why is michelle dowdy in hairspray listed as understudy and not standby.- Page 2
why is michelle dowdy in hairspray listed as understudy and not standby.
re: why is michelle dowdy in hairspray listed as understudy and not standby#25
Posted: 5/8/07 at 10:50pm
"Michelle Dowdy is a 20 year old fat girl. there is NO other`role in Hairspray that she could possibly cover. She can't be a Nicest Kid. They have to be slim and cute in comparison. "
Not for nothing, but I find that to be mean. There are better ways to narrow down if she can play any other parts.
re: why is michelle dowdy in hairspray listed as understudy and not standby#26
Posted: 5/8/07 at 11:09pm
"She does not, and really cannot, play any other role in the show"
Please...she can't even play the part she's understudying.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
re: why is michelle dowdy in hairspray listed as understudy and not standby#27
Posted: 5/8/07 at 11:11pm
"Ok, CONTRACTUALLY they might be considered ensemble, but swings do not appear onstage unless they are covering someone. So TECHNICALLY they aren't in the ensemble."
I think you said it well Tag.
Fosse76...why not? Perhaps you can offer some back up.
re: why is michelle dowdy in hairspray listed as understudy and not standby#28
Posted: 5/8/07 at 11:28pm
She's from my district too (woot district 4 thespians). There was such a big hype when she landed the understudy part. Then last year she came back to do a community production of Wild Party and brought Diana DeGarmo with her. It was great.
I've never seen her play Tracy, although I've heard tracks, but no matter what I'm sure she gives it her all. And whether people like her or not she is a huge inspiration to theater students all over the country, if not the world.
re: why is michelle dowdy in hairspray listed as understudy and not standby#29
Posted: 5/9/07 at 12:06amMichelle is an amazing Tracy, definitely one of my favorites.
re: why is michelle dowdy in hairspray listed as understudy and not standby#30
Posted: 5/9/07 at 9:58am
"And whether people like her or not she is a huge inspiration to theater students all over the country, if not the world."
LOL that's too funny. There are only a handful of people in NEW YORK that even know who she is, so I can't even imagine anyone else knowing her name. As for why she is bad, she has absolutely no depth, charm, charisma or chemistry with co-stars. Her singing and dancing are lackluster at best, and she has absolutley no comprehension as to her character's passion. She is just really aweful.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
re: why is michelle dowdy in hairspray listed as understudy and not standby#31
Posted: 5/9/07 at 11:33am
lotte, I am not being mean and say that wish no malice toward michelle at all. Since some people can not, for some reason, understand why she can not play an role in the show, I had to state it bluntly.
No problem, Dover. I feel that pain. I HAVE been known to co off on an audience member I found complaining about understudies being on.. before the show started. Give the poor person a chance. Understudy doesn't mean second best. I have incredible respect for every understudy.
Broadway Star Joined: 10/19/05
re: why is michelle dowdy in hairspray listed as understudy and not standby#32
Posted: 5/9/07 at 12:08pm
In the West End, the understudies are always announced. They always form a set Pattern:
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to tonight's performance of X at the y theatre.
At tonight's performance the role of x will be played by z etc
Please ensure that mobile phones and pagers are switched off , and please note that photography and recording equipment is forbidden"
My sister and I have been known to sit clutching each other's hands at the start of the announcements hoping they'll skip straight to the mobile phone warning.
I'm going to have to remember to check the lobby when we come to NY in September...
re: why is michelle dowdy in hairspray listed as understudy and not standby#33
Posted: 5/9/07 at 11:13pm
Tag, Broadwayguy2 was right. You do not necessarily have to announce every understudy that goes on. There are certain roles that are not required to be announced in any way (whether verbal, inserts, or posting by the entrance). Equity determines which these are -- roughly speaking, if they don't have lines or any specialties that's a good bet they won't have to be announced. If a person was out in that role, nobody would ever know unless they recognized that it was someone else when they came onstage. I kind of wish every actor was given the courtesy of the audience being informed if they're on or not, but that's not always the rule.
And Broadwayguy2, the best part about that understudy announcement was that there was already an understudy on in that track. It was one swing being replaced by the other, so it wasn't even a matter of the audience not seeing "the real one."
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
re: why is michelle dowdy in hairspray listed as understudy and not standby#34
Posted: 5/10/07 at 2:24am
Yes, I enjoy the fact that Mamma Mia listed ensemble replacements as well.... that way you know EVERYONE that you are seeing.
That makes the announcement reaction all the more funny and sad....
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