Those "Bummer" Moments When They Announce An Understudy...- Page 6

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 2:58pm

Brian went on twice for John (10/28/07 matinee and evening), and once for Blake (7/19/08 matinee).

[actionjaxson91]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 7:36pm

I recently saw Nicole Bridgewater go on for Terri White in Chicago. At first I was disappointed because I wanted my friend who I was with to see Terri stumble over and mess up her lines. When Nicole came on stage, I instantly noticed that she has no star quality. She usually plays the part of Liz ("POP!" in the Cell Block Tango) but when given the role of Mama, she didn't have IT. Her singing voice wasn't strong really. She sang in mix most of the time. However, when she got to the end of "When You're Good to Mama" she turned into Rifftina and went batsh*t on it. It was hurrlarious. So, overall, she was good but nothing more.

[shob]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 7:39pm

Rhiannon(sp?) Hansen as Elle-Legally Blonde Tour
Disappointing, and it was her first time ever going on for the role. Not the strongest, vocally. But seeing her smiling and glowing after the performance made up for it.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 12:36pm

2. Legally Blonde tour. Kathleen Monteleone went on instead of Becky Gulsvig. Hands down best Elle vocally. (I've seen Bailey Hanks and Laura Bell Bundy) She started singing in Omigod You Guys and my jaw dropped.

I'd like to see Kathleen. I saw Kate Rockwell and I thought she blew LBB out of the water (never saw Baily)

[dave1606]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 12:42pm

I have to share this because it has happened twice now, and has been the best thing that could have possibly happened. Both when I saw Sondheim on Sondheim the first time and when I later took my mom, Tom Wopat was out and Lewis Cleale was one. Let me tell you, he is absolutely incredible!

After hearing such awful things about Wopat's Ephiany, it was an absolute delight to hear Cleale's version. It was one of the most thrilling experiences I have had on Broadway this season. He only improved when I saw him the second time. That is probably the only time where I have been absolutely thrilled to see an understudy, but it really does show you that you can't automatically discount them because sometimes they are better than actors they are covering for.

[jigblob]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 12:36am

"It just sounds so ungrateful to me. And its largely due to people not understanding the inner-workings of theatre. Without that u/s going on, those groaners would be standing on the street corner looking for something else to do for the night. Wondering how they can reschedule or get their money back, and how much of a hassle this is going to be, or complaining that they are only in town for one night... etc. But instead they are in their seats, watching a u/s work their butts off, just so that people dont come on here and rip them apart for not being Karen Olivo. "

--I'm surprised that someone so atuned to the "inner workings" of theatre is talking about how audience members need to consider the emotional needs of the performer. Broadway is extremely cut-throat. People have high expectations, and performers know this. A realistic understudy should almost expect audience members to raise an eyebrow when it is announced that the "backup" performer is going on...and if they get their feelings hurt by a groaning audience, then they're in the wrong industry. If Broadway were based around the emotional needs of performers, than my tone-deaf cousin who lives and breathes theatre regardless of how bad she sucks should be playing elphaba. If you're a performer on broadway and you can't handle the emotional stress induced by an audience, than find another career.

And to end my rant, I will say that i have also never seen an audience "groan" at the announcement of an understudy, and that i would guess that 90% of any given audience doesn't even pay the least bit of attention to the understudy slips in the playbill. For example, if my mother went and saw in the heights, and lin manuel's understudy was on instead, I could say to her "oh the guy that plays usnavi in that show was lin manuel miranda he's really good....did you enjoy his performance??" and she would reply "oh yeah he was fabulous!"

[kellymarie465]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 4:04pm

- Caren Tackett as Mimi in the Rent Tour. She played the role other times on Broadway/Tour but she was copy-cat! She didn't make the role her own.

- Gwen Stewart as Joanne in the Rent Tour. She was PHENOMENAL! It was her first time as Joanne in 6 yrs but you couldn't tell ... she ROCKED IT :)

- Michael Berry as The Doctor in N2N! Very 'bummed' when I saw the u/s slip cause I adore Louis. Michael was shaky at first but really worked it in the end, and made the character his own.
- Alice Lee (B'way) & Krystina Alabado (Tour) as Thea in Spring Awakening. So excited to see them both since as the adorable Thea. I love seeing those goregous swing dresses :)

- Matt Shingledecker as Hanschen in Spring Awakening. I was totally 'bummed' when I saw that u/s slip because Matt Doyle is best-thing-to-walk-this-earth :) But I'm so glad I got to see ShiShi! It was his First/Only time as Hanschen which made it hysterical and memorable! Really amazing, fun performance for him and the whole cast!

- Erika Hunter as Sherrie in Rock of Ages. I wanted to see Kerry Butler so bad since it was first week in the show. But HOLYCRAP, Erika Hunter was/is PHENOMENAL! It's sad that they bumped her back to off-stage vocals, she's not the Sunday Sherrie anymore

I love to see understudies/swings! Although, they might make a few mistakes throughout the show, they deserve the spotlight too =D
Updated On: 5/7/10 at 04:04 PM

[MeggilyWeggily08]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 4:47pm

I'll never forget on the RENT tour, at NJPAC, there was a slip in the playbill that Cary Shields would be playing Roger instead of Adam. As a stage hand walked out to pick up the no cell phones/cameras sign an announcement came on. "At tonight's performance the role of Roger WILL be played by Adam Pascal" I've never heard so much applause in my life. I believe that aside from Adam's hernia he and Anthony never missed other shows on the tour, anyone know if that's right?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 4:59pm

- Matt Shingledecker as Hanschen in Spring Awakening. I was totally 'bummed' when I saw that u/s slip because Matt Doyle is best-thing-to-walk-this-earth :) But I'm so glad I got to see ShiShi! It was his First/Only time as Hanschen which made it hysterical and memorable! Really amazing, fun performance for him and the whole cast!

