#26
Posted: 10/20/04 at 6:55am
So true, Stokes! Shoshana was a FABULOUS Tracy! That girl has a voice that just doesn't end.
When the Understudy/Standby is better than the lead — Page 2
#27
Posted: 10/20/04 at 7:46am
Understudies are some of the hardest working and most underappreciated people in show business
I've seen some truly terrific understudies that I feel should be listed by name to give credit where it's due:
Peter Matthew Smith (u/s Mark in Nat'l Rent Tour)
Brooke Tansley (u/s Penny in Hairspray)
Hollie Howard (u/s Amber in Hairspray)
Linda Muggleston (u/s Ruth in Wonderful Town)
Eden Espinosa (u/s Elphaba in Wicked)
Aymee Garcia (u/s Kate/Lucy in Avenue Q)
Carmen Ruby Floyd (u/s Gary Coleman in Avenue Q)
I've seen some truly terrific understudies that I feel should be listed by name to give credit where it's due:
Peter Matthew Smith (u/s Mark in Nat'l Rent Tour)
Brooke Tansley (u/s Penny in Hairspray)
Hollie Howard (u/s Amber in Hairspray)
Linda Muggleston (u/s Ruth in Wonderful Town)
Eden Espinosa (u/s Elphaba in Wicked)
Aymee Garcia (u/s Kate/Lucy in Avenue Q)
Carmen Ruby Floyd (u/s Gary Coleman in Avenue Q)
#28
Posted: 10/20/04 at 9:16am
The understudy for Alfred Molina was much better than he was in Fiddler.
"Life is not measured by the number
of breaths we take, but by moments
that take our breath away."
"Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain."
#29
Posted: 10/20/04 at 10:57am
I wondered about that. I saw Alfred Molina's understudy in Fiddler as well and I thought "wow, Molina must be something really special if his understudy is this good". Having not seen Molina do the role, I did not feel that I missed out on anything the afternoon that I saw the show with his understudy.
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
#30
Posted: 10/20/04 at 11:43am
I saw Jesus Christ Superstar when it was still in previews and Tony Vincent was the understudy for Judas. He was incredible, and they wound up firing the other guy and giving him the part.
"No thoughts within her head, but thoughts of joy.....no dreams within her heart but dreams of love."
#31
Posted: 10/20/04 at 11:48am
While I've got nothing to compare it to -
Ta'Rea Campbell as Aida (in for Deborah Cox) was absolutely amazing.
And here's a cheap shot - Matt Caplan filling in for Drew Lachey last week in RENT.
Ta'Rea Campbell as Aida (in for Deborah Cox) was absolutely amazing.
And here's a cheap shot - Matt Caplan filling in for Drew Lachey last week in RENT.
"The tick BOOM tick BOOM is so loud I can't hear the rain on the grass. I can't hear the wind. I'm about to scream. But I realize I'm not alone."
#32
Posted: 10/20/04 at 11:51am
John Tags is faboo kids.
#33
Posted: 10/20/04 at 11:53am
of course he is!!!!!!!!!!!!
<------Just look at this pic. As gorgeous as he is, he is that talented and sweethearted
<------Just look at this pic. As gorgeous as he is, he is that talented and sweethearted
#34
Posted: 10/20/04 at 12:00pm
I've seen so many understudies for leads, but don't know how many I'd consider "better," but that's because we're talking about understudies for people like Stokes.
That said, I really (shocker, isn't it?) would've like to see Cheyenne Jackson as Radames. No, he's not my Adam, but I love this guy. I know he was wonderful.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
That said, I really (shocker, isn't it?) would've like to see Cheyenne Jackson as Radames. No, he's not my Adam, but I love this guy. I know he was wonderful.
#35
Posted: 10/20/04 at 2:20pm
I'm trying to think of what it must have been like for people like Sheila Ellis who was the understudy for Jennifer Holliday in "Dreamgirls" or Maggie Task who understudied for Angela Lansbury in "Sweeney Todd" when the announcement was made (as they used to do back then) and there the was the audible groan of disappointment from the audience. Maybe that's why they don't make those announcements any more.
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
#36
Posted: 10/20/04 at 5:17pm
By the way, when exactly did they stop announcing (during the no cameras etc. section) who would be substituting and strictly go to stuffing the information into the Playbills?
