Understudies

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Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 11:54am

Hi, I was wondering if people have stories about going to a show, having an understudy and being suprisingly impressed. So what was your best understudy performance?

For me it Was Jennifer Barnhart for Kate Monster And Lucy T. Slut at Avenue Q.

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 12:02pm

I went to see CHICAGO in Ldn for Bonnie Langford. I was really happy to know that I wasnt seeing Amra Faye Wright and her understudy.
But to my surprise, Natalie Edmunds (Velma understudy)'s whole family and her dance students all came to see the show and the atmosphere.... WOW! Have never heard an applause during the understudy announcement, Velma's ATJ entrance, well, her every entrance and exit... HUGE applauses!
Natalie was extremely gd... tall, leggy, great belty voice with a Catherine Zeta Jones wig and she did look like her onstage!
It was one hell of a night as she and Bonnie was SO gd and so much chemistry!

All That Jazz Check out & support my drawings @ www.facebook.com/felixdrawings

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 12:39pm

Off-Broadway - Shout the Mod Musical.
I ushered there, and the first time I saw the original girl (Denise Summerford), and thought she was very good. I saw her understudy (Casey Clark), though, the next time I ushered, and she was amazing, and in my opinion, better than Denise.

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 12:42pm

When I saw Wicked for the second time Jen was out and Megan Hilty was on. After that performance I loved her and saw her 5 more times.

Also, when I saw Gypsy Bernadette was out but Maureen Moore was spectacular.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 12:47pm

Millie- Megan Campbell was on for Millie and she was amazing! Plus I think she was around 18 or 19 (never saw Sutton though)
Hairspray- Leslie Kritzer
Wicked- Brandi Massey for Elphaba, instead of Shoshana Bean

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 12:50pm

When I saw the Wicked tour Emily Rozek and Jenna Leigh Green were in. Emily does a hilarious Popular.

"I'll show you a laughgasm. I'll gasm all over this stage!"
"Interesting choice"

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 12:53pm

This is going back almost ten years, but I went to see The Life and Sharon Wilkins went on for Lillias White as Sonja. She absolutely stopped the show and received thunderous applause at the curtain call.

"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 12:53pm

When I caught a matinee of DRS last summer, Joe Cassidy was on for Norbert and he was very good.

http://www.hugh-panaro.net

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 12:56pm

Jenna Leigh Green as Elphaba on the national tour. Well, I knew she was going to be amazing because I was already a fan of hers, but I went to see Stephanie J. Block one more time.

"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D

#10

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 1:07pm

I know everyone will be shocked that my answer is Joe Cassidy for Freddy in DRS

Other understudes I've been impressed with are Laura Marie Duncan as Christine in DRS, Elisa Winter as Johanna in Sweeney, Howie Michael Smith as Princeton/Rod in Avenue Q, Sean McCourt as the Wizard in Wicked, Benjamin Eakeley as Anthony and the Beadle in Sweeney, Michelle Dowdy as Tracy in Hairspray, Saycon Songbleh as Elphaba in Wicked, Jason Gillman as Freddy in DRS, Karmine Alers as Mimi in Rent, Rachel de Benedet as Muriel in DRS, and Patti Coheneur as Margaret in Light in the Piazza. Granted, some of these people started doing the role a couple times a week, others took over, others had done the role...still they were technically understudies when I saw them.

"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli

#11

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 1:13pm

Colin Hanlon as Mark in Rent, Nicolette Hart as Linda in The Wedding Singer, Todd Buonopane as Leaf in ...Spelling Bee, Ben Eakeley in Sweeney, Karmine as Mimi/Maureen in Rent, Timothy J. Alex as Freddy in DRS (covered the night between Norbert and Brian).

"It does what a musical's supposed to do. It takes you to another world, and it gives you a little tune to carry with you in your head for when you're feeling blue."

#12

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 1:36pm

Understudies were in for both Seaweed and Corny when I saw Hairspray. They were both exelent. I wouldn't have noticed if they hadnt been announced as understudies, though that was the only Hairspray performance I've seen.

#13

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 1:37pm

Melissa Dye as Cinderella in "Into The Woods."

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 8/8/07 at 01:37 PM

#14

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 1:44pm

"Millie- Megan Campbell was on for Millie and she was amazing! Plus I think she was around 18 or 19 (never saw Sutton though)"

YAY Megan! :) She's a family friend of mine. Yes she was pretty much straight out of high school when broadway called. Wish I could've seen her in Millie. Her sister Katie is a great singer as well!

#15

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 2:20pm

I loved Ben Eakley in Sweeney Todd!

#16

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 2:31pm

http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!) I chose, and my world was shaken- So what?
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda "And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler

Updated On: 8/7/06 at 02:31 PM

#17

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 2:32pm

Tina Maddigan as Julia in "The Wedding Singer"
Patti Cohenour as margaret in "The Light in the Piazza"
Diane Sutherland as Signora Naccarelli in "The Light in the Piazza"
Jason Gillman as Freddy in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"
Shelley Thomas as Paradice in "BKLYN the Musical"

#18

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 2:33pm

I think I'd walk out if Felicia was out of The Wedding Singer, she is the reason I enjoy the show so much. But glad to read that her u/s is good.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

#19

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 3:49pm

Niki Scalera as Jane in Tarzan.

#20

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 3:53pm

Haven Burton - Maureen u/s in RENT-- AMAZING, they seriously need to switch her with Ava

John Treacy Egan- Max u/s in Producers (Before he was promoted)

Megan Hilty - Wicked (saw her as a standby when JLT was out w/ bronchitis before she took over)

#21

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 4:03pm

Megan Hilty- She was in for JLT when I saw it (a week before Idina left) and the whole time I couldnt believe that she wasn't the full time Glinda. She really impressed me. I loved her so much I went back to see her for one of her last performances:)

#22

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 5:41pm

Kenita Miller is AMAZING as Celie in the color purple. She brings so much to the role. Also Saycon in Wicked, and Crystal for the SEason of Love Soloist that girl can blow Frenchie out of the water.

#23

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 6:24pm

Even looking forward to Norbert as much as I was (a lot) I enjoyed Jason Gillman.

"In the rain, the pavement shines like silver
All the lights are misty in the river
In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight
And all I see is him and me forever and forever."

#24

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/7/06 at 6:29pm

The first time I saw Altar Boyz, Kevin Kern was on as Luke (also I've seen him as Matthew several times) and he's been one of my favorite theatre since.

Speaking of Kevin, he's currently Stephen Lynch's u/s in The Wedding Singer. :)

#25

re: Understudies

Posted: 8/8/06 at 10:43am

Jason Gillman- DRS
Lisa Brescia- WiW
Lisa Yuen- Spelling Bee
James Romick- PotO

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