Cats Understudies/Swings
Cats Understudies/Swings
#1Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 1:43am
Apparently there was a wild show the other night where Corey John Snide went on for Jennyanydots?? And apparently Gillian Lynne had to go into the production tonight?? Is any of this true? Anyone see the show in the last few nights?
Updated On: 12/14/16 at 01:43 AM
#2Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 2:01am
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat_new/d.php?id=2358447
Where did you hear the Gillian Lynne rumor? I'm seeing no mentions on Twitter or public FB posts.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#3Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 2:08am
How interesting that they actually put him on for that track! So cool. Callan Bergman posted an instagram video with a whiteboard that had the list of covers that went on tonight and Gillian Lynne was written in with Maria Briggs, the new swing.
Olivia11
Stand-by Joined: 7/30/16
#4Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 5:49am
Yep, we were there on Monday night and Corey John Snide went on as Jennyanydots. I doubt anyone noticed, other than a handful of people that know the show.
We were in the front and I immediately knew it wasn't Eloise Kropp but it took me a few minutes to figure it out. He didn't change makeup (would not have had time) and I recognize him from one of the vlogs, as he was discussing the role of dance captain and I found it very interesting. I would guess with the serious technical tap dancing, there isn't as much depth in the understudies and swings for that role. He definitely had the dance talent to pull it off.
He did a great of a job and was a hell of a tap dancer. He looked fine in the costume since it isn't one of the fitted type unitard costumes, but he obviously did not fit in the sparkly tap shoes, because he had his regular dark tap shoes on. His voice was well done and sounded in character. I was really impressed with his ability to jump in and do that role.
Interestingly, we arrived at the theatre at approx 7:40 pm for an 8:00 pm curtain and no one had been let into the theatre yet. The line was around the block.
In hindsight, I wonder if there was some emergency blocking or rehearsals going on -- as noted by the OP, there were quite a few understudies and swings in, all of whom did a great job. It also appeared that There were other rearranged parts like the actress playing Jellylorum sang Sillibub's portions of Memory.
Love the the show or hate it, the talent of the cast can not be denied. We enjoyed the show immensely and my 9 year old nephew is hooked. We just flew back the west coast tonight and he insisted on sleeping in his CATS sweatshirt. As I've said before, CATS is a gateway drug.
Updated On: 12/14/16 at 05:49 AM
Olivia11
Stand-by Joined: 7/30/16
rangersrule132
Featured Actor Joined: 2/29/16
#6Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 6:09am
shrekster224 said: "How interesting that they actually put him on for that track! So cool. Callan Bergman posted an instagram video with a whiteboard that had the list of covers that went on tonight and Gillian Lynne was written in with Maria Briggs, the new swing.
"
It was a joke.
#7Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 8:52am
What is going on with this production? It seems like there are a ton of understudies on at every performance.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
Olivia11
Stand-by Joined: 7/30/16
#8Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 12:19pm
Um..."tons" seems like a bit of hyperbole. It is a large cast in an incredibly demanding show. And if you missed it, they are human beings that get sick, injured, need time off, etc.
#9Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 12:35pm
Calm down. I just asked a question. There are multiple understudies on at every performance. That's not hyperbole and it's not normal. Especially for a show that's only been running for a few months. This feels like West Side Story 2009 to me.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
Olivia11
Stand-by Joined: 7/30/16
#10Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 12:57pm
Whatever. You seem to want to make drama out of nothing. So... have at it .
Updated On: 12/14/16 at 12:57 PM
#11Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 1:12pm
Olivia11 said: "Yep, we were there on Monday night and Corey John Snide went on as Jennyanydots. I doubt anyone noticed, other than a handful of people that know the show.
We were in the front and I immediately knew it wasn't Eloise Kropp but it took me a few minutes to figure it out. He didn't change makeup (would not have had time) and I recognize him from one of the vlogs, as he was discussing the role of dance captain and I found it very interesting. I would guess with the serious technical tap dancing, there isn't as much depth in the understudies and swings. He definitely had the dance talent to pull it off.
He did a great of a job and was a hell of a tap dancer, though he evidentially does not fit in the sparkly tap shoes, because he had his regular dark tap shoes on. His voice was well done and sounded in character. I was really impressed with his ability to jump in and do that role.
Interestingly, we arrived at the theatre at approx 7:40 pm for an 8:00 pm curtain and no one had been let into the theatre yet. The line was around the block.
In hind site, I wonder if there was some emergency blocking or rehearsals going on -- as noted by the OP, there were quite a few understudies and swings in, all of whom did a great job. It also appeared that There were other rearranged parts like the actress playing Jellylorum sang Sillibub's portions of Memory.
