Understudies on Opening Night?
Understudies on Opening Night?
#0Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/25/06 at 12:40pm
Rudi Dharmalingam of The History Boys is apparently being billed as an understudy, although he is the only actor who has played the part so far on Broadway. Does anyone know of other examples in which a featured or lead performer was out on Opening Night?
I wonder if Samuel Anderson would still be considered to be Tony-eligible, since he is the "official" cast member even though he hasn't performed yet (and is apparently not even in the country).
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inishmore
Stand-by Joined: 4/6/05
#1re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/25/06 at 1:01pmI went to the Fiddler revival opening and one of the featured guys was out. I can't remember for the life of me who now. Maybe John Cariani?
Time rushes by, memories fade, dreams never do
#2re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/25/06 at 3:34pmNot for opening night, but didn't Kenita Miller go on for LaChanze the night BEFORE opening night?
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.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#3re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/25/06 at 3:57pmAccording to the Tony rules (not that it matters, since they constantly break their own rules), the performers that appear at the show's opening night performance are the ones elligible for Tonys.
timote316
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/04
#4re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:04pmLaChanze was out the night of the press preview.
Doogie
Broadway Star Joined: 8/4/03
#5re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:53pmDidn't Eleanor Glockner go on for the Wardrobe on opening night in BatB?
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#6re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/25/06 at 5:25pm
There's the famous "star is born" moment when, understudy Nancy Ringham had to go on for the ailing Cheryl Kennedy as Eliza Doolittle in the early 80s revival of My Fair Lady (the last time Rex Harrison performed the role). As I recall, Kennedy's voice was shot and Ringham was rushed on at the last minute for the final preview (when the critics came) and then officially opened the show the next night. Ringham's reviews were positive and polite, praising her courage, but pointing out that she needed perhaps a bit more time to fully master the role (her accent wavered as did her interpretation, but then she'd never had much chance to even rehearse the role before she was thrust into the spotlight). The producers gave her the role full-time and unfortunately, Kennedy -- who had done the entire pre-Broadway tour -- was not brought back after she recovered. Ringham still works frequently; I believe Kennedy just headed back to the UK to lick her wounds.
Showbiz is tough.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Chevstriss
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/30/03
#7re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/25/06 at 5:38pmwas that the Cheryl who married the composer?
I'd fire you... if you weren't so g*dd*mn beautiful out there. - Blades of Glory
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jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#8re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/25/06 at 5:53pmmegan lawrence was on maternity leave when urinetown opened
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#9re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/25/06 at 5:58pmCheryl Kennedy was apparently one of the few who DIDN'T become Mrs. Alan Jay Lerner (he had 8 wives).
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Chevstriss
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/30/03
#10re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/25/06 at 6:00pmI saw MFL in London in 80, no Rex Harrison, and it was starring one of Lerner's wives.
I'd fire you... if you weren't so g*dd*mn beautiful out there. - Blades of Glory
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MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#11re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/25/06 at 6:01pmThat was probably Liz Robertson -- the last one.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#12re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/25/06 at 6:10pmI don't think Mr. Anderson's role in The Boys is big enough for a Tony nod...
"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed
#13re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:55amI just hope that openning night of Wicked in London doesn't use the understudy for a certain green witch :)
Broadway Star Joined: 12/31/69
#14re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/26/06 at 12:25pmOT... but something wicked, I LOVE your icon!!! I saw that show! It was amazing!!!
misto625
Broadway Star Joined: 11/10/05
#15re: Understudies on Opening Night?
Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:55amDoogie- I don't understand, Eleanor Glockner was supposed to go on as the Wardrobe, that is her role. The understudies were Barbara Marineau and Anna McNeely.
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Lorraine: (after a pause) Ok, you can tell me that.
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