Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role- Page 2
Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
popular_elphie
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/3/05
#25re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 3:30pm
I didn't like Nadine as Cassie either, but the truth is Charlotte isn't much better.
I will also add to my list Travis Cloer over Michael Longoria in JERSEY BOYS.
#26re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 3:32pmSarah Lawrence as Christine Daae.
that's a really big mic...
sgv123
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/16/06
#27re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 3:32pmi saw soleen sexton in the wicked tour. she was alot better than victoria.
#28re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 3:51pmI saw Alli Mauzey for Kendra this summer. I was so upset about that, but when she came out in her bubble, and said her first line, and when she opened her mouth to sing her first note....I knew it was going to be alright!
Hunter: Your teeth need whitening./ Heidi: You sound weird./ Jeff: You taste funny.
-Jeff Bowen's worst onstage line flub.
-Jeff Bowen's worst onstage line flub.
DefyGravity777
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/28/08
#29re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 3:53pm
Jeff Kready as JVJ in Les Mis. Edit-I had the wrong name. LOL
Julie Hanson(I think she was the alternate though) in POTO.
I'm sure there's more but I can't think of any right now. Most of the shows I see now have the full casts so I don't get to see many understudies.
Don't believe everything that you hear! Only the peeps involved know the truth!
Updated On: 2/26/08 at 03:53 PM
#30re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 3:55pmWhen did Jeff McCarthy play Valjean?!
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#31re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 3:55pmJay Douglas as Man in Chair in The Drowsy Chaperone
http://two-sails.blogspot.com/
jordangirl
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/1/06
#32re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:01pm
I second Jay Douglas. If I couldn't have Bob Martin, I would rather have had Jay Douglas.
I got to see Kristy Cates's second performance ever as Elphaba and she was amazing ~ more than made up for Idina being out.
Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!
#33re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:22pm
Howie Michael Smith as Princeton/Rod (before taking over the role fulltime) in Avenue Q.
David Josefsberg as Sammy in The Wedding Singer.
Andy Karl as both Emmett and Professor Callahan in Legally Blonde.
Becky Gulsvig as Elle in Legally Blonde.
#34re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:22pm
I never saw the actress originally in the role, but Leslie Hendrix was amazingly hilarious as Mayor Shinn's wife in MUSIC MAN when she went on. I saw the show a year later; the woman who played the part then (whose name I do know but won't say) wasn't nearly as good. It was a great show, and Hendrix sticks out as one of the best in a great cast.
Broadway Blog: Broadway Star Bingo V
meredithchandler73
Stand-by Joined: 11/18/06
#35re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:54pm
I saw the INTO THE WOODS revival and like Kate Reinders and Chad Kimball *much* better than the regular cast members (whose names I can't even remember).
Edited to add: Duh, should have mentioned that they went on for the regular Little Red Ridinghood and Jack. It was the day night before the Tony Awards and I think three or four principals were out.
Updated On: 2/26/08 at 04:54 PM
Sondheim_Geek
Broadway Star Joined: 2/20/07
#36re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 5:24pm
A few months ago...
Jonathan Root for Howie Michael Smith in Avenue Q.
#37re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 5:24pmBryan Batt in the La Cage aux Folles Bway revival was a glamorous Albin.
timmmmmmmmmy
ruprecht
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/16/05
#38re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 8:47pmLoved NLB in Rent much better than Adam Pascal and more recently, I'd have to go along with all of the Legally Blonde understudies Fishergirl mentioned.
#39re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 8:57pmI saw Millie on Tour with the understudy for Trevor Greydon (sp?) He was the best part of the whole show.
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert
philly03
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
#40re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 8:58pm
Defanetly agreed with COLEEN SEXTON in Wicked! She's fantastic.
Also, I still believe Eden Espinosa is a better Elphaba.
#41re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 8:58pm
A really big one for me:
I love Kristy Cates, DO NOT get me wrong, but I saw Dee Roscioli as Elphaba in Chicago, and personally liked her a LOT more
"That's a good point. Next time I pee on a Starbucks couch and throw straws and napkins at a barista, I'll just yell, "YOU DON'T KNOW ME OUTSIDE OF STARBUCKS! YOU DON'T KNOW ME AT ALL!" and that should do it. "-LizzieCurry
pli1018
Broadway Star Joined: 4/16/07
#42re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 9:10pmI third Jay Douglas as Man in the Chair. I saw him the second time I saw the show and I thought he had a really fun and different take compared to Bob Martin. Was disappointed at first, but then realized I didn't really know who Johnathon Crombie was anyway, so it didn't matter.
TheActorFactor1
Swing Joined: 5/19/07
#43re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 9:21pmI love matt doyle
bwaycomposer
Understudy Joined: 1/1/08
#44re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 11:25pm
Brad Bass as Fiyero in WICKED was better than anyone else I've seen.
Andy Karl in LEGALLY BLONDE
Hazel Anne Raymundo in AVENUE Q as Christmas Eve
#45re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 11:27pm
Some of mine....
Maya Days as Aida (though she eventually got to take over)
Bryan Batt as Albin in La Cage
Alexandra Socha as Wendla in Spring Awakening
Lisa Brescia as Marian in The Woman in White
Roberta Deichak as Mother in Ragtime (not as good as Donna Bullock, but better than Marin Mazzie)
Donna Marie Asbury as Velma Kelly in Chicago (still my all-time favorite Velma)
roquat
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/25/05
#46re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 11:44pmI saw KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN twice on Broadway. The first time Chita Rivera was out, and Carole Lawrence was her understudy--she walked through it, making no impression. The second time Vanessa Williams was out, and Nancy Hess gave a passionate, sizzling performance (with what is, after all, a very brief role), making every line and lyric count. I always remembered this because, as usual, the tourists were grumbling and bitching in the lobby about Vanessa being out. At the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS speech after the curtain calls, Nancy Hess informed the audience of the various merchandise available for purchase, which included show posters signed by each member of the cast, "including Vanessa Williams, so it won't be a total loss for all of you." I wanted to hug her.
I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."
#47re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 11:52pmI've seen Rebecca Pitcher and Julie Hanson as Christine in POTO. Julie was Rebecca's alternate and was a million times better.
shesamarshmallow
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/06
#48re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/26/08 at 11:56pm
1. I want to see Brad Bass and Jonathan Root in those respective roles so badly! Brad's solo show is amazing.
2. Forgot to mention that Kyle Post as Mark was by far the best part of the show when I saw RENT a few weeks ago (though I haven't seen Harley Jay, so).
broadwayunderstudies.com - most underrated performers on broadway
amalou
Broadway Star Joined: 5/15/07
#49re: Understudies You Liked Better Than the Person Playing the Role
Posted: 2/27/08 at 1:04am
Last time I saw Phantom, Jennifer Hope Wills did act one but it was obvious she was sick. Her voice was getting weaker and weaker. Susan Owen took over for act two and I liked her better. And I'm not just going by that one performance for Wills. I've seen her before when she was in tip top shape and I still prefer Owen.
Also, whenever I went to see Aida, I was always happy to get the understudy instead of Toni Braxton.
I also liked Elizabeth Loycano as Mina in Dracula better than Melissa Errico.
"But I can tell you that Raoul, who was so handsome in "The Phantom," is now a drunken wreck."
Updated On: 2/27/08 at 01:04 AM
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