When Understudies Perform- Page 2

[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.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 1/22/16 at 1:30pm

"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"

 

Thanks for the info. My question is if a show has an "alternate" for principal role do they also have an understudy for the principal role? Does the alternate have a understudy or if he/she misses performance does a swing step in. I am so confused - lol !!

Updated On: 1/22/16 at 01:30 PM

[Tag]

Posted: 1/22/16 at 6:23pm

^Generally every principal role in any show has 2 understudies.  In the cases where the principal role has an alternate, there would also be an understudy (someone in the ensemble or a swing).

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 1/23/16 at 8:00am

"^Generally every principal role in any show has 2 understudies.  In the cases where the principal role has an alternate, there would also be an understudy (someone in the ensemble or a swing)."

 

Thanks for the information, it is appreciated.

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 1/28/16 at 9:58am

PThespian said: "I have another question. My understanding is that when an understudy goes on the audience most be notified in at least two of three ways: Playbill insert, posting outside the theater, or live announcement.

 

Working in the theaters I know there is a strong preference for Playbill inserts and posting the replacement outside the theater. Does anyone know why? Is it because they have to pay the understudy more when a live announcement is done? Just curious."

 

There is usually an announcement made if it was last minute that they couldn't put the slips in the playbill.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/28/16 at 10:03am

The actor's pay is not effected by the mode of the announcement.  And mailhandler is 100% correct on the other part of your question.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 1/28/16 at 10:26am

But I believe the announcer gets paid if he/she needs to make an announcement...

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/29/16 at 1:48am

I do not believe stage managers are paid extra for making a pre-show announcement.

Yes, ushers are paid an extra dollar or two if they have to stuff anything in Playbills.

An announcement about an understudy is generally avoided if possible for two reasons:: 1. There will always be a collect groan of disappointment from the audience. 2. The curtain is about to go up, but many people will start flipping through Playbills trying to find the under study's headshot and bio as well as the headshot of who they are on for. Neither of those things make for a pleasant curtain rise. Better to allow the audience to open the program and discover it on their own as well as to give the audience something in print to refer to later alongside their printed program.

("Back in my day" it was quite uncommon for tours to do inserts... It was near always lobby board and announcement. I generally always carry a pen on my person, so I have numerous tour programs where I noted understudy performances when they were on...)

[Tag]

Posted: 1/29/16 at 1:58am

But I believe the announcer gets paid if he/she needs to make an announcement...

The stage manager does NOT get paid extra for this.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/29/16 at 3:38am

Thank goodness.