Who was the best understudy you have ever seen!- Page 4

[tja928]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 1:05am

Emmy Raver-Lampman in Wicked

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 2:35am

OK, this is going way back, but it was an unforgettable night. The musical was Scarlett, the Harold Rome adaptation of Gone With the Wind starring Lesley Ann Warren. It was 1973, and I saw the show with Lesley first. The following week I was back at the Dorthy Chandler Pavillion in Los Angeles, this time in the rehearsal rooms for an audition. A friend of mine was stage manager on Scarlett, saw me in the hall and pulled me aside and told me they were in chaos. Warren was sick (the pressure on her must have been tremendous: everything on her shoulders, bad reviews, constant fixes going in, and I think she was just separating from Jon Peters at that time).

Anyway, her understudy started rehearsal to go on for her, but she got sick as well and couldn't do it. So they were currently rehearsing  Udana Power, who played Melanie, as Scarlett, and putting Udana's understudy in as well. Needless to say, I wanted a ticket to see that.

I can definitely say that Ms. Power's performance was one of the most heroic I have ever seen. What had been dull a week before was now riveting just watching the cast and crew try not to kill each other with mansions and battlefields sailing across the stage. "As God is my witness" they all made it through and got what was maybe the only standing ovation of the LA run.

The show went to San Francisco after that, then Phoenix and I think some other cities, but they never brought it in to Broadway. (Good call, that.)

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 2:51am

Love understudy and standby performances!!!!

some standout performances include:

Vicki Noon as elphaba in wicked sf

Jackie Burns for idina in If/Then nyc

Maya Days in for heather headley in Aida nyc

 

 

[Zimmy]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 6:09am

I believe she was a standby, but Eden Espinosa as Elphaba in Wicked for Idina.

My friends and I were so disappointed when we arrived at the theater and vowed that we would not tell anyone we didn't see Idina. By the time intermission rolled around, we couldn't wait to get home and tell people how wonderful Eden was! She was absolutely flawless vocally. Great experience.

 

[Collingswood]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 7:06am

In Vanya and Sonia..., I saw Sigourney Weaver do Act 1 with a hoarse voice. Her understudy Linda Marie Larson did Act 2 and didn't miss a beat.

Also, Tony Carlin in The Snow Geese. He's a terrific actor!

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 7:10am

Joseph Morales as Hamilton 

[pg1287]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 7:23am

Mason Park as Hedwig (tour)

[Gpvegas]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 9:11am

pg1287 said: "Mason Park as Hedwig (tour)"

I absolutely agree with statement.  He was excellent as Hedwig

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 9:54am

Gabby pizzolo was the original understudy for Sydney Lucas at Fun Home. I saw her the first week she went on when Sydney was sick. She was phenomenal. Obviously the producers agreeded since she was given the role when Sydney left a few months later. 

[ccbroadway13]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 10:05am

Most recently, Henry Gottfried as Dr. Pomatter in Waitress. INCREDIBLE! 

[akmiller_98]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 10:24am

Yassmin Alers as Mimi in Rent.

So, yeah. I saw that show a lot back in the day. I loved her in any role, but I always would cross my fingers that she would be on as Mimi.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 10:35am

Jessica Phillips was phenomenal in NEXT TO NORMAL. I saw her the first time she went on at Second Stage (during previews).

[Jish]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 1:36pm

Mamie Parris as Rosalie in School of Rock

[cabaretman24]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 3:48pm

Karen Mason Norma Desmond Sunset Blvd. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 5:13pm

Bib Osterwald. I saw her go on several tines during the original DOLLY!--including once for Pearl Bailey. Each time she made the role her own.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 5:17pm

Jessica Lea Patty(Cassie) in A Chorus Line.

[Julie Yard]

Posted: 5/3/17 at 9:31pm

Judy Kaye in the 2005 revival of Sweeney Todd, tuba and all. Phenomenal.

[recentlyfound]

Posted: 5/4/17 at 12:30am

Haven't seen it, but I've heard wonderful things about Olivia Puckett's Zoe Murphy.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 5/4/17 at 7:43am

Robert Evans in Jekyll & Hyde (1997) for Robert Cuccioli.

[actorgaedu]

Posted: 5/4/17 at 8:11am

Stephanie Pope in "Kiss of the Spider Woman"!  I had seen Chita twice and Vanessa once and was blown away, but Ms. Pope was unbelievable and has legs for days!  This is my absolute favorite Broadway musical and I was fortunate to see the show several times in NYC.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/4/17 at 8:16am

"Yes sir. That was the worst understudy I ever seen."

[MyLife]

Posted: 5/4/17 at 8:45am

Addison D. said: "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. "

I was there for that! I remember being disappointed to miss Cherry Jones but then quickly forgot as soon as McDonald became Amanda. She was spectacular!

[BeukyBaby]

Posted: 5/4/17 at 11:16am

I saw the revival Cabaret its closing weekend, beginning of January, 2004. Adam Pascal started the show as the Emcee, and then halfway through the first act, at the end of Perfectly Marvelous, the show came to a halt and they held for five or ten minutes. Then an announcement was made that Vance Avery was going on in the role of the Emcee. Apparently, as I learned later at the stage door, Adam Pascal had injured himself backstage, and Vance had to go on. They started again from the end of Perfectly Marvelous, segued into Two Ladies, and Vance was spectacular. I remember his I Don't Care Much being particularly masterful. I got to meet him (and Susan Egan, who was Sally) at the stage door after, as well, and he was the nicest guy. I found him stepping in mid-show and crushing it very inspiring.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 5/4/17 at 11:18am

yankeefan7: "Robert Evans in Jekyll & Hyde (1997) for Robert Cuccioli"

 

yankeefan7: Glad to see you mentioned Robert Evans. Before the show opened on Broadway, a very different version played Seattle with the same cast that would eventually transfer to NY. At the performance I attended Evans went on for Cuccioli and did a wonderful job. What I truly enjoyed was his curtain call. He took his bow to thunderous applause and with the back of his right hand wiped his forehead as if to say, "Phew! I made it threw it." It was really sweet to see since this apparently was the first time he played the role.  

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 5/4/17 at 12:46pm

Classic: 

Liza for Gwen Verdon in the Original Chicago (her first night!!)

 

Recent:

Really liked Mike Faist as Jack Kelly in Newsies - so glad to see him get the nom for DEH