how are rehearsals done when there is an alternate?

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 10:28pm

just something i was wondering about... and just to be specific this is when a show is going to open on broadway (or london or tour) and there are leads sharing a role... is there a specific day or time of the day when the alternate gets to rehearse? does the alternate get the same amount of rehearsal time?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 10:36pm

The alternate is present at all rehearsals and run-thrus. Some of the rehearsal time may actually be spent working with the alternate while the regular cast member watches from the side.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 10:43pm

I think by "alternate" the OP means when multiple actors share the same role, such as the kids in THE LION KING, Billy and Michael in BILLY ELLIOT, etc. (as opposed to understudies and standbys).

To answer the question -- it depends upon the needs of the production. To my knowledge there is no Equity rule pertaining to doubles (or in the case of Billy in BILLY ELLIOT, triples). I would imagine that they would try to have each actor receive an equal amount of rehearsal time, which is not always possible.

I would imagine that when doing scenes, all actors must be present in the room. When doing music or dance, the actors could split and then switch.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 10:54pm

Sorry, I was thinking "alternate" as in WEST SIDE STORY.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 10:55pm

Yep, they may not even rehearse the alternate prior to opening night. I'm not sure how common this is, but when Jersey Boys started its holiday run here in San Francisco, Rick Faugno ended up doing 14 shows in a row (some while he was sick) before Joseph Leo Bwarie was able to go on. Ouch.

[Tag]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 11:01pm

A child alternate is rehearsed extremely differently then an adult alternate. Children almost always get equal time whereas an adult usually watches from the sidelines (almost like if they were an understudy or swing).

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 11:28pm

thanks... and for clarification it was alternates and not understudies and standbys...

using an example of miss saigon when it originally opened (i use it only because i love the show! haha)... i was just wondering how lea salonga's alternate (kam cheng) felt having to rehearse a role that lea salonga made so much her own and iconic (well i think it was) at the time... like how much practice did she get to make it different from lea's... or was she instructed to be a carbon copy... i guess the same can be said for Sarah Brightman when Phantom opened on Broadway... it would suck to be an alternate having to perform the role a couple times a week but never getting a chance to really make the part your own...

[singtopher]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 2:17am

I can imagine that an alternate, as in the alternate Christine in POTO and currently Tony in WSS, would get a sufficient amount of time with the actual creative team as well in insure they are performing the role to the standard of the principle actor.

I imagine the multiple casts of La Boheme when it was on Broadway had a similar experience to the Billys.