Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
The Elphaba stand-by is NEVER EVER EVER required to be in make up unless she is going to perform.
The Elphaba stand-by has also never been, to any knowledge of mine or any Elphie stand-by I've known, allowed to completely leave at intermission.
As a general rule, a stand-by is on call until that role's last entrance in the show. Depending on the contract, they must stay backstage, in the building, or within a certain radius of the theatre with their cell phone on. Again, the exact moment they are "off" depends on the contract, but a rule of thumb is the character's final entrance.
The Elphaba standby at Wicked is required to be in full green camo from the beginning of the show in the event something happens. the standby is allowed to leave at intermission.
This is completely untrue.
The standbys used to be allowed to be within a certain radius of the theater, but that changed about 5 years ago. They're now required to be in the building.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/1/14
^^Okay, that makes more sense!
Understudy Joined: 6/5/14
I think the Elphaba standby usually leaves right after No Good Deed.
When Laura Bell Bundy was the Glinda standby, wasn't there something where she left town when they needed her and they had no idea she was gone...or something?
Yes. ^
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/1/14
Er, that sounds like grounds for being fired.
Understudy Joined: 6/5/14
The only thing that SOME Elphaba standby's do before a show is maybe put on foundation. They never actually get into the green until the word is given.
I've heard some of the makeup artists have done the full transformation in like 7 minutes. I think it recently happened on the 1NT when Emmy Raver-Lampman took over mid-act two for Emma Hunton. The makeup artist on that tour was able to get it done in 8 minutes or so.
I think the whole they MIGHT be able to leave after "No Good Deed" but that might be false.
But they still have to be near the theatre still after No Good Deed right, because didn't shoshana finish the show after idina fell in the trap door?
"With the idina incident didn't that happen at the end of the show. So did they use the understudy instead of shoshana since the standby leaves after the first act?"
Shoshana was the standby at the time, and she is who went on for Idina after her fall for the last scene (since all that was left was the finale) So, apparently she was still at the theater, or was close enough to run back and get ready. The fact that it was also a medical emergency might have lent to the lengthy pause (but maybe not?).
Just because they might be allowed to leave the theatre at a certain point, doesn't mean they HAVE to.
And if the standby is allowed to leave and can't make it back, the show is still covered by the Elphaba understudy in the ensemble.
Broadway Star Joined: 4/2/10
There will be a new Glinda standby joining the company very soon. I believe she is in rehearsals right now. Lindsay Northen is the only ensemble member that covers Glinda. Although listed as one in the playbill, Heather Spore is a cover in name only.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
New standby.
http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/125989/Tess-Soldau
Broadway Star Joined: 7/29/12
This is a question I've always had that maybe someone can answer...
Why does Wicked require so many understudies/swings for their cast? I know minimum of 2 understudies per principal/specialty track is standard, but why are some of the tracks covered by 3 people? I know with the large ensemble, there are numerous swings and understudies for the ensemble tracks (Witch's Mother, Midwife, etc.) but why do tracks like Glinda and Nessarose often have 3 understudies? Are they tracks that usually frequently covered? I've also often noticed a pattern for 3-5 understudies for the Midwife track. Why is this the case?
Just curious.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/18/12
^ Meaning she went on for Glinda or that she was officially added to the Playbill/company?
Leading Actor Joined: 6/14/11
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/18/12
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