set schedule for understudies?
ChrissyCat
Swing Joined: 5/11/05
#0set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/11/05 at 4:36pmHello all, I'm a long time lurker, first time poster. I figured it's about time I join! Anyway, I was wondering if anyone could tell me the best way to find out when an understudy is scheduled to perform, besides going directly to the box office which I'm unable to do. I'm thinking about buying tix for a few shows in the coming weeks & would really like to see the lead actors & actresses if possible. I know last minute changes happen but I'd like to find out who might have scheduled vacations coming up. Does anyone know of a website that would have this info? Any & all help is appreciated!
#1re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/11/05 at 7:22pm
There's really no way to know unless you find out someone is on vacation for a set period of time, because sometimes they'll alternate the understudies when that happens.
Whenever there IS a scheduled person who comes in and perorms a role twice a week, that's an alternate, not an understudy. (Such as Christine in Phantom or Kim in Miss Saigon.)
sassypanz
Broadway Star Joined: 1/20/05
#2re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/11/05 at 9:30pmIs it true that Marie Danvers is back in Phantom as Christine and Julie Hanson too? Thats what the playbill says but the websites all say Sandra Joseph is still there. All these sites arent being updated it drives me nuts!
Joshua488
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#3re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/11/05 at 9:35pm
Marie Danvers is back? Since when? How recent is the Playbill you saw?
EDIT: Playbill.com says she is a swing.
Updated On: 5/11/05 at 09:35 PM
jjdude2000
Broadway Star Joined: 12/1/04
#4re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/11/05 at 9:47pmNo, it's still Sandra and Julie alternating.
Joshua488
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#5re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/11/05 at 9:48pmDamn. I was kind of wishing that Sandra Joseph had left.
Swiftynifty15
Broadway Star Joined: 9/18/04
#6re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/11/05 at 9:56pmYou can probably call the theatre and they will most likley know.
Glindafan
Stand-by Joined: 10/9/04
#7re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/11/05 at 9:59pmGet specific about which shows you mean - that way, people who know can get you some specific info.
#8re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/11/05 at 10:56pm
Wasserworld did add Marie Danvers to their directory of press photos within the past week, though, whatever that means.
AFAIK she's still a swing, judging from the last cast list I saw.
#9re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/11/05 at 10:57pmAlso, some unofficial websites update VERY frequently, and post when actors who are understudies, will go on.
"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912
pndmnd
Broadway Star Joined: 4/3/04
#10re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/12/05 at 9:59amWhy do they alternate Christine's? Do they alternate the Phantom, too?
ChrissyCat
Swing Joined: 5/11/05
#11re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/12/05 at 4:14pm
Thanks all for the info so far (and for clearing up understudy vs alternate). I wasn't specific about the shows I was thinking about seeing b/c I really had no idea but today, I do. On Saturday 5/21 I'll be taking my mom to a show (most likely the matinee) & her choices are as follows: T&T Wedding (we don't care who we see), Little Women (we'd like to see both Sutton Foster & Maureen McGovern), Steel Magnolias (Mom really wants to see all the actresses) & Streetcar (Natasha Richardson of course).
I know that at a Sat. matinee you're more likely to see an alternate but I'd like to avoid that at the above mentioned shows if possible.
Joshua488
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#12re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/12/05 at 5:54pmThe alternate Christine, Julie Hanson, performs on Wednesday evenings and Saturday matinees.
#13re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/12/05 at 6:07pmchristine=vocally and physically taxing apparently. i just asked my voice teacher who used to teach some of the Christine's... which makes no sense... you won't find an alternate scheduled for Elphaba in wicked... but let's not turn this into a debate. lol.
Joshua488
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#14re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/12/05 at 6:55pmAndrew Lloyd Webber made it a requirement that there always be an alternate actress for the role of Christine.
jjdude2000
Broadway Star Joined: 12/1/04
#15re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/12/05 at 7:07pmThere's no alternate for the Phantom
#16re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/12/05 at 9:33pmThe Phantom also has, what, a third of the stage time Christine has? It's not as demanding a role as it might seem.
jjdude2000
Broadway Star Joined: 12/1/04
#17re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/12/05 at 9:36pmJust saying 'cause someone asked
ChrissyCat
Swing Joined: 5/11/05
#18re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/13/05 at 3:23pmSo am I correct in assuming that the best way would just be to call the theater?
#19re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 5/13/05 at 3:46pmYes, but not all theatres have direct phone numbers.
James Kerrigan2
Featured Actor Joined: 8/12/18
#20re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 1/20/19 at 11:52am
there is also the @understudies Twitter Account that will usually announce days understudies are on but also check the twitter accounts of the main person and the understudy or standby covering the role.
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#21re: set schedule for understudies?
Posted: 1/20/19 at 12:52pm
I remember how everyone used to complain about how awful the search function was on this board, and here someone managed to find and bump a 14 year old thread.
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