The Understudy Curse
The Understudy Curse
#1The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:03pm
It feels like every time I go to see a broadway show recently, atleast one of the main characters had an understudy. For example, when I saw Spelling Bee, there was an understudy for Olive and Mitch. When I saw Les Mis, there was an understudy for Jean Valjean. And when I saw The Drowsy Chaperone, there was an understudy for Janet. And that's just the shows I saw recently.
As much as I like seeing the understudies every once and a while, and I know it's normal for people get sick or whatever, but it seems like I am just picking the worst days to go to shows. 
Does anyone else seem to have this happen to them?
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#2re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:09pm
Katrina Yaukey in Company was the 1st understudy I've seen since June. Matthew Scott was on for Daniel Reichard in Jersey Boys.
I don't count Tina Maddigan, since for most of her run, she was above the title.
Updated On: 1/3/07 at 10:09 PM
#2re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:09pm
I personally pick some really good days.
-DRS in June, Norbert was out the day before and the day after.
-TWS on Oct 14 at 2. The Sat. mat week before had Kern on, and the weekend after both Kern and Maddigan were on.
-Jersey Boys, Dec 24, full cast.
#3re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:10pmknock on wood, i've only had it happen a few times and although aggrivating, it is pretty cool seeing the hidden talent in these understudies :)
SNLMedia
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/6/05
#4re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:11pmWhen I see a show for the first time, I'm almost always fortunate enough to have a full cast (Spelling Bee, Jersey Boys, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels are a few examples). But if I return to the show sometime later, there is always at least one understudy on. However, the cast I see the first time always stays with me, understudies or not.
"The world is a better place because of hairspray." - Michael Ball
#5re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:12pm
haha- Every show I take my best friend to, I can count on a lead actor missing. I actually flat out refuse to go to shows anymore with her that feature an actor who I am totally dying to see. When we saw the OBC of Spelling Bee, Jesse and Dan were both out! The same event occured with Cabaret and Alan Cumming.
Personally, I have had very good fortune with seeing the majority of actors in at the time.
"Are you sorry for civilization? I am sorry for it too." ~Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck
Updated On: 1/3/07 at 10:12 PM
#6re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:12pmyea it is cool to see some of the hidden talents
#7re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:13pmI saw close to 100 shows this year, and I only had an unexpected understudy twice: Kate Chapman was on for Roz Ryan when I went to see THE PAJAMA GAME, and John Deyle was on for Leo Burmester when I saw THE FANTASTICKS. I did return to SWEENEY TODD and JACQUES BREL several times specifically to see the understudies, though.
"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
#8re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:47pmThe three times I went to see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels there was an understudy for Jolene.
It was 6 hours, I don't even like to have sex and eat bacon for 6 hours.
Freddy Benson- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Freddy Benson- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
#10re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:54pmWhen I saw the Wicked tour I saw Emily Rozek as Glinda and Jenna Leigh Green as Elphaba and I couldn't have been happier because they were both amazing.
"I'll show you a laughgasm. I'll gasm all over this stage!"
"Interesting choice"
"Interesting choice"
NathanLaneStalker
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#11re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:00pm
I missed John Lithgow in DRS (and it was my first broadway show I saw live) and I REALLY wanted to see him.
And there was an u/s on for Celia when I saw Spelling Bee but come to find out that I had seen the u/s in many things before and I got to talk to her for a good half hour so that one wasn't bad!
Those are the only times I've had an u/s on (except for Clayton in Tarzan and I didn't even know until I read the playbill but I loved the guy I saw.). Hopefully when I go to see another show I won't miss whoever I want to see in it.
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
#12re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:14pmi've seen understudies. many lol, but never for leads. let's see i've seen Annaleigh for Kendra, but saw Kendra the first time I saw Wicked in Boston. Then Blake was out the 4th time I saw Hairspray, so I saw his understudy but he played an amazing Edna! Then Penny the 3rd time I saw the show and I'm glad I saw Lindsay she was SO AMAZING! and I would of missed Eden but sold my tickets and got her last show because if I had to have seen Saycon I would of killed myself. And last was for Spring Awakening last week I saw Elsa's understudy who was very good. And that night for A Chorus Line I saw Richie's understudy, but luckily I didn't go in the day becaue Val's, Diana's, and Richie's were on.
#13re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:32pm
i exchanged my tickets when Sutton Foster was sick at Little Women, but otherwise I've had good luck for "stars." the only other "star" who was out when I have gone to shows was Christine Ebersole at 42nd street....we didn't exchange our tickets and we ended up seeing some unknown named Beth Leavel. ever heard of her???? now we can say we knew her when haha...well sorta
i saw 3 understudies at a chorus line last night (one being diana), but most of the understudies i've seen have been relatively tiny parts.
but i try to look of it as exciting for the understudies because i know how it feels to be an understudy...my friend sat next to Cosette's understudy's family at Les Miz and said how the family was so excited because it was her first time going on and everything.....but yeah, it is upsetting when it's the famous ones like Sutton.
