Who was the best understudy you have ever seen!- Page 2

[Marianne2]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 3:04am

I didn't realize he was an alternate versus understudy when I saw West Side Story for the 2nd time, but Jeremy Jordan as Tony is my favorite.  

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 4:57am

Maria Mercedes is the Australian production of Sunset, she was everything the Deborah Byrne wasn't, the acting , singing superb. Up till seeing Glenn Close a couple of weeks ago Maria was the best Norma I had ever seen.

[The Other One]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 6:12am

Going back a long way, Phylicia Ayers Allen (later Rashad) for Sheryl Lee Ralph as Deena in Dreamgirls.

More recently, Eric Bryant for Adam Driver as Louis in the Signature's Angels In America.  I saw Adam in Millennium Approaches and Eric in Perestroika, and they were both brilliant.

Updated On: 3/17/17 at 06:12 AM

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 8:25am

Not Broadway, but: When Katarina Dalayman got sick and couldn't sing Isolde at the Met, so they flew Waltraud Meier over from Munich for one performance--which happened to be the performance I already had tickets to. It'll be hard for anyone to top that experience.

Updated On: 3/17/17 at 08:25 AM

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 8:38am

Syndee Winters for Mandy Gonzales (as Angelica in Hamilton). 

[ethan231h]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 8:48am

I've seen Maggie Lakis as kate/lucy in Avenue Q a few times and I thought she was reallllly good. I also loved...

Gabrielle Ruiz as Nina in In the Heights

Sabrina Harper as Fastrada in Pippin

Andre Ward as Nostradamus in Something Rotten

Adored Syndee Winters as Peggy/Maria in Hamilton...it was only her 2nd performance!

 

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 9:19am

I've seen several understudy performances over the years; the first being Nancy Opel on for Patti Lupone in Evita, and Gail Benedict on for Wanda Richert in the original production of 42nd Street.  Not sure I have a favorite, but I certainly remember more of the ones I truly didn't care for.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 9:44am

I'll second Stephanie Torns in Waitress. Lucky the audience that gets to see her. 

[Lot666]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 9:46am

Jeremy Stolle in the title role of Phantom of the Opera. Brilliant interpretation, and what a voice!

Updated On: 3/17/17 at 09:46 AM

[Lot666]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 9:46am

rosscoe(au) said: "Maria Mercedes is the Australian production of Sunset, she was everything the Deborah Byrne wasn't, the acting , singing superb. Up till seeing Glenn Close a couple of weeks ago Maria was the best Norma I had ever seen."

The same Maria Mercedes who played Madam Giry in the Aussie production of Love Never Dies?

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 9:56am

Many years ago, I saw Jarrod Emick go on as Chris in Miss Saigon. (This was not long before he was cast as the original Chris in the 1NT). He played the role the best I've ever seen it done. He really brought out Chris's confusion and desperation and it played more like Kim was really his savior in those first-act scenes.

[BarnabyTucker]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 10:09am

Andrea Goss in Cabaret! She was a firecracker, and played her small stature to her advantage. Brilliant! :)

[wendy72]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 10:13am

I adored Will Blum in School of Rock. I also saw She Loves Me when both Laura Shoop and Alison Cimmet were on for Amalia and Ilona and they both blew me away. 

[thommg]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 10:42am

This is going back many, many years. The night I was to see Judy Kaye in On The Twentieth Century, she was out. Her understudy was Christine Ebersole. I could not have imagined Judy Kaye being any better than Christine. After that, she did Geniuses Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons, in which she gave another wonderful performance.

[Adair Haywind]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 10:51am

Chris Hoch as Georges in La Cage aux Folles.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 10:55am

Tari Kelly going on for Sutton Foster as Reno Sweeney.  Kelly was a revelation.

[Sertzo19]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 10:57am

The first time I saw Hamilton, about a year ago I was SO excited to see Renee Elise Goldberry only to find out that Alysha Deslorieux would be playing Angelica at my performance. Alysha was spectacular as Angelica. I love Renee, but Alysha made the role her own and she was fantastic, I hope to see here in more shows soon. 

[RagtimeRay]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:06am

Eric Sciotto as Tick in Priscilla Queen of the Desert. I had previously seen Will Swenson in the show, and the understudy out shined the original.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:22am

Updated On: 3/17/17 at 11:22 AM

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:22am

Michael C. Hall as the "Emcee" in CABARET. When I saw him, he was an unknown. Alan Cumming was still in the production, with Jennifer Jason Leigh as "Sally," I was extremely disappointed that Cumming was out, but Hall was excellent, and went on to take over the role, with SIX FEET UNDER not long after.

Updated On: 3/17/17 at 11:22 AM

[jbird5]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:23am

Sertzo19 said: "The first time I saw Hamilton, about a year ago I was SO excited to see Renee Elise Goldberry only to find out that Alysha Deslorieux would be playing Angelica at my performance. Alysha was spectacular as Angelica. I love Renee, but Alysha made the role her own and she was fantastic, I hope to see here in more shows soon. 

 

"

You can see her as Peggy on Broadway at the moment, but she really shines as Maria Reynolds.

[TNick926]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:56am

henrikegerman said: "Tari Kelly going on for Sutton Foster as Reno Sweeney.  Kelly was a revelation.

I second this!  I was so disappointed when it was announced at the show I attended that Sutton Foster was out and Ms. Kelly would be playing Reno Sweeney.  It was thrilling to see Kelly win over the audience, and we were putty in her hands by the great Anything Goes tap number at the end of the first act.  She came back and claimed the role as her own with a scorching wonderful rendition of Blow, Gabriel, Blow!  Nights like that make me remember how Shirley McLaine rose to stardom, going on for Carol Haney in Pajama Game after Haney broke her ankle.  Shirl insisted she had NOTHING to do with the fracture! :)

"

 

[Jazzman714]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 12:00pm

Brad Oscar in "The Producers."  Saw it first with Nathan Lane, then a second time with Brad as his u/s. He was perfection in that demanding role and definitely carried the show.  Gained great respect for him.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 12:17pm

I've seen tons over the years...most of the understudies I've ever seen have been excellent. A few recent (ish) favs:

Alyssa Fox as Elphaba, Carla Stickler as Elphaba, Tess Soltau as Glinda, Declan Bennett as Will in American Idiot, Alysha Deslorieux as Eliza in Hamilton, Max Von Essen as Che in Evita

[Addison D.]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 12:25pm

TNick926 said: "...I was so disappointed when it was announced at the show I attended that Sutton Foster was out and Ms. Kelly would be playing Reno Sweeney.  It was thrilling to see Kelly win over the audience, and we were putty in her hands by the great Anything Goes tap number at the end of the first act...."
 

This was a significant component of what made Karen MacDonald's Amanda Wingfield  so memorable. Many people lined up to exchange their tickets--curtain was delayed 15 minutes or more--so it is perhaps the case that those of us who opted to stay were those most inclined to be open to seeing Ms. Jones' understudy.  Nevertheless, she gave a splendid performance, made all the more dramatic by the fact (IIRC) that it was the first time she had been called upon to go on.  

The audience's ovation at the end as well as the warm and generous acknowledgement given by Zach Quinto, Celia Keenan-Bolger and Brian Smith combined to make it a wonderful evening and a great reminder of the Magic of live theater.