The Understudy Curse

[Broadway Baby4]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:03pm

It feels like every time I go to see a broadway show recently, atleast one of the main characters had an understudy. For example, when I saw Spelling Bee, there was an understudy for Olive and Mitch. When I saw Les Mis, there was an understudy for Jean Valjean. And when I saw The Drowsy Chaperone, there was an understudy for Janet. And that's just the shows I saw recently.

As much as I like seeing the understudies every once and a while, and I know it's normal for people get sick or whatever, but it seems like I am just picking the worst days to go to shows.

Does anyone else seem to have this happen to them?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:09pm

Katrina Yaukey in Company was the 1st understudy I've seen since June. Matthew Scott was on for Daniel Reichard in Jersey Boys.

I don't count Tina Maddigan, since for most of her run, she was above the title. Updated On: 1/3/07 at 10:09 PM

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:09pm

I personally pick some really good days.
-DRS in June, Norbert was out the day before and the day after.
-TWS on Oct 14 at 2. The Sat. mat week before had Kern on, and the weekend after both Kern and Maddigan were on.
-Jersey Boys, Dec 24, full cast.

[Broadwayluva]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:10pm

knock on wood, i've only had it happen a few times and although aggrivating, it is pretty cool seeing the hidden talent in these understudies :)

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:11pm

When I see a show for the first time, I'm almost always fortunate enough to have a full cast (Spelling Bee, Jersey Boys, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels are a few examples). But if I return to the show sometime later, there is always at least one understudy on. However, the cast I see the first time always stays with me, understudies or not.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:12pm

haha- Every show I take my best friend to, I can count on a lead actor missing. I actually flat out refuse to go to shows anymore with her that feature an actor who I am totally dying to see. When we saw the OBC of Spelling Bee, Jesse and Dan were both out! The same event occured with Cabaret and Alan Cumming.

Personally, I have had very good fortune with seeing the majority of actors in at the time.

Updated On: 1/3/07 at 10:12 PM

[thenextfiyero]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:12pm

yea it is cool to see some of the hidden talents

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:13pm

I saw close to 100 shows this year, and I only had an unexpected understudy twice: Kate Chapman was on for Roz Ryan when I went to see THE PAJAMA GAME, and John Deyle was on for Leo Burmester when I saw THE FANTASTICKS. I did return to SWEENEY TODD and JACQUES BREL several times specifically to see the understudies, though.

[Kgshrauder]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:47pm

The three times I went to see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels there was an understudy for Jolene.

[Broadway Baby4]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:52pm

^^Wow, that's really unlucky!

[SarahBeth]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:54pm

When I saw the Wicked tour I saw Emily Rozek as Glinda and Jenna Leigh Green as Elphaba and I couldn't have been happier because they were both amazing.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:00pm

I missed John Lithgow in DRS (and it was my first broadway show I saw live) and I REALLY wanted to see him.

And there was an u/s on for Celia when I saw Spelling Bee but come to find out that I had seen the u/s in many things before and I got to talk to her for a good half hour so that one wasn't bad!

Those are the only times I've had an u/s on (except for Clayton in Tarzan and I didn't even know until I read the playbill but I loved the guy I saw.). Hopefully when I go to see another show I won't miss whoever I want to see in it.

[Glory]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:14pm

i've seen understudies. many lol, but never for leads. let's see i've seen Annaleigh for Kendra, but saw Kendra the first time I saw Wicked in Boston. Then Blake was out the 4th time I saw Hairspray, so I saw his understudy but he played an amazing Edna! Then Penny the 3rd time I saw the show and I'm glad I saw Lindsay she was SO AMAZING! and I would of missed Eden but sold my tickets and got her last show because if I had to have seen Saycon I would of killed myself. And last was for Spring Awakening last week I saw Elsa's understudy who was very good. And that night for A Chorus Line I saw Richie's understudy, but luckily I didn't go in the day becaue Val's, Diana's, and Richie's were on.

[singingshowgirl]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:32pm

i exchanged my tickets when Sutton Foster was sick at Little Women, but otherwise I've had good luck for "stars." the only other "star" who was out when I have gone to shows was Christine Ebersole at 42nd street....we didn't exchange our tickets and we ended up seeing some unknown named Beth Leavel. ever heard of her???? now we can say we knew her when haha...well sorta

i saw 3 understudies at a chorus line last night (one being diana), but most of the understudies i've seen have been relatively tiny parts.

but i try to look of it as exciting for the understudies because i know how it feels to be an understudy...my friend sat next to Cosette's understudy's family at Les Miz and said how the family was so excited because it was her first time going on and everything.....but yeah, it is upsetting when it's the famous ones like Sutton.

