Understudy

In theater, an understudy, referred to in opera as cover or covering, is a performer who learns the lines and blocking or choreography of a regular actor or actress in a play. Should the regular actor or actress be unable to appear on stage because of illness, injury, emergencies or death, the understudy takes over the part. Usually when the understudy takes over, the theater manager announces the cast change prior to the start of the performance. Coined in 1874,[1] the term understudy has more recently generally been applied only to performers who can back up a role, but still regularly perform in another role.

For other uses, see Understudy (disambiguation).

Similar tasks

Performers who are only committed to covering a part and do not regularly appear in the show are often referred to as standbys and alternates. Standbys are normally required to sign in and remain at the theater the same as other cast members, although sometimes they may call in, until they are released by the production stage manager. If there is no doubt about the health of the actor being covered, or there are no hazardous stunts to perform, a standby may be released at the first intermission, if not before. At times, standbys are required to stay within a certain area around the theater (10 blocks in New York City is a common standard). Today, the standbys must also have a cell phone so that at any time they can be called to the theater.

Alternates, like standbys, do not have a regular character in the production, but they are scheduled to go on for a physically and vocally challenging role for a certain number of performances a week. Examples of this are the title role in Evita, Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, and Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen.

In musical theater, the term swing is often used for a member of the company who understudies several chorus and/or dancing roles.[2] If an understudy fills in for a lead role, a swing acts the parts normally performed by the understudy. A super swing or universal swing is a swing who commutes around the country as needed to act in various productions of a widespread show.

In contrast, a prompt cues an actor while not personally being on the stage or in the spotlight.

Multiple understudies

In some instances, multiple understudies are assigned to cover the same role and ranked by priority. If the principal actor is unable to perform, the role devolves to the highest-priority understudy who is available.

Notable examples

Several actors made their name in show business by being the understudy of a leading actor and taking the role over for several performances, including: Anthony Hopkins for Laurence Olivier, when Olivier became ill with cancer during the run of the National Theater's The Dance of Death, 1967; Ted Neeley for Jeff Fenholt during the 1971 Broadway run of Jesus Christ Superstar when Neeley was asked to star in the 1973 film version and subsequent tours; and Edward Bennett for David Tennant as Hamlet in the RSC's 2008 production. Kerry Ellis was called to perform as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady when Martine McCutcheon took ill. In the audience that day was Brian May, who was then writing his musical We Will Rock You, and he was so impressed with Ellis's performance he immediately wanted to cast her as Meat, a lead in the show.

In 1974, baritone Thomas Allen fell ill during a performance at The Proms of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. His understudy was unable to take over – he was a medical doctor, and was attending to Allen. Patrick McCarthy, then an unknown, stepped out of the audience, went backstage, and offered his services as a professional singer who knew the part. He received a standing ovation.[3][4]

In 2002, Sam Moran had filled in for Greg Page in the ever popular children's entertainment singing group The Wiggles more than 150 times before stepping up as part of the official lineup from November 2006-January 2012. The original yellow wiggle was suffering from a chronic illness called orthostatic intolerance during this particular time.

When Carol Haney broke her ankle while playing the role of Gladys in The Pajama Game, Shirley MacLaine assumed the role.

Arthur Jefferson aka Stan Laurel was an understudy of Charlie Chaplin working for Fred Karno, a music hall impresario, before they entered American film.

Roberto Alagna opened the 2006/07 season at La Scala on 7 December 2006 in the new production of Aida by Franco Zeffirelli. During the second performance on 10 December, Alagna, whose opening performance was considered ill-at-ease, was booed and whistled from the loggione (the least expensive seats at the very back of La Scala), and he walked off the stage.[5] The role of Radames was taken over successfully for the rest of the performance by his understudy Antonello Palombi, who entered on stage wearing jeans and a black shirt.[6]

In 2011, during the 25th Anniversary performance of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Phantom of the Opera, the titular character and Christine are played by understudies Simon Shorten and Katie Hall when they walk on a lowering walkway during the title song while principal actors Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess are positioned on a gondola prop backstage singing the entire song and awaiting their cue for the gondola to move onstage. In the film release of the performance, a footage of the principal actors (in full costume) singing the song on the walkway was filmed on one rehearsal and added in the final cut.

References
  1. "Understudy". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  2. "Behind the scenes: The Swing Of Things (Miriam Zendle, 2009)". Westend.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
  3. Hoge, Warren (19 July 2001). "Bonkers for Music, Cheer and Glory; For Britons, It's Time for the Proms, That Exhilarating Feast". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  4. McCarthy, Patrick (7 August 2014). "How I saved a Prom: Patrick McCarthy's famous Proms rescue of 7 August 1974". Royal Albert Hall. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  5. Owen, Richard (12 December 2006). "Tenor who stormed off La Scala stage vows he will return". The Times. UK. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  6. "Booed tenor quits La Scala's Aida". BBC News. 11 December 2006. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
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