Best understudy you've ever seen?- Page 2

[leighmiserables]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 8:37pm

faceleg said: " I got to see Jim in Into the Woods at TUTS in Houston and he was superb. He was also one of the nicest people my friend and I got to talk to. He spent a good 10/15 minutes talking to my friend and me about both Fun Home and that production of ITW."

He actually did the same thing at the stage door of Fun Home. I was the last in line and he struck up a conversation and I think we ended up speaking for slightly less than twenty minutes about the show and the "business", and this was on a freezing two-show day in March. I was shocked that he (completely willingly) took the time to talk to me when he really should've gone inside and rested before the evening performance. At one point I even suggested it but he insisted on continuing the conversation. Really just a wonderful person and a wonderful performer. 

(I forgot to mention in my above post that his "Edges of the World" was probably one of the singular most amazing moments I've experienced in a Broadway show—though, it was aided by the fact I was in the front row and he stared directly at me/the people around me for most of the song.) 

 

Updated On: 1/15/18 at 08:37 PM

[MannPhan24601]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 8:40pm

I saw Steve Czarnecki as Jean Valjean in the Les Mis tour last night.He was AMAZING and sounded like a combination of Colm and Ramin.

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 8:56pm

Alison Luff as Molly in Ghost

Laurel Harris as Carole King and her husband Rob Marnell as Gerry Goffin in Beautiful.

Updated On: 8/9/18 at 08:56 PM

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 9:00pm

poisonivy2 said: "Also: Jeremy Morse as Ogie in Waitress. Just as good as Christopher Fitzgerald."

Jeremy played Ogie when the show was at ART. 

[michaelhale]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 10:39pm

natashalost said: "michaelhale said: "So jealous you got to see Shoba as Natasha, I loved Denee and feel blessed I got to see her, but I wish I had gotten into the show earlier so I might of have gotten to see some more of the understudies, I've heard so many great things about all of them and especially her!...I adored the Hamilton standbys I got when I went- Jevon Mcferrin as Hamilton and Donald Webber Jr as Lafayette/Jefferson, both had such high energy!"

Shoba was absolutelyphenomenal. I got to see her in the role 3 times, including her final performance where they had to stop the show during "In My House." Every single time she blew me away. I'm even sneaking in a visit to see her in Hamilton when I go visit family in Seattle in March.

I loved Jevon's performance as Hamilton. He's absolutelyterrific. He should play the role full time in some production.

I WISH I could've seen Donald as Lafayette/Jefferson. Crossing my fingers I'll see him in the role soon!"

lmao You are truly living my dream, I hope I can manage to catch Shoba's Eliza as well.

And same, I hope Jevon gets the chance to take over on a tour or on bway. And I'll have my fingers crossed for you that you might get to catch Webber's Lafayette/Jefferson soon!!

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 11:12pm

I think Wicked consistently has some of the best understudies, tours and other productions. I’m not the show’s biggest fan, but when I saw Christine Dwyer and Anne Brummel both as understudies, I knew they were special.

Gabby McClinton and Arianna DeBose were both great as the understudy to tye Leading Player in Pippin.

i’m lucky. In 25 years of theater going, I’ve had very few bad understudy experiences.

 

both great

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 11:12pm

Some favorites of mine, in no particular order:

-Donna Marie Asbury in Chicago
-Jessica Phillips in next to normal
-Michael Berry in next to normal
-Bradley Dean in A Little Night Music (he eventually took over)
-William Michals in South Pacific
-Julie Reiber in Wicked
-Ann Sanders in Beauty and the Beast
-Ron Sharpe in Les Miserables (this was the previous national tour of the show, not Broadway)

[ellbellthomps]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 11:26pm

Kaley Anne Vorhees, or Colby who u/s chris!

[SugarButterBroadway]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 12:20am

Haven't seen an excessive amount of principal understudies, but these are the ones that I could recall:

Anastacia McClesky as Becky in Waitress

Laurel Harris as Carole King in Beautiful

Julie Reiber as Natalie in All Shook Up

Marissa Perry (when she was still an understudy) as Tracy in Hairspray

Trevor Dion Nicholas as the Genie in Aladdin

Stacia Fernandez as Rosie in Mamma Mia

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 8:32am

Mike Faist in Newsies (in for Corey Cott)

Jim Stanek in Fun Home

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 8:38am

Jeremy Stolle and Laird Mackintosh as the eponymous Phantom of the Opera. IMO, they're better than everyone who's been cast since Hugh Panaro departed.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 8:39am

Jessica Lee Patty as Cassie in A Chorus Line

Julie Reiber as Beverly/Annette in Come From Away

Laurel Harris as Carole King in Beautiful

Billy Harrigan Tighe as Pippin in Pippin

Rashidra Scott as Dolores in Sister Act

Jared Gertner as Elder Cunningham in Book of Mormon

[BroadwayBeebe]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 8:55am

Emily Bautista as Kim in th Saigon revival
Stephanie Torns as Jenna in Waitress
Lauren Zakrin as Natasha in Comet
Laura Shoop as Amelia in She Loves Me

[Engineer Thuy]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 3:47pm

Emily Bautista as Kim in Miss Saigon Revival

Rodney Ingram as Aladdin

[bwayandstuff]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 4:27pm

I saw Carmen Cusack as an understudy for Elphaba in the Wicked national tour... amazing.

The CFA understudies are amazing and get gold stars for covering multiple tracks.

Alie Ewoldt and Kelvin Moon Loh for Tuptim and Lun Tha in the King and I.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 4:38pm

Fuschia Walker as Effie in Dreamgirls.
Norbert Leo Butz as Roger AND as Mark in Rent (different performances, obviously).

[beilis32]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 4:39pm

When I saw Wicked in Pittsburgh, something happened to the lady playing Madam Morrible and she had to switch with someone else at intermission. I think this is what standbys are for. I don't remember either of their names.I thought it was so impressive though, because you almost couldn't tell it was a different person!

[Scott Rosson]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 5:04pm

Gregory Treco as Burr on Broadway. So glad he gets to play the role every night in Chicago!

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 6:21pm

Adam Lambert as Fiyero. Vocals unlike I've EVER heard.

[michaelhale]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 6:27pm

I forgot about Emily Bautista in Miss Saigon! She was incredible, loved seeing her.

[starcatchers]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 7:02pm

Going to throw my vote into the ring for Laurel Harris in Beautiful.
Alysha Deslorieux as Eliza in Hamilton

[ajh]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 9:05pm

Laura Shoop as Amalia (instead of Laura Benanti) in the Roundabout SHE LOVES ME. She was glorious.

[natashalost]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 9:48pm

starcatchers said: "Going to throw my vote into the ring for ... Alysha Deslorieux as Eliza in Hamilton"

I 100% agree with you. Her Burn brought tears to my eyes. Such a glorious performance. Probably my favorite Eliza, along with Elizabeth Judd. I WISH they had bumped her up to principle. Such a miss on casting's part.

[natashalost]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 9:51pm

ajh said: "Laura Shoop as Amalia... she was glorious."

Agree! I was quite disappointed when I went the second time around, as both Laura and Jane were out but seeing Laura as Amalia was the most pleasant surprise. On top of that -- Allison Cimmet as Ilona! Their chemistry was on fire.

[herewegoabc]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 10:32pm

I've only seen Elizabeth Judd in the Hamilton ensemble, but I saw her several times as Wendla in Spring Awakening several years ago. She was really great, so I would love to see her in one of the sisters' roles in Hamilton.

 

Updated On: 1/16/18 at 10:32 PM