Why Standbys?- Page 3

[snowskittle]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 12:39pm

I agree there are occasional exceptions and emergencies, but as a general rule, it's the standby's night if the principal can't go on.

Otherwise, why even HAVE a standby? Why not just two understudies, as is the case with most shows, who are also in the ensemble regularly. It would be cheaper because they're not paying the standby to do nothing most of the time.


And as for costumes...are you saying that sometimes the understudies/standbys don't have their own costumes? And they have to have the principal's costume altered each time they go on...then realtered back? Or maybe have never even been fitted to see if they even fit (or can even be made to fit in an emergency?) Sounds crazy to say nothing of yucky.

These must be productions on a very, very tight budget.

[zoraksferal]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 12:46pm

This thread is pure evil. Last night, I actually had a dream where this question was debated in it! WTF!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 12:49pm

On Broadway, the prinicpal will have costumes and each of their understudies will generally have their own complete set of costumes, however sometimes those costumes will not be ready the first time the cover has to go on. In that case, you have to squeeze them into the pricipal's costumes. especially early in a show's run. Understudy costumes will not be built until after everything in the show is frozen. Why build three identical costumes when it may be changed? Just build one for the lead and after the show is frizen and that costume is staying, build the two for the understudies.

In regional theatres and places with smaller budgets, and sometimes when the costume is OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive, the understudy will wear the same costume as the pricipal. Several actors through the years have shared stories about understuying a role and how whether or not they could fit into the existing pricipal's costumes determined their hiring.

It is also common, depending on the show, for a new actor coming into the show to wear the previous actor's costumes, altered to fit. Certain things, like contemporary wear, must ALWAYS be new for each actor since they should be more easily available. Other things, like Mimi's blue pants in Rent, are NEVER shared beause she doesn't wear any undergarments with the costume.

For reference, costumes are only cleaned, on average, about once a week. AEA only requires the "skin pieces" (ie, hosery, undergarments) to be freshly laundered for each individual performance.

[ravnquest1]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 12:53pm

Updated On: 6/17/17 at 12:53 PM

[snowskittle]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 1:08pm

What would be a "controlled situation"?

[snowskittle]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 1:13pm

Oh, and aren't the costumes right there somewhere handy? Either in the dressing room or a container backstage with easy access?

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 1:26pm

"The understudy wasn't just out, she had a mild stroke! Kristin wasn't sick she was on vicodin for a neck injury & had to perform high off her a**"

Um, I heard an audio (bad I know) and I must say, I truely wish I were in the audience when that happened. Her no one mourns the wicked flubs were great, and her popular was hysterical.


"Oh, and aren't the costumes right there somewhere handy? Either in the dressing room or a container backstage with easy access?"

Someone wanting to steal the Bubble Dress? lol, I kid snowskittle.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 1:29pm

Oh, and aren't the costumes right there somewhere handy? Either in the dressing room or a container backstage with easy access?

Of course, but it still takes time to set them up. Sometimes you don't have that time.

[snowskittle]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 6:02pm

"Someone wanting to steal the Bubble Dress? lol, I kid snowskittle"

ha ha ha ha ha....never thought of that.

I'm sure no one would notice....

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 6:08pm

These must be productions on a very, very tight budget.

The Little Women tour had no understudy costumes. I don't know if they were on a tight budget or just cheap.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 6:12pm

Why have I not heard this audio of Kristen high off her a**? Sounds like fun.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 6:28pm

I remember reading when a guy had to go on as the Store Manager/Judge in Legally Blonde when all the understudies/swings were out.

Also when I saw La Cage in London there were cut tracks (only 5 cagalles), and the cagelles were also doubling some of the other parts they don't normally play. Was interesting.

[turquoisefish]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 7:00pm

I love seeing standbys and understudies, they bring something different to the role.
I know Wicked recently had to take on an actress temporarily as ensemble and first cover Nessarose as the normal understudy was out (not sure why). Also when Kerry Ellis first took over the new standby wasn't ready when Kerry got sick soon after starting so the understudy was on quite a few times.
As has been mentioned a few times it depends on the situation and the circumstances, I have seen Phantom of the Opera in London and the understudy was on for the Phantom rather than the standby (not sure of the reason).
My favourite understudy was Nina French covering for Anne Rogers (74 at the time) as Mrs Tottendale in the Drowsy Chaperone. She was so wrong for the role (far far too young) but was amazing.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 7:23pm

^I saw Nina French too! Verrrry young for the part but she made it her own. Wasn't Anne Rogers off for quite a long period from illness?

Drowsy also had a walking cover who I think covered all the older male leads (2 gangsters, Feltzdig, Underling, George).

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 8:52pm

"Why have I not heard this audio of Kristen high off her a**? Sounds like fun."

It was a few years ago, bout the time I first saw it and was a hardcore trader (and by trader I mean my friend would give me the audio's after she traded) and it was enjoyible. I would KILL for a photo of her in the bubble dress with the neck brace on.

