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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2017 16:06:07 GMT
I loved Laura Emmitt as Elphaba.
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1,013 posts
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Post by talkstageytome on Jul 30, 2017 16:23:48 GMT
Jon Robyns and Rachel John in Memphis! Amazing, especially when they were on together.
Sooha Kim in Miss Saigon.
Sam Edwards in Wicked.
Interestingly most of the above ended up promoted to lead.
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642 posts
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Post by Stasia on Jul 30, 2017 17:10:17 GMT
My fave ever understudy/alternate duo are Jon robyns and Rachel John in Memphis! I still remember that "more than perfect" show I saw in August 2015 when they were both on. Both so much better than the leads they covered!
Also obviously Jack Beale, who covered Ronan Keating in Once. (I guess even a tree would be better than Ronan but Jack was incredibly good).
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95 posts
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Post by theatre on Jul 30, 2017 17:20:33 GMT
Great topic!
I've always been somewhat blessed in the understudy/standby/alternate department so I'll cut it down to my absolute favourite 4.
MARISHA WALLACE as EFFIE WHITE, DREAMGIRLS
Wow. That's all I can say. Amber Riley who? If you haven't seen her performances at Magic at the Musicals or her Sunday set from West End Live go and look!
RACHEL JOHN as FELICIA FARRELL, MEMPHIS
Another performance I preferred to the original. If you haven't seen her do Colored Women at West End Live, check it out!
ARUN BLAIR MANGAT as LOLA, KINKY BOOTS
They say your first time will always be your favourite when it comes to MT, and Arun was by far the best Lola I've seen in the role. Still hoping he'll return to the show to play Lola full time!
TANYA MANALANG as KIM, MISS SAIGON
How does such a big voice come out of such a tiny person? Acts the socks off of Eva in my opinion. Again, she was the first Kim I saw
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4,369 posts
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Post by Michael on Jul 30, 2017 18:02:42 GMT
As others have already mentioned, Rachel John was a much better Felicia than Beverley Knight. Also agree to Alice Fearn's Princess Fiona being much stronger than both Amanda Holden's and, even more so, Kimberley Walsh'.
I also preferred Natalie Andreou over Emma Hatton and Nikki Davis-Jones over Rachel Tucker in Wicked.
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136 posts
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Post by sempala on Jul 30, 2017 18:31:06 GMT
Karen Mav: Effie White - Dreamgirls
Saycon Sengbloh: Elphaba - Wicked
Emma Hatton: Elphaba - Wicked
Anika Noni Rose: Rusty - Footloose
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Post by music0fthenight on Jul 30, 2017 19:54:26 GMT
Karen Mav as Effie, Carly Mercedes-Dyer as Lorrell - Dreamgirls
Jocasta Almgill as Daniela and Camila - In The Heights
Niall Sheehy as Chris - Miss Saigon
Lucy Jane Adcock as Cassie - A Chorus Line
Nuno Silva as Emcee - Cabaret (ages ago but he was out of this world)
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223 posts
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Post by Kim_Bahorel on Jul 30, 2017 20:35:23 GMT
The only reason I went back to Les Mis to be honest was for Adam Bayjou as Valjean. Then I went back again and again. Raked up 42 times to date.
Its one of the only shows I go to see & I go see it for the covers now. The only shows recently have been shows that one of the former Mis cast are were/now in (RENT / Miss Saigon /Phantom OTO).
On that note my fave Understudies from Mis (I include for main parts & ensemble)
Adam Bayjou (Valjean)
Oliver Brenin (Valjean / Foreman /swing)
Vinny Coyle (Grantaire / Foreman / swing)
Danny Whitehead (Swing)
Tamsin Dowset (Mme Thenardier)
Ryan O'Gorman (Grantaire / Thenardier)
Will Jennings (Bamatabois)
Sophie Reeves (Fantine)
Antony Hansen (Valjean)
Luke McCall (Enjolras)
Lee Van Geleen (Javert / Bishop)
John Lumsden (Marius)
Jessamy Stoddart (Fantine)
Lauren Soley (Eponine)
Steffan Harri (Enjolras / Bamatabois)
Samantha Thomas (Cosette / swing)
Jo Loxton (Factory Girl / swing)
In addition to this I am looking forward to seeing some of the covers at this years cast. I have already seen Antony & John debut as Valjean & Marius. I am waiting for Danny as Enjolras & Bamatabois, Hugo as Bamatabois & Thenardier and Shaq as Javert.
I haven't seen many shows and the ones I have seen which had covers on were:
Phantom OTO and I went to see it twice when Luke was on as the Phantom. The second time Harriet was on as Christine she was fab.
RENT I saw covers 5 of the 6 shows. I actually loved Kevin Yates covering as Collins I also saw him cover Benny twice.
Miss Saigon I have seen Joreen on as Kim twice she was fab. I am holding out that one of the 4 shows I have left Vinny will be on as Chris.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2017 21:01:02 GMT
Job Robyns - Memphis (Huey)
Rachel John - The Bodyguard (Rachel)
Tanya Manalang - Miss Saigon (Kim)
Callum Francis - Kinky Boots (Lola)
Jocasta Almgill - Dreamgirls (Deena)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2017 10:20:55 GMT
Rachel John in Memphis - Beverley Knight was great, but Rachel took it to a whole other level. I love her!! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2017 10:28:11 GMT
Oh and I must say I was very very very impressed by Carly Mercedes as Lorrell in Dreamgirls a couple of weeks ago.
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2,778 posts
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Post by daniel on Aug 2, 2017 18:42:20 GMT
Miss Saigon I have seen Joreen on as Kim twice she was fab. I am holding out that one of the 4 shows I have left Vinny will be on as Chris. Vinny is on tonight - are you there? Shaq was also on as Javert last night, don't know if you went? |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2017 18:48:56 GMT
Scott Davis as The Phantom... although hes more cover/standby rather than understudy.
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700 posts
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Post by cheesy116 on Aug 2, 2017 19:30:56 GMT
Richard Carson was an excellent Chris in Miss Saigon when I saw it last year in London.
I also coincidentally saw him on as Fiyero in the Wicked Tour but I cant remember too much about his performance then to be honest.
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1,319 posts
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Post by londonmzfitz on Aug 3, 2017 9:31:24 GMT
Niall Sheehy as Chris too -
Saw Fra Fee as Marius and he was excellent
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223 posts
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Post by Kim_Bahorel on Aug 3, 2017 12:39:57 GMT
Miss Saigon I have seen Joreen on as Kim twice she was fab. I am holding out that one of the 4 shows I have left Vinny will be on as Chris. Vinny is on tonight - are you there? Shaq was also on as Javert last night, don't know if you went? Sadly no to both. I know that I'm not going to get to see Vinny as Chris (last night was last minute it wasn't planned) I have only 4 matinees in Birmingham to go to (I have to travel there by coach) I doubt although I hope one of them he is on. After than I can't get to any more shows 😭. Yeah I was going to try and get tickets but since the cast change its a nightmare to get last minute tickets either cheap or in a seat I can see the stage. I know though I will very likely see Shaq at some point anyway since he a 1stC. You never know he still could be on on Monday. |
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223 posts
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Post by Kim_Bahorel on Aug 8, 2017 17:35:18 GMT
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