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Post by happytobehere on Sept 9, 2018 12:59:43 GMT
Hello,
I was wondering whether there’s any performances in particular when understudies are often used? Obviously they can be unforeseen with illnesses & such, but i’m thinking more specifically.
e.g. is there any day of the week that understudies are more often used instead of the main actor actress?
(PS. This is no hate to understudies, i’m sure they would be excellent too, but sometimes you really want to see a particular actor/actress in the role)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2018 13:20:50 GMT
In my experience, it tends to usually be Monday evenings, Wednesday matinees, Wednesday evenings or Saturday matinees that understudies, standbys or alternates go on.
However, they can go on at any given time - even if cast holidays are listed on the show website.
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Post by happytobehere on Sept 9, 2018 14:06:42 GMT
In my experience, it tends to usually be Monday evenings, Wednesday matinees, Wednesday evenings or Saturday matinees that understudies, standbys or alternates go on. However, they can go on at any given time - even if cast holidays are listed on the show website. Thank you, i think i’ll try to avoid Wednesday & matinees altogether then! Out of curiosity, do you know why these days are alloted for the understudies? Are they just considered less busy or something? |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2018 14:14:58 GMT
I would imagine that they are the quieter performances. I can’t imagine a show wanting to put an understudy on for a Friday or Saturday evening.
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349 posts
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Post by kimbahorel on Sept 10, 2018 16:22:01 GMT
I have seen 128 shows of Les Mis and i have only seen a full cast 3 times and it was last shows of the cast years. Every single other time I have seen covers.
It depends on the show. Performers have holiday esp in long running shows. You are less likely with shows that are short runs to have offs. But then some you have alternates who have set days. You have to take that risk.
Like today I am going to Les Mis because it's the alternate Valjean day usually.... but apparently he isn't on today. You sometimes just have to take that risk. Some places will let you exchange tickets but usually 48 hours before the performance.
You could do a bit of research on who ever it is in what you want to see some times you can find out if they have holiday like in Wicked and some times it turns into an underground sercet society if you are taking anything CamMack produces.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2018 17:07:29 GMT
I've seen Wicked a few times now - once on a Wednesday evening, and twice on a Saturday matinee - two sort of risky performances in terms of seeing the principal cast. On the Wednesday evening, the three leads were present, and 2 covers were on within the supporting cast, and on the two Saturday matinees, the first one, one of the three leads had a holiday booked, and the second, that same person called out at the very last minute, to the point where the cast board had initially said the name of the principal Fiyero, but changed to the 1st cover just as the house opened.
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821 posts
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Post by ensembleswings on Sept 10, 2018 19:19:53 GMT
I've found that Monday's tend to be days that alternates have as their scheduled date but that does change depending on the show. As for unplanned cover shows I haven't found there to be any shows that they're more likely to go on for, I've seen Kinky Boots well over 50 times, over different days of the week (matinees and evenings) and only once have I seen the full principle cast.
If it's a case of wanting to see one particular actor in a role your best bet is to try and find out their holiday dates, if you can and you avoid those dates you should see them unless they happen to be ill which can never be planned nor helped.
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2,763 posts
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Post by daniel on Sept 11, 2018 9:10:11 GMT
Also bear in mind that on a 12 month contract, performers are entitled to 4 weeks holiday as standard. If you've got a cast of 25 (as an example), that means they there are 100 holiday weeks to be taken. With 52 weeks a year you can see how it's rare to get a truly full cast, ensemble and all!
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