The Understudy Curse

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

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 :)

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.

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

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.

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^^Wow, that's really unlucky!

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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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

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.

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.