The Understudy Curse- Page 2

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 2:40am

"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."

His name is Victor W. Hawks.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 2:45am

Some shows though usually never have understudies go on. The 7 times I saw Sweeney, full cast. Every time I head over to see Chicago, theres always people out though.

Today no understudies for Company, but Aaron Lazar was out of Les Mis, but that was understandable. Plus Drew was wonderful so it didn't affect my viewing pleasure.

[James885]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 8:23am

I've had pretty good luck; most of the time the leads are in when I go see a show. What's weird is that although the leads are in, there's usually always a member of the ensemble or out when I see it. DRS is the only show that I've seen in recent memory where the entire company was in.

Although I agree that understudies aren't bad, and sometimes they are actually better than the leads.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 8:30am

C is for Company - I saw kate in for Celia too. She is fantastic! She left to do Legally Blonde though. But at least she's in the ensemble and not an u/s....actually, she still might be...I'll ask her. :)

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 8:37am

Curse or blessing? Unless I'm going to a true star performance (like Ebersole in Grey Gardens), I never get upset over understudies. I do, however, like Forbidden Broadway's spoof, No Leading Lady Tonight (sung to the tune of Luck Be A Lady Tonight).

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 8:51am

^I LOVE that song!

"I went to see Elaine Stritch, there was a technical glitch. She walked on stage and turned into Kevin Bacon. That was an interesting switch."

haha.

[mattnyc2]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 9:31am

Personally, unless I go to a show JUST to see a certain performer (like Hugh Jackman in Boy From Oz) I don't mind at all if an understudy goes on. In fact I think it's kind of exciting, because you never know who's going to be the next big star, and if they do become famous you get to say, "I saw so and so when he/she was just the understudy in..."

I've seen performances of Wicked, Rent, Drowsy Chaperone, and Hairspray ,to name a few, where the cast was primarily understudies...and had a blast! To me the "unknown" is always more interesting than "the star."

[aepratt]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 9:40am

I daresay Christine Ebersole has been a real trooper. She did miss 2 performances with a miserable cold. She returned last night. Not only that, but until the Kennedy Center Honors came up (and let's face it, it's the chance of a lifetime to sing at those.) she had never missed a show. Go to her website and check out an interview she gave while ill. She went on to perform her two roles afterward. We all get sick-I've taken sick days or even personal ones, to recouperate, and I'm not starring in a major Broadway show. (I'm not the show, as it were.) All I can say is she's pretty dedicated.
Idina Menzel had rarely missed Wicked before winning the Tony. (In fact, she didn't miss any performances-pretty good.)

[ILUVTOMG]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 9:55am

Linda Muggleston>? isn't that the actress donna murphy went on for a few times in Wonderful Town?

[Amneris]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 10:01am

LMAO ILUV

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 10:45am

i've only seen understudies in 2 shows, and ironically the same understudy in both
emily rozek as millie in TMM
and as glinda in wicked(tour)
also at wicked i had victoria matlock as elphaba, nicolas dromard as fiyero, and chris russo as dillamond

[worrell4077]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 12:49pm

I've a good amount of understudies for alot of the shows I've seen...

I saw...
Darren Ritchie go on as Orin in LSOH
Jenny Lynn Suckling(I think) go on as Ulla in The Producers
Peter Linz go on as Rod/Priceton in Avenue Q
Matthew Scott go on for Titus Burgess in Jersey Boys
Michael Longoria go on as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys
Dominic Nolfi go on as Tommy Devito in Jersey Boys
Matthew Scott go on as Joe Pesci in Jersey Boys
Donnie Kehr go on as Bob Crewe in Jersey Boys
Matthew Scott go on for Donnie Kehr in Jersey Boys
John Leone go on as Nick Massi in Jersey Boys

It's funny cause the only one out of the main 4 in Jersey Boys that's been there all 5 times I've seen it was Daniel Reichard(My sister won't see it unless he's in, but she might sit through it if John's in).

What I find that helps plan when to see a show is visit the actor's website, if they have a blog, they usually say when they are going to be going on vacation.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 12:51pm

I thought that I would add that I have never been disapointed by an understudy, and I am always blown away by the performance. :)

[gman07]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 3:01pm

If you think about it, they are working on Broadway, I don't think the casting Directors would pick just anyone do you? In fact they have to be able to go in and learn multiple parts sometimes. In my mind, that shows that they are (for the most part) every bit as qualified and talented as the principles.
Updated On: 1/5/07 at 03:01 PM

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 3:21pm

I missed Raul Esparza in "The Rocky Horror Show" the three times that I saw it. Though, the third time I knew I wouldn't be seeing him because that's when Sebastian Bach took over.