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
#37
Posted: 10/21/04 at 10:41am
I thought Sean McCourt was fabulous as the Wizard in Wicked! Aymee Garcia was very good in Avenue Q as Mrs. T, Bear, ect.
I should have eaten the saw and used the cake to bludgeon my way out - Alfred Hitchcock
#38
Posted: 10/21/04 at 9:45pm
pab- i think it was out of courtesy to the understudies, i remember reading a story that people booed at an announcement theat melissa chait was in for kristin chenoweth in wicked once
"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
#39
Posted: 10/21/04 at 9:57pm
Saycon Sengbloh for Deborah Cox in Aida.
"A little humility wouldn't hurt."
--Ellie, Constantine-Hellblazer, "Dangerous Habits"
#40
Posted: 10/21/04 at 10:01pm
Oh, I did not realize that the change happened just recently. I remember on one trip sitting there and hearing the announcement and it was all about candy wrappers, cell phones and cameras. I then remembered how sometimes they had a long list to read about who was not on that night. I tried to remember how long it had been like that but if you say that they were still making announcements up to the time of "Wicked" then I guess the change has happened only within the last year.
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
#41
Posted: 10/21/04 at 10:15pm
This is kinda funny, but everytime I've seen Phantom, the Christine is always the understudy or alternate. It's also funny because I've only seen Phantom 3 times, and all 3 times, the Christine was Julie Hanson. I believe she is the alternate now, but the first time I saw her was on the Phantom tour when she was the alternate. I think she is one of the best Christine's out there.
On a clear day I can see myself for miles
#42
Posted: 11/29/04 at 4:06am
In the original production of "Funny Girl" Barbra Streisand only missed on performance I think. And at that performance when they announced that Lainie Kazan was going on the audience screamed and yelled and many of them stormed out of the theatre demanding their money back.
www.GreatestStar.blogspot.com
www.GreatestStar.blogspot.com
#43
Posted: 11/29/04 at 4:17am
They didn't change it recently - it's been that way for atleast 15 years. It has to be announced that the understudy is going on in both the lobby AND in the playbill. Sometimes things happen at the last minute and they don't have time to do one, or both of them and in that case, the must make the announcement.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#44
Posted: 11/29/04 at 4:42am
Susan Derry in the role of Eileen at WT was much better all around than Jennifer Westvelt, I thought. She has a beautiful voice and acted the part charmingly (the fact that she is a stunningly beautiful woman doesn't hurt eitha!)
#45
Posted: 11/29/04 at 6:08am
John Hillner as Georges in La Cage
#46
Posted: 11/29/04 at 8:58am
i liked eden espinosa and shoshana bean in for elphaba better than idina menzel, and for hairspray i liked shoshana bean better than katy grenfell but no one compares to marissa. I liked randy harisson in for micheal fitzgerald as boq for wicked.
"what? what is it? do i have something in my teeth? ok lets get this over with : no im not seasick,yes ive always been green, and no i didnt chew grass as a child "
#47
Posted: 11/29/04 at 1:56pm
Who is Alfred Molina's understudy?
#48
Posted: 11/29/04 at 2:38pm
Kelly Fournier sung the part of Amneris in Aida so much better than Sherie Renee Scott.
#49
Posted: 11/29/04 at 2:50pm
I've seen what is probably considered an obscene amount of Rogers in Rent, and my two favorites were both understudies. Joshua Kobak, who I think owns the part, and Colin Hanlon, who hardly ever even gets to go ON in the part, really impressed me and are my top two out of many (including Jeremy Kushnier, Cary Shields, Sebastian Arclelus, etc.). In fact, I still think that Joshua Kobak is one of THE most talented people I've ever seen on stage, and can never understand why he's been a swing all this time.
#50
Posted: 11/29/04 at 4:08pm
i liked joshua kobak better than manley pope in rent..
"maybe our mistakes are what make our fate. Without them, what would shape our lives? Perhaps if we never veered off course, we wouldn't fall in love, or have babies, or be who we are. After all, seasons change. So do cities. People come into your life and people go. But it's comforting to know the ones you love are always in your heart. And if you're very lucky, a plane ride away" -sex and the city
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