TheaterMania: It's no secret among the Broadway community that alternates, understudies, swings, and standbys are the unsung heroes of many a performance — and that has been especially apparent during the pandemic. Not only do they ensure that productions can continue when illness, vacations, or other disturbances leave a show without a cast member, but they are also hardworking, talented individuals in their own right.
2 comments:
I agree with this article in the sense that understudies, swings, and alternates are often overlooked for the amount of work they put into their roles, especially swings. I can remember in high school when people would get cast as an understudy, and they would get so upset. Understandable considering the length of high school show runs, but I can imagine the immense joy of getting cast as an understudy in a Broadway show. This article has opened my eyes to some of the people that got “their rise to fame” from being an understudy. I remember the only professional show I saw, which was a touring production of “Wicked” had a slip in it and it listed that some of the parts were being played by an alternate. Unfortunately, I was too young to think anything of it, but I think it’s super cool that I was possibly to see someone that got their rise to fame that day.
I totally agree that understudies deserve more respect than they are given. They are still part of what keeps a show running, even though the grunts of the audience who came to say x person play x role. The show would not happen without them. It takes an incredible amount of skill to be able to learn a track for a “just in case” situation, much more when it becomes two or more. I have yet to have an instance in which an understudy has to come on stage in a performance, but I am sure it will be something memorable when that inevitably happens at some point. Understudies are still perfectly qualified individuals to be roaming on those massive Broadway stages, much to the dismay of the casual theatergoer. As a stage manager, it does feel daunting knowing that it will be down to me to make sure these changes go by smoothly, but nevertheless feels like a fun challenge.
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