I saw Rob Evan go on for Michael Crawford in "Dance of the Vampires" and was absolutely thrilled because I am not a fan of Mr. Crawford's. I thought Evan did a fantastic job in the role.

The second time I saw "The Drowsy Chaperone" I saw the first performance that Beth Leavel missed. Her understudy was not very good. The next time I went I saw an understudy again, this time a different one, and she was much better. But having seen all three performers I'd have to say that I definitely prefer Ms. Leavel's.

I saw Laura Marie Duncan go on for Sherie Rene Scott in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and enjoyed her performance more than Sherie Rene Scott's or Rachel York's.

Rachel DeBenedet (I think that's how you spell her last name) did a fabulous job with the role of Muriel in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" as well.

[Amneris]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 5:54pm

When I saw "Dance Of The Vampires", I didn't realize it WAS Michael Crawford into halfway through the show.. I thought I was watching a really bad and inexperienced understudy.. so, sometimes u/s are better than the lead themselves. He looked like a fat vampire elvis.

[Gingersnap]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 6:52pm

When I saw DRS in July 05, Joe Cassidy was on for Norbert and I didn't feel like I was missing out. I hadn't seen Norbert so there was nothing to judge by, but Joe was fine.

Saw Stephen Buntrock go on as the Phantom, but I knew Hugh was on vacation that week so it was no big deal.

And, of course, Drew when on as Lestat during the final weekend when Hugh was out sick.

Other than that, it's only been minor characters or...way back...Bob Cuccioli goig on as Lancelot in the Camelot tour. It's never really been too big an issue with me.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 7:15pm

I think the only time I was sad that an understudy performed was when I saw Wicked during my first trip to the city. Anthony Galde (I think) was in for the legendary Ben Vereen. He wasn't very good, but the role itself isn't very well written anyway.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 7:22pm

Hmm, what understudies have I seen recently...

- The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee: Todd Buonopane (u/s William Barfee), Maurice Murphy (u/s Mitch Mahoney).
- Avenue Q: Jennifer Barnhart (u/s Kate/Lucy/etc.), Minglie Chen (u/s Bad Idea Bear, etc.).
- Chicago: Bryn Dowling (u/s Roxie).
- Rent: Luther Creek (u/s Roger).
- The Color Purple: Angela Robinson (u/s Shug).
- Wicked (national tour): Jenna Leigh Green (u/s Elphaba), Maria Eberline (u/s Nessarose).

[thespian geek]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 7:32pm

It's few and far between when I go to a show specifically to see a certain performer, so most of the time I'm more than willing to see an understudy (and usually walk away pleasantly surprised). I think the only time I've ever gone to a show absolutely dying to see a certain lead actor was Norbert in DRS.

Since my trips to NYC began in summer '05, I've seen understudies for lead roles in the following:

Altar Boyz
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Jersey Boys
The Wedding Singer
Les Miserables

Not bad considering I've seen a decent chunk of shows, IMO.

[broadway86]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 8:03pm

For some reason, I haven't seen any understudies in several years.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 8:31pm

I feel your pain. I bought tickets to the National Tour of "Wicked" in Cincy,Ohio to see Julia Murney and ended up seeing Maria Eberline who I had already seen when I saw the tour in Chicago. Very frustrating.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 9:05pm

Both the shows I've recently seen on Broadway were missing 2 cast members, for Sweeney Todd, I saw the understudy Fogg and Judge, for RENT I saw understudy Mimi and Roger. I cared less about RENT since I'm not a big fan of the show, but I did think that it was a little dissapointing to have the two leading roles being understudied.

For Sweeney, I only really wanted to see Patti, though I would've been dissapointed had Michael, Mano, or Alex been out.

[yellibean2]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 9:32pm

I used to have an understudy curse. First it was Raoul in Phantom, then Christine in Phantom, then Count Fosco in The Woman in White, then Valjean in Les Miz. Ever since Sweeney Todd though, I have had understudies but much less frequently.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 10:33pm

I've gotten a few here and there.
Damn understudy in the Drowsy Chaperone for Beth, but atleast I got the good one...