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173:. 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.
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Alternates, like standbys, do not have a regular role in the production, but they are scheduled to perform a physically and vocally challenging role for a certain number of performances each week. They commonly go on for matinee performances. Examples of this include the starring roles in
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is a swing who commutes around the country as needed to act in various productions of a widespread show. The term "super swing" can also refer to a performer who understudies every role in a performance, most notably in performances with smaller casts such as
149:. Should the regular actor or actress be unable to appear on stage, 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, the term
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when they walk on a lowering walkway during the title song. In the film release of the performance, footage of the principal actors (in full costume) singing the song on the walkway was filmed in one rehearsal and added in the final cut.
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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.
481:(the least expensive seats at the very top of La Scala), and he walked off the stage. The role of Radames was taken over successfully for the rest of the performance by his understudy
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169:. 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
372:, then 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.
489:
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Several actors made their names in show business as understudies who took over leading actors’ roles for several performances. Examples include
477:. During the second performance on 10 December, Alagna, whose opening performance was considered ill-at-ease, was booed and whistled from the
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has more recently generally been applied only to performers who can back up a role, but still regularly perform in another role.
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and/or dancing roles. If an understudy fills in for a lead role, a swing acts the parts normally performed by the understudy. A
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Performers who are only committed to covering a part and do not regularly appear in the show are often referred to as
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reported that "she said she was withdrawing because of damage to her vocal cords." She was replaced by understudy
351:, and he was so impressed with Ellis's performance he immediately wanted to cast her as Meat, a lead in the show.
79:
368:. His understudy was unable to take over – he was a medical doctor, and was attending to Allen.
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during their concerts more than 150 times before stepping up as part of the official lineup in
November 2006.
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572:"Bonkers for Music, Cheer and Glory; For Britons, It's Time for the Proms, That Exhilarating Feast"
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Stage performer who learns the lines and blocking or choreography of a regular actor
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opened the 2006–07 season at La Scala on 7 December 2006 in the new production of
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Corry, John. "Broadway; Terrence McNally has a comedy about stage due in fall",
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402:, "bang, boom, overnight is a star." They praised her performance, Kaye won a
273:, when Olivier became ill with cancer during the run of the National Theater's
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603:"How I saved a Prom: Patrick McCarthy's famous Proms rescue of 7 August 1974"
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cues an actor while not personally being on the stage or in the spotlight.
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or choreography of a regular actor, actress, or other performer in a
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is often used for a member of the company who understudies several
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550:"Behind the scenes: The Swing Of Things (Miriam Zendle, 2009)"
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impresario, before Laurel and
Chaplin entered American film.
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668:"Tenor who stormed off La Scala stage vows he will return"
485:, who entered on stage wearing jeans and a black shirt.
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broke her ankle while playing the role of Gladys in
305:when Neeley and Anderson were asked to star in the
721:
656:, broadwayworld.com, accessed February 13, 2015
421:in the children's entertainment singing group
331:was called to perform as Eliza Doolittle in
58:introducing citations to additional sources
413:In 2002 (and also in 2003, 2005 and 2006),
141:, is a performer who learns the lines and
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445:Arthur Stanley Jefferson, also known as
251:
48:Relevant discussion may be found on the
341:took ill. In the audience that day was
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345:, who was then writing his musical
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666:Owen, Richard (12 December 2006).
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358:fell ill during a performance at
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694:"Booed tenor quits La Scala's
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295:respectively during the 1971
186:Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
490:25th-anniversary performance
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552:. Westend.broadwayworld.com
21:Understudy (disambiguation)
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309:and subsequent tours; and
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388:nine weeks into its run.
499:The Phantom of the Opera
385:On the Twentieth Century
210:The Phantom of the Opera
171:production stage manager
631:, April 25, 1978, p. 46
449:, was an understudy of
302:Jesus Christ Superstar
252:Multiple understudies
644:, May 5, 1978, p. C2
54:improve this article
19:For other uses, see
494:Andrew Lloyd Webber
404:Theatre World Award
704:. 11 December 2006
642:The New York Times
629:The New York Times
577:The New York Times
442:assumed the role.
417:had filled in for
400:The New York Times
391:The New York Times
354:In 1974, baritone
339:Martine McCutcheon
276:The Dance of Death
608:Royal Albert Hall
601:(7 August 2014).
599:McCarthy, Patrick
483:Antonello Palombi
475:Franco Zeffirelli
327:2008 production.
307:1973 film version
204:Jekyll & Hyde
129:, referred to in
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218:musical theater
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365:Carmina Burana
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52:. Please help
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534:December 19,
532:. Retrieved
525:"Understudy"
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110:October 2013
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69:"Understudy"
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654:"Tour Cast"
488:During the
447:Stan Laurel
430:Carol Haney
423:the Wiggles
408:Rock Hudson
329:Kerry Ellis
230:super swing
220:, the term
556:2010-01-24
511:References
504:Katie Hall
459:music hall
455:Fred Karno
293:Ben Vereen
281:Ted Neeley
167:alternates
151:understudy
127:understudy
80:newspapers
672:The Times
419:Greg Page
415:Sam Moran
396:Judy Kaye
375:In 1978,
360:The Proms
343:Brian May
50:talk page
724:Category
702:BBC News
614:31 March
583:31 March
496:musical
479:loggione
297:Broadway
279:, 1967;
163:standbys
143:blocking
139:covering
492:of the
323:in the
299:run of
123:theatre
94:scholar
730:Acting
708:3 July
678:3 July
320:Hamlet
246:prompt
226:chorus
207:, and
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428:When
337:when
325:RSC's
222:swing
180:Evita
135:cover
131:opera
125:, an
101:JSTOR
87:books
710:2008
696:Aida
680:2008
674:. UK
616:2018
585:2018
536:2015
470:Aida
457:, a
313:for
291:and
287:for
283:and
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165:and
147:play
73:news
473:by
317:as
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239:Six
232:or
216:In
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133:as
121:In
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