Who was the best understudy you have ever seen!

[Neusimone]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 10:07pm

Can be for any role

[TheSassySam]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 10:08pm

Bre Jackson for The Color Purple. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 10:10pm

Jonathan Wagner as Dewey in SOR.

[shrekster224]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 10:28pm

Jessica Lea Patty as Eva Peron, Josh Kobak St. Jinmy, Michael Luwoye as Aaron Burr, Jared Gertner when he was the Cunningham standby, and Bryan Fenkart in Memphis just off the top of my head. 

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 10:31pm

Gabrielle Ruiz in In the Heights! She was fantastic! Love seeing her on crazy ex-girlfriend now! Hope she goes into Hamilton or Great Comet! 

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 10:31pm

Jeremy Jordan as Drew in ROCK OF AGES (2009)

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 10:32pm

Cassie Okenka as Glinda

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 10:41pm

quizking101 said: "Jeremy Jordan as Drew in ROCK OF AGES (2009)

 

"

Yaaasssss

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 10:45pm

Tess Soltau as Glinda in Wicked.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 10:45pm

Tess Soltau as Glinda in Wicked.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 10:51pm

Not sure if she was an understudy or an alternate, but Terri Klausner in Evita was really outstanding.  At the time, I could not make up my mind as to whether she or Patti Lupone was better in the role.  This is not a dig on Patti -- she was great -- but Terri was that good.  

 

 

 

[jbird5]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 11:06pm

Nik BIELAK as Elder Cunningham in BOM.

[wonkit]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 11:14pm

Maureen Moore for Christine Ebersole in GREY GARDENS. Not u/s but what? standby?  She was phenomenal.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 11:20pm

jbird5 said: "Nik BIELAK as Elder Cunningham in BOM."

There are a lot of things I could say about this, but the only thing I'll say for now is if you like him that much, spell his name right.

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 11:26pm

I echo Maureen Moore in GG

but also 

Maureen as Rose in "Gypsy" and Norma in "Sunset"

shes that amazing 

[ZellMorrowsPledge]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 11:33pm

JONATHAN WAGNER AS DEWEY IN SCHOOL OF ROCK. UNBELIEVABLE.

[helvizz]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 11:36pm

 I dont like to say anything is "the best", but I'll say Lisa Karlin was excellent as the Leading Player in the Pippin tour. That's a recent performance that comes to mind. There have been others, such as Jessica Phillips on instead of  Alice Ripley in Next to Normal.

Updated On: 3/17/17 at 11:36 PM

[thedrybandit]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 11:51pm

shrekster224 said: "... Bryan Fenkart in Memphis just off the top of my head. "

Yes. Came here to mention him and I'm glad someone beat me to it. I saw Memphis with Bryan in the lead when Chad was out on vocal rest for a bit, and he made the show. James Monroe Igleheart and Montego Glover were fantastic, but Bryan crushed it. He definitely elevated the material to a new level.

Also, Ben Hope as Guy in Once. Caught him a couple times and was blown away.

Honorable mention to Rick Holmes in Peter & The Star Catcher. He's only honorable mention material here because he was the understudy for Black Stache on Broadway, and I saw him when he was principle Black Stache off-Broadway. I've seen all the other principles to play it in the original productions and he was far and away the funniest. The scene where he lost his hand dragged on and on and you never wanted it to end. He loved doing it, and it was so clear in his performance. A master class in comedy acting.

[Jessetenny]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 11:51pm

Jackie Burns in If/Then

[Addison D.]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 12:38am

Karen MacDonald for Cherry Jones in 'Glass Menagerie'.  She was splendid in the role and got a wonderfully warm reception from the audience.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 12:48am

helvizz said: " I dont like to say anything in "the best", but I'll say Lisa Karlin was excellent as the Leading Player in the Pippin tour. That's a recent performance that comes to mind. There have been others, such as Jessica Phillips on instead Alice Ripley in Next to Normal.

 

"

I was lucky enough to see Lisa go on as the LP three times when she was the official "temp. replacement". She was absolutely stunning. I hate that she's currently touring in that horrible production of Little Mermaid as a part of the ensemble. She deserves better, but work is work I guess.

 

I'll also trow in Stephanie Torns as Dawn in Waitress, and Mamie Parris as Rosalie in School of Rock. 

[A1st]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 1:43am

Andrew Chappelle as Aaron Burr

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 1:55am

Lainie Kazan as Fanny Brice in FUNNY GIRL

Louise Lasser as Miss Marmelstein in I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE

[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.