This exposes the abuse and under-appreciation for understudies and swings. The pressure is unbelievable to know the role inside and out and to keep one's skill sharp. Glad they are getting the chance to shine.
Every swing and understudy is amazing and deserves all the credit in the world. Without them, Broadway wouldn’t exist. Thank you to all the swings and understudies out there you guys are amazing
These is such a cool story. It's so sad that the lady who plays Elphaba is clearly so massively talented and decided to leave theatre because it's so hard to survive in that life.
As a simple community theatre actress, seeing understudies and swings getting such recognition for taking on such big roles with such short notice...inspiring!
This lady as Elphaba wow. Her voice is so fresh and crisp and not at all shaky! Wow! Grounded and so so different then some of the time-worn Elphies who’ve completely blown out their voices.
8 shows a week is too much for any performer, much less a singer/actor/dancer/slinger of furniture around the stage. They should make use of understudies way more so as to avoid burn out and injury for the whole cast.
I always thought that the 8-shows-a-week thing was a recipe for burnout anyway. Heck yeah you and your understudy should be sharing the workload more regularly to make the job both sustainable to the cast member but also to give chance for the understudy to work.
I saw Phantom (aka Phantom of the Opera) in Las Vegas, the one who played Christine, is an understudy. The actress is amazing in the show, because she incorporated her acting into her singing. During the scene where Christine first sang at rehearsal in front of the conductor & director of the show, the actress sang shaky, as if singing nervously. These understudies and swing performers are incredibly amazing for being attentive & rehearsing their roles constantly, so they can perform their assigned roles at any given notice. I hope that these understudies will someday become primary leads in shows, because they deserve to shine on stage as leads, just as much as the performers they’re covering.
I really like how understudies are celebrated now! Im Europe they are on way more often, sometimes like even weekly or like twice a month on a regular base and like 5/6 weeks in a year! So really nice to see different casts!
When you get an understudy show it might not be the show you wanted, but it is a one of a kind show, you will see a one time only show, 100% agree with this video
I wonder how do they decide who to call for an emergency cover at Wicked. Both the standby and understudies must be out in order for that to happen. There must be a list somewhere of ex-Elphabas for them to contact in rare occasions, but in what order though?
I was understudy as Motormouth Maybelle for a production of Hairspray and on our Saturday night performance the person who played her was out so I was told last minute that I was going on.....but I was prepared and I slayed
Especially with Wicked, isn't it massively dangerous for someone who hasn't ever/hasn't been in the show for years to go on stage, be expected to use the equipment and set pieces? Accidents waiting to happen, honestly, it's atrocious that they don't get to rehearse!
It would be absolutely hilarious if understudies for shows only got appreciated during all of this, and then never get mentioned or appreciated again. That would be horrible.
I am not sure if someone has answered this already- but the issue is if the primary cast member has his/her name ABOVE the title of the show. It is actually very rare nowadays for anyone’s name to be above the title. For instance, Hugh Jackman’s name is above the title of Music Man. So if they replaced him with an understudy, then the audience would be entitled to exchange the ticket for another performance (or get a refund). But his co-star, Sutton Foster does not have her name above the title. So if she is replaced for a performance then the ticket exchange/refund is not allowed. In some cases, the above the title star performer does not perform at matinees. This is always made known BEFORE the ticket is purchased.
Anyone else like this? I fucking hate musical movies, BUT I love live musicals because I specifically love live music and performance. I will spend hundreds to see these people in person, but you will not catch me listening to the Hamilton soundtrack on Spotify.
