Today’s Random Question: Maternity Cover

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 2:39am

Glinda at Wicked/London has two standbys with one listed as “Maternity Cover.”

I’ve never seen Maternity Cover in the US. I Googled and didn’t find a definition, but found several postings for theater jobs noted as maternity leave coverage. If the term is taken literally, it clearly means an actress covering for another who is out due to pregnancy.

That’s all good, I love when parents can take time to bond with their newborn. But why call it out in a cast list?

Why not just have a standby and a swing or two and call them that without “Maternity” in the name. Is it a union rule this actress needs to be named this? Isn’t this a bit of a HIPPA violation (if there is similar act in the UK...maybe not)?

UNLESS...are both the Glinda and Glinda Standby out on maternity leave at the same time? Even still, just call the actress a standby.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 11:39am

They arent stating WHO is preggers, so not a big deal, suppose. Also I wouldn't assume that they have Hippa or its equivalent.

And yes, about as random as they get.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 12:05pm

I've never remember seeing someone listed as a "maternity cover" in a Broadway Playbill, but Broadway rules are much more strict than the West End. (They're not even required to give out a playbill or let you know when a swing/understudy is on in London!)

Take Laura Osnes in SOUTH PACIFIC as an example... O'Hara announced in January that she would be leaving SP in March, before the end of her contract due to her pregnancy. Osnes took over for 7 months during O'Hara's maternity leave, and then O'Hara returned to the show the following October. But Osnes was billed as the leading lady, like anyone else replacing a principal who left.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 12:14pm

^I have a question about that situation. Was Osnes originally contracted for 7 months, or was she just extended a couple times? Like how did the production know o’hara would be out for 7 months?

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 12:28pm

^ the original press release announcing that Osnes would be replacing her explicitly stated that O'Hara would be out until October 6

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 12:28pm

While I cant answer this completely, (about extending) but women usually figure out maternity leave ahead of time.

I know when I took both my maternity leaves, I knew exactly how long I'd be out. That's part of being an adult/professional.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 12:33pm

Call_me_jorge said: "^I have a question about that situation. Was Osnes originally contracted for 7 months, or was she just extended a couple times? Like how did the production know o’hara would be out for 7 months?"


According to this article, O'Hara's return date was set when Osnes' initial 7-month run was announced. After giving birth in June, she returned to the show in October, and then Osnes replaced her again in January.

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 1:40pm

Just for the record, most of the restrictions HIPPA places are on care providers like hospitals or doctors from releasing information on a patient's diagnosis or condition, even if the employer requests it (which in most cases, they shouldn't). It doesn't prohibit an employer from advertising for a temporary employee while an employee takes medical/maternity leave. It's not like people wouldn't be able to figure out someone was pregnant on their own if the employer didn't mention it.