"No Leading Ladies Tonight"...

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 2/25/04 at 12:58am

I don't know if this has been discussed, but I would like to hear about understudies Broadway fans love (or hate-if you feel that way) to see shine.
I ran from my apartment on 10th until I caught a cab on 28th to see a stand-by's performance as the Emcee in Cabaret once. (And I still missed the first number!)

[Qfan]

Posted: 2/25/04 at 4:32pm

the best is Linda Muggelston from Wonderful Town i actually heard she was better than donna(when i saw it it was with linda who made me cry with laughter)

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 2/25/04 at 4:47pm

James Stovall was amazing as Frank-n-Furter in Rocky Horror. I also loved Dominique Roy in Rent.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 2/25/04 at 4:51pm

I'd have to go with Linda Mugleston. She was just amazing in Wonderful Town.

[Karma76]

Posted: 2/25/04 at 4:54pm

Domonique roy is awesome!!

[WhatDoINeedWithLove?]

Posted: 2/25/04 at 4:55pm

Jessica Grove in millie

[Fiyero5]

Posted: 2/25/04 at 4:57pm

the Aida understudy is real good. mr. diggs was a real bad fyerro. John Cudia was awsome as the phantom.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/25/04 at 5:02pm

Let's see.... I seem to have a bit of an issue with understudies. I see them ALL the time. Just bad luck I suppose. But they almost always turn out to be wonderful. I patricularly enjoyed:

Chad Richardson as Mark in Rent
Bradley Dean as Cervantes/Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha
Saycon Sengbloh as Aida (on that note, I really want to check out Cheyenne Jackson as Radames.)

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 2/25/04 at 5:31pm

The Ars Nova is having a show called "Broadway Understudies" as part of the Broadway Spotlight Series. Here's the link for tickets:

http://www.smarttix.com/index.cfm?showcode=BRO82&eventtype=show

[dotmarie]

Posted: 2/25/04 at 5:37pm

When I saw Mamma Mia in San Francisco (was it SF..? I think it was SF) Lori Haley Fox went on for Dee Hoty and she was incredible. Much much talent.

And Linda Mugleston is the best, is she not? =)

[Edye]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 5:40pm

I would have to agree. Linda Mugleston is the finest talent I have EVER seen or had the priveledge to work with. Seeing her performance is worth the price of any ticket - INCLUDING airfare from ANYWHERE!

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 5:45pm

Barrett Foa (understudy of John Tartaglia) is absolutely amazing in Avenue Q.

Karmine Alers in RENT is the best Mimi ever. She was so great when she played Mimi, but now she's a swing! She's 100 times better than Melanie Brown.

[StraightToHeaven]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 9:57pm

Keala Settle on Hairspray (back when she understudied Carly Jibson)

Lots of Rent people sinse there are always 3 understudies every night...

[ShineOn]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 10:04pm

Linda Mugleston ALL THE WAY. I've already seen her as Ruth... but I'm at that theatre EVERY day looking at the understudy board hoping to see Nancy Anderson's name.


My fantasy: I walk up to the box office one day, and the woman who is ALWAYS there... who always manages to laugh at me every time I ask if Jennifer is out this evening... says to me before I even open my mouth, "Nancy is going on tonight! And so is Linda!" I throw my last twenty at her and I run down the street in celebration.


Yeah, it's going to close before that happens. Hey, I can still dream, right?


I'm definitely a Donna fan, too... but Linda is just FABULOUS. I'd like to witness the rapport between the two understudies... I bet they'd bring down the house. I love them.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 10:19pm

I saw Chad Richardson as Roger and despised him. But Dominique Roy was a definite force---incredible talent. I'd love to see her again in the role.

My favorite understudy I've ever seen is Jessica Grove in Les Mis. She was incredible. I've been in love with her ever since.

[dry2olives]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 10:29pm

As much as I admired Bernadette Peters in Gypsy, Maureen Moore was heartbreaking as Rose. In Rose's Turn she could barely get the "mmmmmama"'s out of her throat. She squated down in anquish and hit the floor with her hands on "For me!"

[dry2olives]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 10:33pm

Some interesting trivia... Chita Rivera was Eartha Kitt's standby in Shinbone Alley. I don't think she ever went on (it was a short run) but can you imagine people asking for refunds on a night Kitt is out and missing Rivera?

[ShineOn]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 10:48pm

That is CRAZINESS. Can you imagine asking for a refund... then years later realizing you missed the wonder that is Chita and kicking yourself repeatedly in the ass for the rest of your life?

Ironic, I tell ya.

Gimme Chita any day over Eartha Kitt.

[Chip1012]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 10:55pm

dry2olives, thats interesting about Maureen. I watched the Tyne Daly video at the Performing Arts library at Lincoln Center a few weeks ago and she did that as well, very powerful. I think it was on "why did I do it?"

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 12:14am

Hmm...I think the understudy I've been most impressed iwth was Caren Lyn Manuel when she went on as Mimi is Rent. She was so impressive.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 11:17am

I saw Brooke Elliott go on as Big Sue in Taboo, and she was amazing.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 11:43am

can anyone comment on how the miss dorothy understudies fair in millie? whereas i am going wednesday and since there is no replacement for angela christianson i'm gonna end up w/ one or the other...speaking of which why did she leave a week or so before the closing date?

[Stardust]

Posted: 6/14/04 at 5:08pm

Definitely Linda Mugleston! I buy tickets for when I know she's going to be performing because I'd rather see her. I went specifically to see her as the Witch in Into the Woods and she blew me away!

I also loved Vance Avery as the Emcee in Cabaret!

[FrancisGumm]

Posted: 6/14/04 at 5:24pm

Angela Christian left Millie because she had been Dorothy for a long time? I have seen Jessica Grove and she was absolutely phenomenal. i dont know about the other one. if i'm not mistaken, on playbill.com it says which specificly is going on which week.

Cheyenne Jackson is the best male understudy. for anything.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/14/04 at 6:18pm

Jessica Grove was slated to be teh new fill time Miss Dorothy, but they then posted teh closing notcie

~
Serge Kushnier as Link larkin
John Jeffrey Martin as Rocky
Cheyenne Jackson as anything (few clothes teh better)
Adam Fleming as Link Larkin
John Hill as Link Larkin
Jessica Grove as anything
Michelle Kittrell as anything
Shayna Steele as Mimi or anything