Why Standbys?

[TreyKenyon]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:27pm

Does anyone know what determines whether a role needs a standby or just understudies? From what I gather they aren't all that common. The only show I know of having standbys for leads is Wicked.

Also, many times the 1st cover for a lead role is an ensemble member and the 2nd cover is a swing, but wouldn't the opposite make more logical sense? When a swing goes on for a lead role, only one change is needed, as opposed to the two changes needed when the ensemble member goes on.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:36pm

1. Standbys are employed when a role is found to be particularly challenging. The standby is thus prepared to take on this role at any given moment, up to full standards.

2. EDIT: More specifically, the swing is mainly employed to cover ensemble tracks...but there are times when swings have been first understudies. I apologize for giving misinformation.

Updated On: 7/29/09 at 10:36 PM

[inick122492]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:36pm

Shrek has a s/b. The roles that require a s/b usually are ones where the actor is in heavy make-up or costume a la Elphaba or Shrek. Sometimes its the intensity of the role that requires a s/b again a la Elphaba or Shrek.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:40pm

Wasn't Will Chase a standby for Adam Pascal in Aida as well? I never understood that one... It's not dance/stunt-heavy and the costumes and makeup aren't a hindrance.

In some shows they have slightly ridiculous understudy systems. Like for Hair, Saycon is usually the u/s who goes on for Dionne, which means Nicole plays Saycon's track, which means a swing plays Nicole's track. It's essentially 3 people on to cover one absent cast member...

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:40pm

Which goes on first, standby or understudy. This has always confused me.

[PastorErnst]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:43pm

From what I know, a standby goes on before an understudy.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:43pm

That's always been the way I thought it was too.

[winston89]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:44pm

Understudies go on before standbys. Basically the job of a standby is to hang out at the theatre every performance and literally be on standby in case of emergency like what happened at idina's second to last show. The understudy goes on goes on if the actor is sick or calls out a performance.

A show would only use a standby as a last resort. Or if the lead is on vacation the standby and the understudy might rotate until the lead comes back.

[TreyKenyon]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:45pm

Gobstopper--- It's funny you mention Saycon in HAIR because that's the situation that got me thinking about it.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:46pm

Here is the order:

1. Standby
2. First Understudy
3. Second Understudy (although usually when there is a standby, there is no second understudy).

In the case of a vacation, the standby will usually be pre-scheduled to perform all of the performances. However, in the case of a prolonged absence (such as Stephanie J. Block's during Spring 2008 from Wicked), the standby will perform the majority of the performances and the understudy will be given some opportunities to perform.

When there is no standby and only two understudies, the first understudy may either take on entire vacations, or they may split the vacation between the understudies (usually this will happen early in a run).

[TreyKenyon]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:47pm

But didn't Shoshana (standby) go on in the case of Idina's accident and the following performances?

[zoraksferal]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:47pm

Winston89- If that is true, why is it that during like a 3 day period when Nicole was out sick, her stand-by was on all three nights? I genuinely do not understand how these things work haha.

[BwayTday]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:48pm

I pretty sure standbys go on first if the principal is out.

Think about it, it's simplier that way. Since the understudy is usually in the ensemble, if they went on for a lead then they would have to bring in a swing to do the ensemble role.

If a standby goes on for a lead there is no swing involved.

yup pretty sure Updated On: 7/29/09 at 10:48 PM

[TheatreDork2]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:48pm

Standbys have priority over understudys.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:49pm

Wasn't Will Chase a standby for Adam Pascal in Aida as well? I never understood that one... It's not dance/stunt-heavy and the costumes and makeup aren't a hindrance.
All three leads in Aida (Aida, Radames, and Amneris) had standbys.

Understudies go on before standbys.
I think you mean standbys go on before understudies, Winston.

