When Understudies Perform

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/20/16 at 8:45am

I believe both of those things are true, yes. That's what I was told by a Broadway actor once, at least. It might change from contract to contract but I would expect it to be an equity rule. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/20/16 at 8:50am

http://broadwaytour.net/how-much-money-do-broadway-stars-earn

See page 25: http://www.actorsequity.org/docs/rulebooks/Production_Rulebook_League_11-15.pdf

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/20/16 at 9:32am

I remember reading during the original 1970s-1980s run of A CHORUS LINE, understudies and swings were paid additional and a higher rate if the role was bigger that they were filling in for.  It got to the point that they were making MORE money this way than if they were headlining in the role "on the line."  No one wanted to be promoted to an "on the line" role as they made more money just understudying and swinging.  

[LarryD2]

Posted: 1/20/16 at 9:46am

Understudies covering a principal role almost always use the dressing room of the actor they are spelling when they go on.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/20/16 at 10:24am

And get their own dresser when required.

[Mike Costa]

Posted: 1/20/16 at 10:59am

Yes.  Understudies and swings move into the dressing space of the person they are going on for and use that persons dresser.  Understudies are paid their normal salary plus one eighth (equal to one performance in an eight show week) so, if they are are on all week for someone on vacation they will be compensated double what that person normally earns in a week.

Being a swing is an incredible skill and very respected.

Updated On: 1/20/16 at 10:59 AM

[IronMan]

Posted: 1/20/16 at 11:39am

Understudies and swings do NOT receive extra pay when going on for an ensemble member, but do get an extra 1/8 weekly salary per performance when going on for a principal role (principal roles are designated by Equity at the start of a show's run). 

The cover will generally move to the regular actor's dressing spot unless their own space (they all have their own designated place to be) is more convenient. 

Updated On: 1/20/16 at 11:39 AM

[sorano916]

Posted: 1/20/16 at 12:07pm

If swings don't receive additional compensation when they go one in an ensemble role, do they if it's a split track? Or vice versa, when a single regular track is split into three tracks?

For example, in Les Mis, actor Joe Spieldenner is in the ensemble, with featured tracks of Grantaire & Bamatabois. When he's out, three different people are listed in those tracks: one for Grantaire, one for Bamatabois, and one for his ensemble (aka just "John Doe" is on for "Joseph Spieldenner".

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/20/16 at 12:13pm

the scenarios during the original run of A Chorus Line actually caused AEA to change their rules. There would be times when certain u/s would perform a role for several months if an actor was injured in the show. In fact many u/s in A Chorus Line would refuse offers to get promoted to a role on the line because they would [typically] make more money as an understudy/swing/cut dancer. After ACL, an u/s can only perform the role up to three weeks at a time. The show would either need to find a temporary replacement, or the u/s would need a new contract until the injured actor returns.

[asmith0307]

Posted: 1/20/16 at 12:18pm

Swings are paid a slightly higher weekly salary though (as seen in the linked document above on page 28 and in Appendix A)

[EchoParker]

Posted: 1/20/16 at 3:01pm

sorano916 said: "If swings don't receive additional compensation when they go one in an ensemble role, do they if it's a split track? Or vice versa, when a single regular track is split into three tracks?

 

For example, in Les Mis, actor Joe Spieldenner is in the ensemble, with featured tracks of Grantaire & Bamatabois. When he's out, three different people are listed in those tracks: one for Grantaire, one for Bamatabois, and one for his ensemble (aka just "John Doe" is on for "Joseph Spieldenner".

All the helpful replies you're getting to your question are accurate. A swing or ensemble member covering an ensemble role does not get extra pay for going on. If three people cover one absent ensemble member's roles (for a particular performance), none of them get a bump. If one person goes on for all three of those (ensemble) roles, he still doesn't get a bump. Swings and ensemble members DO get (a little) extra pay every week for the duty of understudying an ensemble role. I think it's $15 a week, for every role you cover - whether or not you ever go on. 

 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 1/20/16 at 7:13pm

"Understudies are paid their normal salary plus one eighth (equal to one performance in an eight show week) so, if they are are on all week for someone on vacation they will be compensated double what that person normally earns in a week."

 

There are understudies for demanding principal roles that do the matinees every week, do they get anything special for doing that every week or just 1/8 for each of those shows?