LMAO. What... I, wow, can't even really imagine that. Liked his Melchior; loved his Georg.

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 7:38pm

Bump

[sorano916]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 8:10pm

Brian Charles went on as Moritz once (possible twice) while Gallagher was still in Spring Awakening. I saw Brian as Moritz on his final day with the Broadway company, he was superb.

Ah. I see. Thanks for the clarification. Did Brian really go on for Moritz on his final day? That's so strange. You would think that he would have got on for Otto and Gerard do Moritz.

Anyways, I wandered over to the Guilty Ones Understudy thread.

Gerard went on for John both shows on 8/18, 8/22, and 9/21
Brian went on for John both shows on 10/14

Don't know if there all any more dates before those. Heh...

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 8:49pm

^IF I remember the story correctly: Bashoff was pulled off that performance (for a tour rehearsal, I think) and Gerard called out "sick" so Brian could go on. It was pre-arranged as a goodbye gift.

[rosekwbp]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 10:01pm

I saw Maureen Moore go on for Christine Ebersole in Grey Gardens. Maureen was wonderful in the role and I went back whenever I knew she going to go on.

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 5/8/10 at 2:09pm

When I finally got tickets to South Pacific, I was so disappointed when I opened my program to find a slip announcing Kelli O'Hara was out. I pointed it out to my friend and he groaned. An usher, who happened to pass by at that moment leaned over to us and whispered "I think you're going to be really pleased with the understudy, she's wonderful." Five minutes into the first scene, Laura Marie Duncan had won my heart. She was the perfect combination of everything I (now) think Nellie Forbush should be: unsophisticated yet intoxicatingly charming, a terrific singer...AND a curvy-bombshell-beauty only halfway aware of what her looks do to men. I've seen the show and the movie many times. She redefined an iconic role for me. Though I'm sure Kelli O'Hara was wonderful, I left the theater finding it difficult to imagine anyone but Laura Marie Duncan in the role.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 5/8/10 at 5:37pm

The complete opposite of a bummer moment lol...

From 1964, Funny Girl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHrKGdKecgg

[Glinda172xxx]

Posted: 5/8/10 at 6:53pm

I was visiting NY from London last april and I had booked tickets about 3 months in advance for shrek. This was partly because I was absolutley desperate to see Sutton Foster as Fiona! I was hoping the whole time that I would get to see her and I got to the theatre and saw that Haven Burton would be playing Fionia. At first I was gutted but then I had heard great things about Haven too. I then became quite excited about seeing her performance and I have to say she was absolutley amazing! I am moving to NY in the summer so I am sure I will get to see Sutton some time!

In the end I was so glad I got to see her and I felt a bit bad that I was dissapointed at first!

I also went to see Wicked and I had 2 Elphabas! Nicole Parker got sick and Jennifer Dinioa came on during the dancing through life scene-It was such a great experience to get two Elphabas for the price of one! They were both amazing but Alli Mazey stole the show....she was phenomenal. :

[nuckyblue]

Posted: 5/8/10 at 9:25pm

During my last big trip in '08, I missed Olga Merediz as Abuela in "ITH", but the Swing, Blanca Camacho, was great.

I also missed Laura Benanti (Wednesday matinee...) in "Gypsy" but whoever the u/s was did an absolutely fantastic job.

[julesboogie]

Posted: 5/9/10 at 5:24pm

"--I'm surprised that someone so atuned to the "inner workings" of theatre is talking about how audience members need to consider the emotional needs of the performer. Broadway is extremely cut-throat. People have high expectations, and performers know this. A realistic understudy should almost expect audience members to raise an eyebrow when it is announced that the "backup" performer is going on...and if they get their feelings hurt by a groaning audience, then they're in the wrong industry. If Broadway were based around the emotional needs of performers, than my tone-deaf cousin who lives and breathes theatre regardless of how bad she sucks should be playing elphaba. If you're a performer on broadway and you can't handle the emotional stress induced by an audience, than find another career. "

I love that you believe that. But this like any other career and feelings do play a part. In fact, there is a certain narcissism (for lack of a better word) that goes along with being an actor. A need to do good work and have that work to be validated. I would love for you to have to get in front of a large crowd and have them show obvious disdain for your presence. And then after that, id like for you to tell me that it didnt affect you in ANY way. Whether or not you feel its part of the job does not make the emotion toll of it all negligible.

Oh and i dont know anyone who expects to be raised an eyebrow at. when they know that they went to the same schools, got the same education, worked just as hard, and are just as good. for anything.

Oh and PS. To liken a broadway understudy to your tone deaf cousin is heresy .

[jigblob]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 5:59pm

--I love that you believe that. But this like any other career and feelings do play a part. In fact, there is a certain narcissism (for lack of a better word) that goes along with being an actor. A need to do good work and have that work to be validated. I would love for you to have to get in front of a large crowd and have them show obvious disdain for your presence. And then after that, id like for you to tell me that it didnt affect you in ANY way. Whether or not you feel its part of the job does not make the emotion toll of it all negligible.

I would be extremely affected if I was in front of a large crowd and they showed obvious distain, and I could never do it. But understudy or not, you have to have thicker skin than the average person if you're going to be in that industry.

Is it right for people to moan and groan and be rude to an understudy (regardless of how good/bad they are) ?? Absolutely not. But I'll just agree to disagree about the audience's responsibility to "emotionally validate" each performer.