do headliners perform both weds shows?

[Willow22]

Posted: 4/17/19 at 4:27pm

I'm planning my first broadway trip and was wondering if headlining actors perform both shows on Wednesday, or are we likely to see an understudy?  We're looking to buy Hadestown tickets and Weds matinee has the best seats/prices available, but we're concerned we won't see the featured performers...

thanks for any advice!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/17/19 at 4:30pm

Yes, you can expect them all to be there. Just like any other job, they have a limited number of sick days. Unless there is an official alternate, you should be able to expect everyone.

Enjoy.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/17/19 at 4:33pm

If they have a regularly scheduled performance or two off, that performer is called the alternate, and 99% of the time it'll be denoted on the website.

[Willow22]

Posted: 4/17/19 at 4:40pm

thanks for the quick replies!  LizzyCurry, where would I check for that info on the Hadestown website?  

Updated On: 4/17/19 at 04:40 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 4/17/19 at 4:43pm

Headliners? This ain’t Coachella

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/17/19 at 4:46pm

Generally the cast list and/or the schedule. If it's not there, then they just don't have alternates.

— LizzIE

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 4/17/19 at 4:57pm

Almost always, if a role has an alternate, then in the online cast list that performer will be credited with "alternate [role]" and sometimes will be shown with an addendum of "at certain performances" or "Wednesday and Saturday evenings" or something like that. For instance, on the Dear Evan Hansen online cast list, Michael Lee Brown is listed as "Alternate Evan Hansen".

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 4/17/19 at 5:45pm

Willow22 said: "thanks for the quick replies! LizzyCurry, where would I check for that info on the Hadestown website?"

To the best of my knowledge, Hadestown doesn't have any alternates planned. You usually see that sort of thing when there's a particularly demanding role and/or a particularly big celebrity... like Bette Midler had a standing alternate for Tuesday night performance in Hello Dolly. But that's not typical in a show - barring health emergencies, all actors do every show.

For the future, if you want to check for sure, alternate info (as well as any other prescheduled actor absences) are typically listed on the Telecharge/Ticketmaster page about the show when you go to buy tickets.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/17/19 at 5:59pm

Call_me_jorge said: "Headliners? This ain’t Coachella"

 

No need to make fun. Conceptually it makes perfect sense to use that term, and not everyone knows the niche theatre vernacular. And the OP fully admits this is their first Broadway trip. 

OP: generally we would use the term “principals” “principal actors” in this situation, but it’s not a huge deal. 

[magictodo123]

Posted: 4/21/19 at 9:20am

I remember when Audra was in Shuffle Along, there was a sign at the box office saying when she would be on and when she'd be out. Unless there's something like that at the theater or advertised on Telecharge or Ticketmaster, I'd guess original cast members will be performing as scheduled.