Understudy-Palooza Weekend

[ActorGuyIL]

On our trip this weekend, hubby and I got LOTS of understudies: Carrie in Carousel, Barnaby and Ernestina in Dolly, Spongebob in Spongebob, Freddy in MFL. All of the understudies were great (especially Scarlett Walker as Carrie), but it’s still a dissapointment. Note to self: dont plan NYC trips on holiday weekends.

[SugarButterBroadway]

I saw Dolly on Saturday and Michael Hartung as Barnaby and Jessica Sheridan as Ernestina were simply fabulous! Didn’t realize that they were understudies until after the show!

[ACL2006]

Understudies never bother me. They're there for a reason, otherwise shows would get cancelled. Curious who was SpongeBob?

[BroadwayConcierge]

Ethan Slater's been calling out quite a bit lately, no? He was (disappointingly) out when I revisited the show a few weeks ago, and though Curtis Holbrook was an excellent understudy, I really did go back to see Slater again.

[dramamama611]

I saw two shows on Saturday (Band's Visit & Carousel) didn't have any understudies.

 

It's not really the holiday weekend, just bad luck.  I've gone on NON holiday weekends and had understudies for every show.  (The time I'm thinking was 4 for 4.)

 

That being said: understudies cause me no consternation - I love them!  Of course, if there is a specific performance you are looking forward to, I understand the disappointment.

 

 

 

 

[smidge]

What performance was Ethan out? I saw him Saturday night.

[bfreak]

dramamama611 said: "I saw two shows on Saturday (Band's Visit & Carousel) didn't have any understudies

I saw The Band's Visit on Saturday night and there was an understudy, Tony Shaloub! Haha sorry I had to

 

[Jay Williams]

Let's hear it for the "reliable"  and fabulous Linda Muggleston!    During Wonderful Town  the less than adorable Donna Murphy was out so much that Linda seemed to be starring in the show.  Every show needs understudies or the show would not go on.  

[VotePeron]

I believe Ethan Slater is very low key skipping 3 shows a week at the moment. The past 2 times I’ve seen it, Curtis was on. I wish they would hire a true alternate, as Curtis is too old and really not a great fit imo. It does let you appreciate the rest of the ensemble though.

[Call_me_jorge]

Has Jesse jp Johnson not gone on as spongebob yet? I feel like he should be the first cover. He would fit the role like a glove.

[dbird]

ActorGuyIL said: "On our trip this weekend, hubby and I got LOTS of understudies: Carrie in Carousel, Barnabyand Ernestina in Dolly, Spongebob in Spongebob, Freddy in MFL. All of the understudies were great (especially Scarlett Walker as Carrie), but it’sstill a dissapointment. Note to self: dont plan NYC trips on holiday weekends."

I was in New York 2-3 weeks ago and interestingly enough saw understudies in two of those roles too (Barnaby plus SpongeBob). I didn't see MFL but the other 3 shows had several understudies on on top of those roles. I was pretty disappointed about missing Ethan after all the raves but out of all the leads I could have missed during that week, I am glad it was him and not someone else.

[bk]

Gone are the days when an actor would have had to be completely incapacitated not to go on - or dead.  

[schubox]

ActorGuyIL said: "On our trip this weekend, hubby and I got LOTS of understudies: Carrie in Carousel, Barnabyand Ernestina in Dolly, Spongebob in Spongebob, Freddy in MFL. All of the understudies were great (especially Scarlett Walker as Carrie), but it’sstill a dissapointment. Note to self: dont plan NYC trips on holiday weekends."

Just bad luck. I saw Boys in the Band, Mean Girls, Carousel, MFL, Band’s Visit and Angels in America from Tuesday-Saturday and didn’t get any understudies 

[haterobics]

ActorGuyIL said: "Note to self: dont plan NYC trips on holiday weekends."

You'll never find a formula to guarantee seeing all of the main cast members and no understudies.

I think Charlie Stemp is on vacation, though, and not out sick.

