Tee Boyich: Mean Girls Understudy Goddess

[tobiasragg]

Unbelievable event at Mean Girls last night. Tee Boyich performed as Janis Sarkisian, a role she DOES NOT COVER, with 4 hours of rehearsal time. Pay attention to her, she's going to be huge.

She writes about it on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teeboyich/?hl=en

 

[tobiasragg]

Would like to add that:

1) I'd consider Janis and Damien the leads and narrators.
2) She spent the entire evening screlting her face off.
3) IT WAS HER BROADWAY DEBUT.

Okay. I'm done. This was Broadway magic.

[LizzieCurry]

tobiasragg said: "Unbelievable event at Mean Girls last night. Tee Boyich performed as Janis Sarkisian, a role she DOES NOT COVER, with 4 hours of rehearsal time. Pay attention to her, she's going to be huge.

She writes about it on her Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/teeboyich/?hl=en

"

Here's the direct link: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgh6sWWF8dt/?hl=en&taken-by=teeboyich

[clockworkchess]

That's incredible. Was there a put in rehearsal right before the performance? The link isn't working for me.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Techies are telling me it's a mess over there.

[Call_me_jorge]

Was the actual understudy not available? I’m so confused why she went on.

[HBBrock]

We were there last night. What a story!!!

I was initially disappointed that Barrett Wilbert Weed was out, but Tee did such an awesome job! I didn't even realize until after the show(my wife pointed it out) that she doesn't even understudy this role.

Insanity.

[HBBrock]

According to their website, there is no understudy for Janis listed.

[dramamama611]

Understudies are seldom "ready" during previews....the production is too busy readying the on stage actors.

[Call_me_jorge]

Still, why would they have someone who wasn’t the understudy go on over someone who was, even if the understudy didn’t have any rehearsals under her belt. Tee didn’t have a proper rehearsal either. According to IBDB the understudies for Janis are Riza Takahashi and Gianna Yanelli. I wonder if it had something to do with the costume. I could see that the understudies costumes weren’t ready and tee was the most similar in size to Barrett.

[MyLife]

Probably because it's easier to put a standby on then someone in an ensemble track where you would then have to teach two people different tracks in under 4 hours (the Janis understudy and the swing going on for the ensemble understudy). Even if Tee doesn't understudy Janis, she has spent the whole rehearsal and preview period studying the show so is at least very familiar with the book and songs, learning the role in a short time was deemed more doable than any other alternative.

[greenifyme2]

Anyone know why Barrett was out?

[PThespian]

At School of Rock the actress playing Patty has always been the principal understudy for Rosalie. However, she is not listed in the Playbill as covering the role.

When Sierra hurt herself during previews Mamie Parris went on even though Emily Cramer was the listed understudy. It continued to be like that for over a year.

Maybe this is a similar situation.

[InnerMonologue]

Tee has also been involved with the show since the first readings and labs (she originally played Cady!). So, she definitely has had a lot of familiarity with the material, but wow, it's still very impressive!

[broadwayboy223]

InnerMonologue said: "Tee has also been involved with the show since the first readings and labs (she originally played Cady!). So, she definitely has had a lot of familiarity with the material, but wow, it's still very impressive!"

I bet that's why they asked her then! I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during readings and workshops for Mean Girls!!! 

[rubpasternak]

I heard! She will be really big! TGFS (thank god for swings)!!

[HenryTDobson]

I'm forever in awe of the incredible work the swings and understudies do. So happy for her!

[nasty_khakis]

My backstage source says there's no "drama" Barrett has the flu. 

[HBBrock]

Why do people always try to start drama around Barrett since Heathers?

Who's going on for Janis tonight? Tee or someone else?

[killerqueen]

Awesome! What a night to remember for her!

I recall something similar happened way back when in Legally Blonde. Leslie Kritzer had to go on as Paulette at very short notice when Orfeh and her understudies were all unavailable. I'm always so impressed when these actors just literally go into the part at a seconds notice!

[Phillytheatreguy10]

^ I'm almost positive Kritzer was an Understudy for that role- but I do remember this story, I think this was the one and only time she went on in the role.

[JBradshaw]

Leslie wasn’t an understudy. Amber Efé was the understudy when it opened

[broadwayboy223]

I believe Tee was on tonight as well.

[DaveyG]

Yes, Tee was on tonight. I never would have known that she was thrown on. Very impressive.

[MyLife]

She was fantastic last night. The book is great, the performances are excellent but the rest leaves a lot to be desired.