Understudies at Previews

[newyorker13]

Posted: 7/8/14 at 7:37pm

Was going to get tickets to see The Elephant Man in previews a day or two before the opening. I was wondering how high the risk of getting an understudy was and if I should go a few days after the opening to ensure no understudies? Also, we still get playbills at previews correct?

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/8/14 at 7:40pm

There is no reason understudies would go on during previews unless there was an illness or injury. In some cases, such as Cabaret recently, the understudy wasn't even rehearsed during previews, which led to them canceling a few shows.

You will probably not be able to discern any difference between a preview and a show after it opens. There may be a technical problem that stops the show for a few seconds/minutes, but that happens after previews, too.

[broadwayfan1995]

Posted: 7/8/14 at 10:18pm

Usually, understudies are not really rehearsed until a show opens. They can rehearse on their own, but they rarely get to rehearse onstage and with the rest of the company.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 7/8/14 at 11:39pm

Yes, you get playbills. And if your concern is seeing Bradley Cooper in the show, I think you can rest well assured since he's above the title and you and the entire paying audience will be on line to get refunds if he ever calls out. That said, as others have mentioned, it's extremely rare to see an understudy go on in previews. They often haven't rehearsed and the actors use previews to tweak their performances as they see what works in front of an audience, which is why the director and creatives attend previews and furiously take notes. Obviously, it's live theatre and people get sick and crises arise, but there's no reason to expect you'll see an understudy.

[newyorker13]

Posted: 7/9/14 at 12:34am

Thanks everyone! I'm new to the message board and am happy to have people who can offer good info!!! Plan on getting tickets tommorow!!