Who was the best understudy you have ever seen!- Page 4
Who was the best understudy you have ever seen!
#75Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 1:05am
Emmy Raver-Lampman in Wicked
#76Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/14
#77Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
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
#78Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
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
Understudy Joined: 5/7/11
#79Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
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!
#80Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 7:10am
Joseph Morales as Hamilton
My father (AIDS)
My sister (AIDS)
My uncle and my cousin and her best friend (AIDS, AIDS, AIDS)
The gays and the straights
And the white and the spades
pg1287
Chorus Member Joined: 5/23/16
#81Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 7:23am
Mason Park as Hedwig (tour)
Gpvegas
Featured Actor Joined: 9/17/04
#82Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
#83Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
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
Swing Joined: 2/24/17
#84Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 10:05am
Most recently, Henry Gottfried as Dr. Pomatter in Waitress. INCREDIBLE!
akmiller_98
Understudy Joined: 8/1/15
#85Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
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.
#86Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
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).
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
Jish
Stand-by Joined: 8/13/07
#87Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 1:36pm
Mamie Parris as Rosalie in School of Rock
cabaretman24
Broadway Star Joined: 7/31/05
#88Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 3:48pm
Karen Mason Norma Desmond Sunset Blvd.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#89Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
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.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#90Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 5:17pm
Jessica Lea Patty(Cassie) in A Chorus Line.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
Julie Yard
Stand-by Joined: 8/29/13
#91Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
Posted: 5/3/17 at 9:31pm
Judy Kaye in the 2005 revival of Sweeney Todd, tuba and all. Phenomenal.
Dolittle
recentlyfound
Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/17
#92Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
Posted: 5/4/17 at 12:30am
Haven't seen it, but I've heard wonderful things about Olivia Puckett's Zoe Murphy.
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around, all you want is for somebody to find you.
yankeefan7
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/12
#93Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
Posted: 5/4/17 at 7:43am
Robert Evans in Jekyll & Hyde (1997) for Robert Cuccioli.
#94Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
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.
Theater anywhere, anytime and with anyone. It's my passion.
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#95Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
Posted: 5/4/17 at 8:16am
"Yes sir. That was the worst understudy I ever seen."
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
MyLife
Broadway Star Joined: 12/2/06
#96Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
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
Swing Joined: 7/8/14
#97Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
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.
#98Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
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.
#99Who was the best understudy you have ever seen?
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
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