The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few exceptions, aren't rehearsed until after the opening night.
The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few exceptions, aren't rehearsed until after the opening night.
#0The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few exceptions, aren't rehearsed until after the opening night.
Posted: 4/12/05 at 7:46am
Is this true? Is this why we rarely see understudies perform during previews? Good to know, since we usually go during previews, and if we like it we go back after it opens.
It was posted on playbill.com under the current LaCage article.
TheGaIsSilent
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/25/04
#1re: The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few exceptions, aren't rehearsed until after the opening night.
Posted: 4/12/05 at 8:16am
That understudies aren't rehearsed is certainly not true; they may be under-rehearsed.
I can think of quite a few recent examples (Gypsy, Little Women, La Cage, Spamalot, DRS) where an understudy went on during previews for a bit while an actor recovered from illness.
JOHN LITHGOW
I just realized, your last name is Butz! Both "Norbert" AND "Butz" are in your name! You must have gotten picked on a lot as a child!
tpdc
Broadway Star Joined: 5/30/03
#2re: The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few exceptions, aren't rehearsed until after the opening night.
Posted: 4/12/05 at 10:37amA recent trend in some musicals has had an understudy go on for a lead during late previews just before critics come. It happened with Sherie Rene Scott in DRS.
wildcat
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/04
#3re: The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few exceptions, aren't rehearsed until after the opening night.
Posted: 4/12/05 at 10:40amResourceful understudies have been known to rehearse themselves, buttonholing musical directors during lunch breaks to run songs, grabbing an idle dance captain to check choreography. But the production team is usually intent on getting the principals ready for opening night, so scheduled understudy calls don't begin in earnest until the show is up and running.
popcultureboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/23/03
#4re: The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few ex
Posted: 4/12/05 at 10:43amIt only happened with Sherie Rene Scott because she got sick, same with Sutton in Little Women and both leads in Dessa Rose. So it's not really a trend.
Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.
GirlfriendFromCanada
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/7/03
#5re: The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few exceptions, aren't rehearsed until after the opening night.
Posted: 4/12/05 at 10:46am
I can think of a number of cases I know of where the understudy for a role wasn't rehearsed until months after he began. Not necessarily in the case of a new musical, but Colin Hanlon didn't fully know Roger, a role he was the second understudy for, until almost a year after took over the ensemble part that generally covers the role. He didn't go in the part for quite some time either, and since then, he's become the likely person to go on if the lead playing Roger is out. I tend to doubt this is the only situation like this one.
Unless I'm mistaken, didn't Daniel Torres complete learning the role of Mark in Altar Boyz on the night that he went on?
TheGaIsSilent
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/25/04
#6re: The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few exceptions, aren't rehearsed until after the opening night.
Posted: 4/12/05 at 10:56amHeather would know this better than I would, but I think Daniel went over Mark's part with the director for the first time the afternoon he went on...
JOHN LITHGOW
I just realized, your last name is Butz! Both "Norbert" AND "Butz" are in your name! You must have gotten picked on a lot as a child!
#7re: The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few exceptions, aren't rehearsed until after the opening night.
Posted: 4/12/05 at 11:05amIt's only in the fairly recent past that this has been a problem. The time was, unless a near-disaster took place (I.e., Maureen McGovern actually bursting a vocal blood vessel during previews of THREEPENNY), cast members were never out during preview periods. "The show must go on", which nowadays is a bit of a joke for the most part, used to actually mean something. It was not necessary to rehearse understudies until the show had opened, leaving the preview period free to rehearse changes for the show.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
wildcat
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/04
#8re: The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few exceptions, aren't rehearsed until after the opening night.
Posted: 4/12/05 at 11:10amDidn't Teresa Stratas refuse to play the first performance of RAGS because the theatre wasn't warm enough, leaving her standby...poor Christine Andreas...to go on under-rehearsed?
timote316
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/04
#9re: The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few ex
Posted: 4/12/05 at 11:13amI read that article last night. It was a very interesting read.
#10re: The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few ex
Posted: 4/12/05 at 11:27amUnderstudies have an obligation to watch and learn their roles during the regular rehearsal period. They can't be "onstage," but they should be watching, learning, and taking notes, so they're as ready as they can be when the first preview curtain rises.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
MTRBOI24
Broadway Star Joined: 12/11/04
#11re: The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few ex
Posted: 4/12/05 at 11:30amWhy do you think they had to fly Kristy Cates in to do Elphaba, because the understudies had NO rehearsals yet.
#12re: The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few ex
Posted: 4/12/05 at 12:13pm
I got that from http://www.playbill.com/news/article/92281.html
"Look Over There: Understudy John Hillner Got a Rare Moment in La Cage aux Folles"
TheGaIsSilent
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/25/04
#13re: The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few ex
Posted: 4/12/05 at 12:27pmIt's just not rare... anymore.
JOHN LITHGOW
I just realized, your last name is Butz! Both "Norbert" AND "Butz" are in your name! You must have gotten picked on a lot as a child!
#14re: The secret that few theatregoers know is that understudies, with few ex
Posted: 4/12/05 at 12:52pmI never understood how "the show must go on" became a theatre icon. It's actually a circus term. "No matter what happens, keep the show going so the audience doesn't start to panic."
"Now and then life hits you on the back of the head with a sock full of wet porridge. How you handle that is up to you." - Tim Rice
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