stars and understudies

[scampsweep]

Posted: 8/9/10 at 8:47am

Is is actually true that the star of a show sometimes 'stands aside' to let their understudy go on and actually perform for a particular performance? I ask because I read in another thread that some people were disappointed that Marin Mazzie didn't 'allow' Jessica Phillips to perform as Diana on her final day as understudy in Next to Normal.

So can anybody give any examples of a time where a performer actually 'allowed' their understudy/alternate a chance to perform on their final day or, indeed, for any other reason? Just wanted to know out of interest...

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/9/10 at 9:01am

"star" probably isn't the word you mean -- but the lead actor.

Sure, it happens...but not all the time, it's not considered bad manners NOT to.

I know that Gerard Canonico was the first cover for Moritz in Spring Awakening. Near the end of Blake Bashoff's b'way run, Bashoff was being pulled from performances due to rehearsals for the tour, so Gerard was going on quite a bit (and took over the role) -- all scheduled in advance. Gerard 'called in sick' one of those last times so that Brian Charles Johnson could go on as Moritz before he left the production. (to very mixed reviews).

I believe it to be more common when there is a long standing relationship between lead and understudy. It's not "the standard".

[scampsweep]

Posted: 8/9/10 at 9:20am

Yes, 'lead actor' (and not 'star') is a better term for what I meant.

It's a difficult situation. As it says in the thread about N2N, some poeple were disappointed that Phillips did not perform on her last day, but perhaps many more audience members would have been disappointed if Mazzie had not performed (especially as the cast are still very new).

My personal philosophy is that the 'lead actor' should always perform (excluding scheduled absences and illness/injury), regardless of the understudy's/alternate's circumstances. I believe that audiences (excluding previously mentioned circumstances) should see the lead company perform; I don't work in the entertainment industry at all, but I would have thought there was little room for sentimentality over these things. Just my thoughts....

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/9/10 at 9:23am

It's a difficult situation. As it says in the thread about N2N, some poeple were disappointed that Phillips did not perform on her last day, but perhaps many more audience members would have been disappointed if Mazzie had not performed (especially as the cast are still very new).

It's really not a difficult situation. A small cadre of this particular show's crazy, irrational fans wanted the understudy to be able to perform on her last day. Apparently, they don't understand the concept of an understudy--someone there to perform when the star is indisposed.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/9/10 at 10:04am

Of course this has happened before, but I think it is ridiculous for people to get disappointed because a lead didn't "allow" an understudy to perform on his or her last day.

[tamra2]

Posted: 8/9/10 at 10:06am

Howie Michael Smith took a personal day during his time in Avenue Q so that Steven Booth (who was a temporary understudy) could have a performance. It was incredibly sweet of him to do so! Actors are in no way required to do that.
Updated On: 8/9/10 at 10:06 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/9/10 at 10:53am

You will find it is much more the exception instead of the norm.
Sure it's "nice", but the leading actor is also giving up a sick, vacation or personal day to be "nice".

And yes, only the show's intense fans would be happy to see it happen. THe majority of the audience could either care less WHO performs or would rather see the actor hired to play the part full time.

[angelplays]

Posted: 8/9/10 at 11:46am

"You will find it is much more the exception instead of the norm.
Sure it's "nice", but the leading actor is also giving up a sick, vacation or personal day to be "nice"."

Not to mention that if it's not handled properly, they can get in major trouble for calling out just to let someone go on. Yes it's happened, but in most of those cases either they kept it extremely quiet beforehand or they made arrangements with TPTB so that it was approved.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/9/10 at 11:54am

Excellent point!

[mikem]

Posted: 8/9/10 at 12:39pm

Wasn't there some kind of controversy with Caroline or Change, where the aunt of the understudy for the boy (Noah) posted on the Internet that the regular actor "should" call out to give her beloved relative the chance to perform?

I think the regular actor ended up calling out for a single performance, but I thought it was pretty inappropriate for the aunt to be so indignant that the regular actor was showing up for every performance. No one is guaranteeing the understudy a chance to perform.