[Tag]

Posted: 1/20/16 at 7:17pm

If they are contracted to do certain performances it most likely a negotiated fee over the minimum.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/21/16 at 1:04am

If they perform the "demanind role" a designated number of times every week, they are not an understudy. They are an alternate. They are not paid "extra" for going on for this performances. That said, the alternate generally understudies / stands by for the role for the remainer of performances and if they go on for any of THOSE, they will be compensated additionally.

[EchoParker]

Posted: 1/21/16 at 12:35pm

PThespian said: "So if I'm understanding correctly an alternate who performs an additional show receives their regular per show salary plus 1/8 assuming it's a principal role?

 

"

If you're employed as the "alternate" Christine in Phantom, and you're contracted to perform the role twice a week [I can't remember now whether the alternate Christine does two shows a week, or just one], then you don't get any extra for doing those two shows. But if you do additional shows in the week, yes, you get a salary "bump".  The Production contract sets the additional compensation as 1/8th of your weekly salary per performance. [I believe that's correct; it may actually be 1/8th of the Production Contract minimum weekly salary.] But it is possible for an actress's agent to negotiate a set per-performance rate that is higher than 1/8th of your weekly salary. If the Hamilton alternate goes on for the title role more than he's scheduled in a week, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a bump that's bigger than an 8th. But doubling your pay for a night ain't shabby either. 

 

[Hellob]

Posted: 1/21/16 at 12:41pm

Andrew Chappelle is probably getting fat checks. I wonder how much he gets and if it's more than some regular cast members 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/21/16 at 1:19pm

I wonder how much they paid Donna Mckechnie to stand by for Chita in The Visit. It's the only case I can think of at the moment of a high-profile standby. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/21/16 at 1:32pm

Hellob said: "Andrew Chappelle is probably getting fat checks. I wonder how much he gets and if it's more than some regular cast members 

 

"

seriously though. he's always on for someone, whether it's a lead, supporting or ensemble track. his name always comes up on Broadway Understudies.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 1/21/16 at 1:34pm

He's basically a standby. He's been on for three different principal roles now. That seems rare, no?

[slumdogdelaware]

Posted: 1/21/16 at 1:44pm

Saw Chappelle last night as Lafayette/Jefferson. He was amazing.

Updated On: 1/21/16 at 01:44 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/21/16 at 2:28pm

neonlightsxo said: "He's basically a standby. He's been on for three different principal roles now. That seems rare, no?"

He's a swing who also understudies principle roles, so not really a standby.

[Hellob]

Posted: 1/21/16 at 3:44pm

slumdogdelaware said: "Saw Chappelle last night as Lafayette/Jefferson. He was amazing.

 

"

Have you gone before? I always feel like I'd be so bummed in Leslie or Daveed were out bc they seem irreplaceable, but it's great to hear your thoughts. I can imagine him being good as Jefferson since it's a showier performance and he appears to be a ham (in a good way)

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 1/21/16 at 3:59pm

LizzieCurry said: "neonlightsxo said: "He's basically a standby. He's been on for three different principal roles now. That seems rare, no?"

He's a swing who also understudies principle roles, so not really a standby."

 

I know the difference, but thanks anyway? The only ensemble member he covers is Sydney Harcourt, so I stand by what I said.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/21/16 at 5:01pm

Pardon the pin, but. I don't see what there is to stand by.

You can not debate what he is or basically think he is.

He is what he is billed in the Playbill to be. He specifically labeled as something, in this case a swing and understudy. His contracts with the show's producers and the union specific that, as does his pay rate.

 

[slumdogdelaware]

Posted: 1/21/16 at 5:07pm

Hellob said: "slumdogdelaware said: "Saw Chappelle last night as Lafayette/Jefferson. He was amazing.

 

 

 

"

 

Have you gone before? I always feel like I'd be so bummed in Leslie or Daveed were out bc they seem irreplaceable, but it's great to hear your thoughts. I can imagine him being good as Jefferson since it's a showier performance and he appears to be a ham (in a good way)

 

"

It was my first time and I was pretty disappointed Daveed was out, but Andrew Chappelle brings a lot to the performance. He's very much a ham haha. I would like to see it again eventually with Daveed though.