[4getmenot]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 11:14pm

Also, occasionally an understudy will be permanently promoted to standby or a standby promoted to principal, but it doesn't go the other way...at least as far as I've ever known. Principals don't get demoted to standby and standbys don't become understudies.

Just wanted to leap into the fray - this is not true either. Just noticed Karmine Alers used to play Mimi in Rent and now she's Mimi, Maureen u/s on tour. The principal Mimi must be really good, because she looks awfully young opposite Adam Pascal and I assume Karmine Alers is somewhat older.

[TheatreDork2]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 11:22pm

When Beth Curry & Michelle Kitrell alternated as Brooke in Legally Blonde (When Nikki Snelson left) they were both temporarily made leads. They both went back into their understudy spots after Nicolette Hart joined.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 11:55pm

Also when Kerry Ellis first took over the new standby wasn't ready when Kerry got sick soon after starting so the understudy was on quite a few times.

That's 100% not true. Kerry's standby was Julie Reiber, who joined the company when Stephanie J. Block was still Elphaba (back in early May). In fact, Julie's first performance with the Broadway cast was done without a put-in, a week early. Block was out with an injury, and Lisa Brescia got sick. So, they put Reiber on (she writes about this in the blog on her website, by the way).

The understudy, Chelsea Krombach, went on for two shows one weekend when Reiber was out of town after Kerry had taken over. That's it. All of the rest of Kerry's absences were covered by Reiber.
Updated On: 7/31/09 at 11:55 PM

[TheatreDork2]

Posted: 7/31/09 at 12:05am

Also, Julie did the show in LA before coming to Broadway.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/31/09 at 12:22am

Principals don't get demoted to standby and standbys don't become understudies.

Not always true.

[turquoisefish]

Posted: 7/31/09 at 2:19am

That's 100% not true. Kerry's standby was Julie Reiber, who joined the company when Stephanie J. Block was still Elphaba (back in early May)....
Sorry, I meant Wicked London for both my examples. I didn't male that clear.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/31/09 at 2:50am

BroadwayBoundJoe/Cats-
That audio is NOT the vicodin performance. That's from right around the Tonys, and she goofs up by going into her bit for the awards.

The day of the vicodin performance was April 4, 2004. And the changes were minimal, and her only real flub was coming in late on the "See that tragically beautiful girl" at which point she spoke the lyrics to get back on beat.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/31/09 at 3:02am

"Oh, and aren't the costumes right there somewhere handy? Either in the dressing room or a container backstage with easy access?"

Efforts are made to keep understudy costumes in the dressing room for that role, but if space is an issue, that doesn.t always happen. In addition, it isn't as simple as that. You still have to swap them out IN the dressing room because the cover's costumes will often be stored in garment bags since they aren't used every day, or they may be kept out of the way in the room. Other times, they are kept in the basement in wardrobe and must then be cartered up to the dressing room for the top of the show. But not all costumes are kept there.Quick changes happen in hallways, the wings, etc.. pretty much anywhere in the building, so the costumes have to be preset at those locations and readied before the start of the show. That takes time. In addition, the dresser repsonsible for presetting those costumes usually is charge of two or three actors. Only the stars or absolute leads will have their own dresser..

"Just wanted to leap into the fray - this is not true either. Just noticed Karmine Alers used to play Mimi in Rent and now she's Mimi, Maureen u/s on tour. The principal Mimi must be really good, because she looks awfully young opposite Adam Pascal and I assume Karmine Alers is somewhat older."

As far as Ms. Alers' age goes, she was nearly cast in the original company, but her sister was cast instead. Oddly, that is the track that Karmine took over and still plays today. She might be closer to Adam's age, but she is still way too mature for the role of Mimi, who is SUPPOSED TO LOOK SIXTEEN.

As far as playing Mimi vs. understudying Mimi, it isn.t that uncommon. many time an actor is offered to took over a role that they cover and they refuse. As a pricipal, you have a contract for a specific amount of time and a specific salary and no gurantee that you will be renewed. An ensemble member who understudies a pricipal, in America at least, has the far better job. You are a 'run of the play contract', which, simply put, means that you are in the show as long as it runs, if you so choose, because it is an open ended contract, and it is VERY difficult to fire you -- ie, you have a set gig. Beyond that, as I said, you can actually make more money than the person you are understudying if you go on often enough. Why not keep the steadier gig that can pay you more instead of taking the glory of being the lead?

[TreyKenyon]

Posted: 7/31/09 at 8:21am

In addition to the other "leads to understudies", Briana Yacavone was a swing in Wicked Broadway, then became lead Nessarose in LA, and is now back to being a s swing on Broadway.

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 7/31/09 at 8:50am

Karmine Alyers was my first Mimi, next year, Antonique Smith...Karmine was her understudy. It happens. It also must hurt to be told..."Uh, yeah, we've hired someone new to play the part, but you can still be their understudy."