[dramamama611]

bk said: "Gone are the days when an actor would have had to be completely incapacitated not to go on - or dead. "

I don't think that's a bad thing though. (Within reason) We are more aware of taking care of our bodies and also cutting down on getting others sick.

And it rather see a healthy understudy, then a sick lead.

 

 

[(Insert Clever Name)]

Honestly I’m more surprised if I don’t get an understudy slip then if I do. I went to CFA looking forward to Jenn Colella but Julie Bennet was just as good.

[taylortrensch]

Call_me_jorge said: "Has Jesse jp Johnson not gone on as spongebob yet? I feel like he should be the first cover. He would fit the role like a glove."

Jesse was actually the first cover to go on for Ethan. Curtis has been going on instead of Jesse recently because Jesse was out for a month with an injury. 

[Danielle49]

I’m sure the understudies were all great this past weekend (they wouldn’t be on if they weren’t), but I get that it’s still disappointing. I planned my first trip to New York after buying Hamilton tickets almost a year in advance, then had understudies for both Alexander and Eliza.

Have there been any understudies on for The Band’s Visit at all since they’ve been at the Barrymore? I haven’t heard about anyone being out? That is, aside from the scheduled absences. The first time I saw it, Etai Benson was on an extended vacation and Daniel David Stewart took over for a bit. He originated the role off-Broadway so it was like no one was out at all.

[rjm516]

Yup sooo many understudies lately! Just yesterday in two shows I saw Curtis Holbrook as Spongebob (who I thought was great! I can't imagine Ethan bringing much more to the role) and Scarlett Walker as Carrie in Carousel (she was on for both shows yesterday, and was wonderful). I imagine that when Tony nominees are calling out for shows that voters are going to during this crunch time, they really need the break and/or are sick, but it's disappointing.

[Elegance101]

I agree that I basically expect an understudy slip nowadays, especially for matinees. It's hard though, I obviously know that these are people and they need to take care of themselves, but some actors are out so frequently and it can upset me. Hamilton has been the biggest offender since 2015, with on average one or two understudies on per show (exaggeration, but you get my point).

[LLW2]

Danielle49 said: "Have there been any understudies on for The Band’s Visit at all since they’ve been at the Barrymore? I haven’t heard about anyone being out? That is, aside from the scheduled absences."

When I saw it in March, understudy Madison Micucci took the role of Iris for Kristen Sieh. I had seen Kristen in December and thought they were both terrific.

 

[jbird5]

I was actually happy to see that Brandon Kalm was going on as Dr P in Waitress. He’s a bit young for the role but otherwise he kills it. Nurse Norma had funny ad lib that “He’ Just a junior doctor” and he changed the number of babies he delivered to 22.

[Auggie27]

I came to NYC back in the day to see the original company of "Aint' Misbehavin'." Two of the three women were out, and one of the men. It was basically another configuration. And it was the final 3 performances of the originals.  I was devastated, and didn't forgive (2 out for the matinee went on that night, when I was at "On the 20th Century," and Kahn ahd moved on...).  Years later, the show was revived with everyone and Nell Carter issued an informal public apology to all of the people she let down in the 70s.  She was great decades later, and may she rest in peace, but it was lovely that she recognized her excessive number of absences in the first iteration.  Charlene Woodard, heroic, was the woman not out that day. She later wrote an extraordinary solo show about working with the piece, and brilliantly illuminated the tortured behavior of Carter.  It was done at Manhattan Theater Club, and when I saw it I felt an odd sense of closure as an audience member.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

For what it’s worth, actors have to audition to be understudies, and at a Broadway level, unless there is a particular actor who you had wanted to see in the role, the understudy is usually just as “good” as the person who plays it full time.

[RippedMan]

Seeing understudies does make you appreciate what a true “star” can bring to a role. I saw “Something Rotten” for Will Chase, but he was out, and his understudy was fine, but having seen Borle, can appreciate all the little things he brought to the role.

Also, something of a speculation, by I feel like shows nowadays are more difficult than they were. Vocally a lot of these shows are taxing and exhausting. Just listening to Mean Girls, I can’t imagine how Barrett W gets through that 8x a week.