#14re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:34pmI love seeing understudies. There are times when I will go see a show just because the understudy is on.
Amneris
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#15re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:37pmThe very 1st time I saw RENT, idina was out and I saw a wonderful gal by the name of KLK!!! Then I saw Idina a bunch of times after and was grateful to have seen KLK because she rocked that role :) I also saw Kiss Me Kate's revival 2 times.. once with Stokes and Mazzie..the other with Both U/S's for Both lead roles and I thought Merwin Ford/Patti Goble were incredibly Spectacular.
Luscious
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/20/05
#16re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:45pm
That's because there aren't any real "the show must go on" troopers out there any more. Sadly, those days are long gone. Now, if a performer has the sniffles, they're out for a week. The 8-show week is virtually a myth. Most seem to manage to miss at least one show a week. And then there are those who can't handle a 2-show day, leaving the matinees to their understudies. Pussies.
#17re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/4/07 at 12:00am
A friend of mine had a Nathan Lane curse for a while. He saw "Guys and Dolls," "Laughter on the 23rd Floor," "Lips Together, Teeth Apart," and "Funny Thing...Forum" all with Nathan's understudies, finally broke the streak with "The Producers".
I had an aquaintence, Linda Mugleston, who's been an understudy for Lea DeLaria in "On the Town", Marin Mazzie in "Kiss Me Kate", Vanessa Williams in "Into the Woods", and Mary Stuart Masterson in "Nine". I got to see her to "Kate" and "Woods", she was fantastic. And it was nice hearing the people around me say how they were perfectly fine with Linda because she was so good.
I killed the boss, you don't think they're gonna fire me over a thing like that!!!!
BudFrump23
Broadway Star Joined: 5/20/03
#18re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/4/07 at 12:05am
My biggest stint happened a few years ago.
I saw Gypsy (with Bernadette) without Bernadette, for she was out.
Next, I saw Hairspray after Marissa won the Tony, and she was out.
Next, I saw Wicked, and in the middle of it, Kristen C. left and her standby came on for Act II.
I wasn't too disappointed by them (except I'd love to have seen Bernadette) but it was broken when I saw Spamalot 2 years ago and the whole cast was in. So far, I've had excellent luck.
I'm as jumpy as a virgin at a prison rodeo!
#19re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/4/07 at 12:18am
I have seen Understudies for the leads in the following shows
Wicked
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Les Miz
Spelling Bee
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Altar Boyz
Take Me Out
Little Shop
Millie
Rent
Wicked
Phantom
Lion King
The Producers
and The Drowsey Chaperone
I have never seen either of the Foster perform or Cheno
#20re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/4/07 at 12:25amI had about a year when I was in high school where the leads were out of almost every show I saw, no exaggeration. I missed some big ones, too. Stokes and Ernie Sabella were out of Man of La Mancha, Raúl Esparza (who, based on what Luscious posted, I feel compelled to say in very "the show must go on" trooper fashion, rather than wimping out, just managed to do several performances of Company with a very bad cold without missing a day) and Boy George were out of Taboo, Adam Pascal and Simone were out of Aida... to name a few. It was kind of a bummer.
Sylar2
Featured Actor Joined: 11/30/06
#21re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/4/07 at 12:29am
I actually think sometimes the understudies are BETTER than their counterparts. They are fresh and eager to please. The only exception to this would be if I'm going to see a show where there is a "star". I'd get a refund if I went to see Bill Nighy and got his understudy.
People frown too much on understudies. They are just as talented, that's why they are covering a lead.
I saw Les Miz recently and thought the Valjean understudy (his name escapes me) BLEW away Alex's performance and he was forced to go on 2 days after opening with very little rehearsal.
I also saw an understudy for Phantom during one of the tours and to this date he is the only Phantom that has ever truly moved me to tears.
#22re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/4/07 at 12:50amThe last time I saw A Chorus Line, the u/s for Cassie went on(I knew that before hand). I clearly thought she was better than D'Amboise. I've also seen u/s for Diana & Connie.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
BwayBaby18
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/19/05
#23re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/4/07 at 1:35am
ANYONE is better then D'Amboise....
I saw Joe Cassidy go on for NLB in DRS and he was 1000 times more intresting to watch.
#24re: The Understudy Curse
Posted: 1/4/07 at 1:51amWhen I saw Spelling Bee this summer, I was disappointed to find that Kate Wetherhead was on for Olive. By the end, I think I liked her better than Celia. Understudies aren't always bad.
Hear the words I sing: war's a horrid thing. So, I sing sing sing... Ding a ling a ling.
Videos