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:53pm

With the case of Eyedina and Shoshana, Shoshana was supposed to take over the role two days later, se technically she just started early. Standbys do go on before the understudy. Understudys already have a track they perform in the ensamble, and if they perform as say elphaba, they have to bring someone in to fill that track, it's much easier to have a standby go on.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:55pm

Some of you guys are just making sh*t up and it's hilarious. Thank you.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 11:06pm

When an understudy is an ensemble member and they have to go on a swing has to step in to take their role and can upset the "balance". But having a standby go on means no one else has to be moved around thus keeping the same dynamic as when the lead goes on. IMO that's what makes having a standby so attractive. Sometimes if someone is playing a different part than they usually do it can lead another performer to say the wrong line because they're used to speaking to this actor in their other role.

I don't think I explained myself that well so here's an example I, personally, witnessed. At a performance of Grease Derek Keeling was out so Matt Hydzik was on as Danny. This was after Matt Saldivar left but before Ace Young came in so Matt Hydzik had been playing Keniecke. José Restrepo, who usually played Sonny, went on as Keniecke and Keven Quillon, swing and dance captain, went on as Sonny. That's a LOT of shifting around and during the second act Janine Davita, Rizzo, flubbed a line. She was speaking to Danny but said a line she usually says to Keniecke.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 11:08pm

Oh, hey a whole article. Read it. Love it. Live it.

"Please Stand By: Standbys and Understudies..."

http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/news/08-2007/please-stand-by_11419.html

[TreyKenyon]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 11:11pm

Great article Gobstopper --- loved the quotes from Lisa Brescia and the understudies at Spelling Bee haha

[Tag]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 11:13pm

A lot of it has to do with money. (paying a standby's weekly salary vs. paying an understudy their fee to go on for a lead, etc.)

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 11:16pm

The standby is nearly always first, however there is a rule in Equity stating that if a person plays a role for a specfic number of performances, they must be promoted to the role full time. So, if someone is out for an extended amount of time, they'll rotate out the other understudies.

And, in some cases the swing that covers the role will be more likely to go on. To the best of my knowledge Jay A. Johnston has gone on for Gavin Creel more times than Paris Remillard, who is in the ensemble.

Honestly, I think it changes company to company.


All three leads in Aida (Aida, Radames, and Amneris) had standbys.
Not all of them.

When it opened, the only standbys were Thursday Farrar (Aida) and Neal Benari (Pharoah/Zoser).

Later, some of the other performers had standbys. I don't think Sherie Rene Scott ever did, and I don't think Idina Menzel did. I'm also fairly sure that Will Chase didn't have a standby.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 11:29pm

When it opened, the only standbys were Thursday Farrar (Aida) and Neal Benari (Pharoah/Zoser).

Later, some of the other performers had standbys. I don't think Sherie Rene Scott ever did, and I don't think Idina Menzel did. I'm also fairly sure that Will Chase didn't have a standby.

I stand corrected about Sherie, she never had a standby. Taylor Dayne's standby was Felicia Finley, and Idina's was Mandy Gonzalez. Pascal later had a standby- first Matt Bogart, then Will Chase, and than Richard H. Blake for awhile. Will's standby was Cheyenne Jackson. Darcie Roberts also stood by for Amneris, but I forget who she covered (maybe Mandy?). Aida always had a standby. First it was Thursday Ferrar, then Simone, then Maya Days, then Schele Williams, then Maya Days again, then Saycon Sengbloh, and finally Ta'Rea Campbell.
Updated On: 7/29/09 at 11:29 PM

[broadwayboy522]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 11:35pm

Also shows might have standbys because there isn't someone in the ensemble that fits the appearance, age, etc. of the part. An example would be that they had a standby for Tracy in Hairspray because there was no one else in the ensemble that would be the right build for the part. Now there was an understudy for Tracy in the ensemble but they would put them in a fat suit and padding so they didn't come across as well. Another example would be Professor Porter in Tarzan and Kerchak. Those roles had standbys because there wasn't anyone in the ensemble that was old enough to pass for those roles. Just basic things like that

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 11:40pm

A lot of the time who goes on first (standby, understudy) is determined in one's contract. Some performers get better contracts then others.