Love the the show or hate it, the talent of the cast can not be denied. We enjoyed the show immensely and my 9 year old nephew is hooked. We just flew back the west coast tonight and he insisted on sleeping in his CATS sweatshirt. As I've said before, CATS is a gateway drug.
Eloise Kropp just posted on Instagram that she's back in the show after having the flu. Probably why Corey John Snide went on for the role! Poor girl.
sparkledust
Chorus Member Joined: 12/14/16
#12Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 2:07pm
"It's not normal" - compare to what? It's an outrageously athletically demanding show that they're not only doing 8 times a week - but 5 times a weekend. There isn't anything else on Broadway that is this dance heavy, at the moment. Even Shuffle Along had book scenes and two person duets to give the cast some break - no such thing with Cats.
Add to that the fact that I heard the flu is working it's way through the cast and you get lots of swings.
They also swing cast members out for a variety of reasons, and if I remember correctly - they even deepened the swing and understudy bench adding more swings after the show opened because it was taking a physical toll on the cast.
#13Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 2:23pm
sparkledust said: ""It's not normal" - compare to what? It's an outrageously athletically demanding show that they're not only doing 8 times a week - but 5 times a weekend. There isn't anything else on Broadway that is this dance heavy, at the moment. Even Shuffle Along had book scenes and two person duets to give the cast some break - no such thing with Cats.
Add to that the fact that I heard the flu is working it's way through the cast and you get lots of swings.
They also swing cast members out for a variety of reasons, and if I remember correctly - they even deepened the swing and understudy bench adding more swings after the show opened because it was taking a physical toll on the cast.
Piggybacking off of sparkledust, the cast only gets one day off during the week. When you're going 8-10 shows a week, you're bound to get ill and injured. I saw it two weeks ago and there was a pretty good chunk of the cast missing because of illness/vacation. They're humans too. They need a break every so often.
trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#14Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 4:02pm
The show has what...7...9... swings? It's not a normal show. They didn't hire that many swings because they like to waste money, it's because they expect to need that many at any given time.
#15Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 4:25pm
trpguyy said: "The show has what...7...9... swings? It's not a normal show. They didn't hire that many swings because they like to waste money, it's because they expect to need that many at any given time.
What do you call a normal show then? There's no other show that is as physically demanding as Cats. They need 7-9 swings. Maybe even more. Famous dance companies run the same way. Anything is bound to happen with a cast of 20+ people. This past weekend is a perfect example
#16Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 4:46pm
Isn't Gillian Lynne in her 80's? People really thought she was going on in the show??
trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#17Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 4:50pm
MoDance0934 said: "trpguyy said: "The show has what...7...9... swings? It's not a normal show. They didn't hire that many swings because they like to waste money, it's because they expect to need that many at any given time.
What do you call a normal show then? There's no other show that is as physically demanding as Cats. They need 7-9 swings. Maybe even more. Famous dance companies run the same way. Anything is bound to happen with a cast of 20+ people. This past weekend is a perfect example"
Exactly. We're agreeing.
Olivia11
Stand-by Joined: 7/30/16
#18Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 7:09pm
Also, Kim Fauvre was back in as Demeter, from what I believe was leave due to injury. She looked and sounded great.
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#19Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 9:32pm
adamgreer said: "Isn't Gillian Lynne in her 80's? People really thought she was going on in the show??"
Not to mention her publicly calling out the producers for not bringing her back to recreate her own work.
Bell0708
Stand-by Joined: 7/23/13
#20Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/14/16 at 11:23pm
That's why people need flu shots! Esp Bway performers who easily get run down!
cmassoud
Swing Joined: 11/21/16
#21Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/15/16 at 12:09am
I've noticed that the actors for the two main dance roles (I think?), Ricky and Gina, are not out very often. Seems exhausting.
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#22Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/15/16 at 11:12am
Bell0708 said: "That's why people need flu shots! Esp Bway performers who easily get run down!"
This took a turn.
sparkledust
Chorus Member Joined: 12/14/16
#23Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/15/16 at 11:20am
Bell0708 said: "That's why people need flu shots! Esp Bway performers who easily get run down!"
I think most casts get cast flu shots - i think it was on the cats Instagram that the cast did a few weeks ago.
trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#24Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/15/16 at 1:02pm
neonlightsxo said: "Bell0708 said: "That's why people need flu shots! Esp Bway performers who easily get run down!"
This took a turn."
Feline Influenza is a serious matter.
#25Cats Understudies/Swings
Posted: 12/15/16 at 1:12pm
cmassoud said: "I've noticed that the actors for the two main dance roles (I think?), Ricky and Gina, are not out very often. Seems exhausting.
"
It's true, Ricky very rarely misses a show. I think he gets a lot of rest and takes care of himself. Gina has been out a lot recently for injuries (she also took the weekend off to do a production of The Nutcracker), but other than that she's usually on as well. She especially is a trooper.