[liotte]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:34pm

I love seeing understudies. There are times when I will go see a show just because the understudy is on.

[Amneris]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:37pm

The very 1st time I saw RENT, idina was out and I saw a wonderful gal by the name of KLK!!! Then I saw Idina a bunch of times after and was grateful to have seen KLK because she rocked that role :) I also saw Kiss Me Kate's revival 2 times.. once with Stokes and Mazzie..the other with Both U/S's for Both lead roles and I thought Merwin Ford/Patti Goble were incredibly Spectacular.

[Luscious]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:45pm

That's because there aren't any real "the show must go on" troopers out there any more. Sadly, those days are long gone. Now, if a performer has the sniffles, they're out for a week. The 8-show week is virtually a myth. Most seem to manage to miss at least one show a week. And then there are those who can't handle a 2-show day, leaving the matinees to their understudies. Pussies.

Updated On: 1/4/07 at 11:45 PM

[mattonstage]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 12:00am

A friend of mine had a Nathan Lane curse for a while. He saw "Guys and Dolls," "Laughter on the 23rd Floor," "Lips Together, Teeth Apart," and "Funny Thing...Forum" all with Nathan's understudies, finally broke the streak with "The Producers".
I had an aquaintence, Linda Mugleston, who's been an understudy for Lea DeLaria in "On the Town", Marin Mazzie in "Kiss Me Kate", Vanessa Williams in "Into the Woods", and Mary Stuart Masterson in "Nine". I got to see her to "Kate" and "Woods", she was fantastic. And it was nice hearing the people around me say how they were perfectly fine with Linda because she was so good.

[BudFrump23]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 12:05am

My biggest stint happened a few years ago.

I saw Gypsy (with Bernadette) without Bernadette, for she was out.

Next, I saw Hairspray after Marissa won the Tony, and she was out.

Next, I saw Wicked, and in the middle of it, Kristen C. left and her standby came on for Act II.

I wasn't too disappointed by them (except I'd love to have seen Bernadette) but it was broken when I saw Spamalot 2 years ago and the whole cast was in. So far, I've had excellent luck.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 12:18am

I have seen Understudies for the leads in the following shows

Wicked
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Les Miz
Spelling Bee
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Altar Boyz
Take Me Out
Little Shop
Millie
Rent
Wicked
Phantom
Lion King
The Producers
and The Drowsey Chaperone

I have never seen either of the Foster perform or Cheno

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 12:25am

I had about a year when I was in high school where the leads were out of almost every show I saw, no exaggeration. I missed some big ones, too. Stokes and Ernie Sabella were out of Man of La Mancha, Raúl Esparza (who, based on what Luscious posted, I feel compelled to say in very "the show must go on" trooper fashion, rather than wimping out, just managed to do several performances of Company with a very bad cold without missing a day) and Boy George were out of Taboo, Adam Pascal and Simone were out of Aida... to name a few. It was kind of a bummer.

Updated On: 1/4/07 at 12:25 AM

[Sylar2]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 12:29am

I actually think sometimes the understudies are BETTER than their counterparts. They are fresh and eager to please. The only exception to this would be if I'm going to see a show where there is a "star". I'd get a refund if I went to see Bill Nighy and got his understudy.

People frown too much on understudies. They are just as talented, that's why they are covering a lead.

I saw Les Miz recently and thought the Valjean understudy (his name escapes me) BLEW away Alex's performance and he was forced to go on 2 days after opening with very little rehearsal.

I also saw an understudy for Phantom during one of the tours and to this date he is the only Phantom that has ever truly moved me to tears.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 12:50am

The last time I saw A Chorus Line, the u/s for Cassie went on(I knew that before hand). I clearly thought she was better than D'Amboise. I've also seen u/s for Diana & Connie.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 1:35am

ANYONE is better then D'Amboise....

I saw Joe Cassidy go on for NLB in DRS and he was 1000 times more intresting to watch.

[waddledee524]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 1:51am

When I saw Spelling Bee this summer, I was disappointed to find that Kate Wetherhead was on for Olive. By the end, I think I liked her better than Celia. Understudies aren't always bad.