The thread about "Annie" got me wondering...

[inthejungle]

Posted: 11/16/12 at 9:47pm

because I'm not as well schooled in how professional theater works as many of you old pros are (I just know what I like)... but all the talk about Lilla's standby versus her understudy has me puzzled. So can anyone help me understand? What exactly is the difference between an understudy and a standby for a leading role? I think I recall (yes dating myself) way back in the day that Kristin Vigard was Andrea McArdle's understudy (after being demoted) and then I think Shelley Bruce became Andrea's understudy before replacing her in the role once Andrea aged out.

So it all has me wondering what the distinction is between the two jobs. Also, is there any way to know ahead of time who you are going to see? When I was a kid, my parents brought us to the Alvin Theater and we had the privilege of catching Allison Smith in the Lead. I am sure that Allison's talent was a major influence in why I loved that show... might not have had the same impact on me if another actress was playing the lead.

Forgive my lack of knowledge... hoping a nice person will enlighten me : )

[DivaBrigader]

Posted: 11/16/12 at 10:30pm

An understudy has another role in the show (ensemble or non-lead role). A standby does not perform unless they are filling in for somebody. There has been no alternate schedule released for Lilla. Jaidyn Young's mother did post on Facebook that Jaidyn will be going on as Annie for the first time on December 8th.

[inthejungle]

Posted: 11/16/12 at 10:55pm

thank you Diva! That helps clear things up : )

So I'm guessing a standby has to rehearse with the rest of the cast (for their respective standby role) though they don't have another role in the show.

I'm guessing Jaidyn is Lilla's standby(?)

My niece is really excited about Lilla (the way I was about Andrea and Allison back in the 19th Century)... so I am just trying to figure out if there is a way to schedule tix knowing Lilla will perform. Sounds like it's a crapshoot and you get what you get.

[winston89]

Posted: 11/16/12 at 11:01pm

An understudy typically has another role in a show, like an ensemble track. However, a standby only covers a particular role in a show and spends the performance hanging around the theatre on the off chance they are needed. (They get paid for this and are able to leave the theatre to run an errand provided that they are reachable in case of emergency.)

A more well known story of a standby going on in the middle of the show is when Shoshana Bean went on for Idina Menzel. Menzel injured herself towards the end of her second to last performance and the show was halted and Bean jumped into the show at a moments notice.

[DivaBrigader]

Posted: 11/16/12 at 11:17pm

Taylor Richardson is the Annie understudy and has been covering Annie during Lilla's absences so far. She usually plays Duffy. Jaidyn Young is the Annie and multiple orphan standby and it looks like they added another Annie/orphan standby, Sadie Sink, just before the official opening.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/16/12 at 11:27pm

A friend of mine has done extensive work as a standby. He has to physically check-in at the theater a half hour before showtime and then was free to leave provided he stayed within 15 minutes of the theater. One time his cellphone rang while we were having dinner and he had to rush back to New World Stages to go in in a major role.

[inthejungle]

Posted: 11/16/12 at 11:30pm

and just because I'm a dork and have to complicate things... I am still confused about the concept of a "swing". I recall, again back in the dark ages when I was a kid, that Aileen Quinn was a "swing" orphan before she was cast in the movie as the lead. Swing = she was trained to cover every orphan?

The thing I find funny about all this is I recall reading an interview of Andrea McArdle from a few years ago and she was talking about how kids in shows don't just learn their own lines. They learn EVERY character's lines because they are so enamored of the show they've been cast in. I thought that was a charming comment.

Thanks you guys for putting up with me : )

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/16/12 at 11:40pm

Yes. Swings cover every ensemble role of their gender (and sometimes even more than that). They ONLY perform when someone in the ensemble is out, unless said swing also understudies a lead role.