Valjean I've ever seen. (I've seen this show an ungodly number of times.) He was phenomenal.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 11:35pm

Natalie Cortez in for Karen Olivo as Anita. Wonderful!
I also saw Mike Cannon's first performance as Tony in the same show. He was pretty good also.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 11:45pm

Krysta Rodriguez as Nina-In the Heights

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 11:52pm

Natalie Cortez for Karen Olivo in WSS-she was fiery and transcendent. I loved her.

Meghann Fahy in N2N. Really moving and remarkable.

Jessica Rush on for Laura Benanti in Gypsy. She was a very good actress and very moving as Louise. I loved her performance.

[jerseygirl4]

Posted: 6/9/10 at 5:21pm

Far and away, SARAH JANE EVERMAN in Promises Promises!! She is is outstanding and is very gracious to her fans with autographs. I saw her as Princess Fiona in SHREK and as Glenda in WICKED. She is awesome, a star in the making!!! If you get a chance, go see her in Promises Promises. You won't believe how good she is and how much the audience likes her!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/9/10 at 5:24pm

Hi, Sarah!

[bryan2]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 1:47pm

Christin Andreas ---Rags in tryouts in Boston wished she could have been the fill in for the recording instead of Julia Mignis

John Pankow----Amadeus----amazing performance will never forget it

Joanna Glusack -----Rags..I love Judy Kuhn but Joanna was better
she brought down the theater in Boston when she sang RAGS

Karen Mason-Sunset Blvd...crowd booooed when it was announced and she still came on and kicked ass..

[AudreyTwoTwo]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 1:52pm

I went to La Cage a week ago and Douglas Hodge was out... and I was SO upset, because it was 3 days after the Tony's. But his understudy, Dale Hensley, was absolutely phenominal!! He had an amazing voice as well. Definitely the best understudy I've ever seen by far.

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 1:53pm

Briana Carlson-Goodman as Crissy. Plays the character with true heart.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 2:16pm

Michael O'Donnell as the Emcee in the Cabaret revival. And Heather Laws as Sally Bowles was just brilliant.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 2:16pm

Michael O'Donnell as the Emcee in the Cabaret revival. And Heather Laws as Sally Bowles was just brilliant.

[shrekster224]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 3:56pm

Jennifer Dinoia as Elphaba

Bryan Fenkart as Huey in Memphis

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 7:47pm

*Jessica Lea Patty as Cassie
*Joey Dudding as Paul
*Lyndy Franklin as Bebe
*Lyndy Franklin as Judy

THESE plus to add to the Lyndy Franklin love, her Maggie was pretty amazing.

Briana Carlson-Goodman as Sheila in Hair...I had no idea what to expect and she floored me
Jay A. Johnson as Claude.
Noah Rivera as Sonny in ITH
Doreen Montalvo as Camila
Natalie Cortez as Anita
Mamie Parris as Mother in Ragtime
Meghann Fahy in N2N


And she's not an understudy but rather a temporary replacement but Bianca Marroquin as Daniela in In the Heights.

Updated On: 6/25/10 at 07:47 PM

[michelle3]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 8:17pm

Jessica Phillips as Diana in N2N. Personally, I preferred her singing more than Alice Ripley's.
Lisa Brescia as Elphaba in Wicked.

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 9:23pm

Leslie Kritzer as Tracy in Hairspray, circa 2004ish, and Judy Kuhn subbing for Patti in Sweeney.