An American In Paris

He had an alternate even on Broadway, the role is very demanding

Nothing to do with can't be bothered. All principal Jerrys are on a 6 shows per week contract because the role is so physically demanding.

Robert Fairchild is scheduled to perform at all performances until Saturday 25 March 2017 (with the exception of the matinee on Saturday 25 March). From Monday 27 March 2017, he is scheduled to perform at all Tuesday to Saturday evening performances and Saturday matinees until 17 June 2017. At all other performances, and from 19 June 2017 onwards, the role of Jerry Mulligan is scheduled to be played by Ashley Day.

Leanne Cope is scheduled to perform at all performances until Saturday 22 April 2017. From week commencing 24 April 2017 onwards, she is scheduled to appear at all performances except Wednesday evenings, when the role of Lise Dassin is scheduled to be played by Daniela Norman.

Cast Holidays:

Robert Fairchild will be on holiday from Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 April 2017 inclusive and from Monday 8 to Wednesday 10 May 2017 inclusive.

Leanne Cope will be on holiday for 2 weeks from 31 July 2017.

Has anyone tired for rush tickets on Today Tix? Thinking of giving it a go this week.

Yes, that ties in with the info couldileaveyou posted re RF's performance schedule and holiday dates - presumably taken from said official website! Having seen the show, I can certainly see why it's normal practice for the lead to have a 7 show week

Yep did it last week for the premiere and got em. It was the first time I tried for this show - hopefully you will be as lucky as I was

As ever, as I've never personally tried the role, I trust those running the show to determine how demanding a role it is and whether an alternate is required. I'd rather a performer have an alternate so they are 100% for all the shows they do actually perform rather than phoning it in for some of them.

If you've bought tickets and the understudy is on then tough luck, you don't have a right to see the lead no matter what entitlement you think you have, that's just simple legalities. And you've always got the choice of selling or returning your ticket if the thought of seeing the understudy horrifies you that much. No-one's forcing you to pay the ticket price either, so that has nothing to do with it. Like it or not, you pay to see the show, not a particular performer. If you choose to go, that's entirely your own free will.

I never said anyone had to go multiple times so don't make assumptions that aren't there please.  I certainly can't afford to keep going multiple times to shows in a short space of time either.

Your initial post to me showed no thought or care for the performers you seem to be so desperate to see, hence the response - which I admit on re-reading may come across slightly more terse than intended, so for that I apologise.  You post led to a point that really rankles me though - it's a simple fact that no-one seeing a show in the UK has a right to see a particular performer, that's how the UK theatre scene generally works - there's no above the title refund system like the US has, so if you really want to see a particular performer then you can and should wait until they announce their holidays.  Either that or you choose to sacrifice that knowledge for better seats or being able to book way in advance - but that's your choice, you're the one who chooses when you buy the tickets.

If you're completely dead set on seeing a particular star then the safest way will always be to day seat, as no-one can legislate against illness and the day of the show is as close to curtain as you can get in terms of being sure a performer is going to be on (even then of course you're taking a bit of a risk as someone might fall ill during the day, but unless you're prepared to wait until 5 minutes before the show starts there's not much that can be done about that).  That is a possibility for most shows, so it is entirely in each person's hands as to how much risk they're willing to take that a performer will or won't be on.  I appreciate not everyone can day seat, but if you can't do so then to my mind you have to accept you will have less certainty in terms of performers and manage your expectations accordingly.

So I'm afraid I never have and probably never will understand why anyone feels a sense of entitlement to see a particular performer when they bought the tickets ages in advance before checking holidays.  Yes, there are times when you will be disappointed - it's happened to me before in circumstances where I couldn't get back to see the show in question before it closed so never saw the leading lady - but that's a risk you take when you choose to book tickets, and everyone takes the same risk.  Just my opinion though.

Out of curiosity is Ashley Day going to be doing all the shows a week once he starts? The website doesn't say otherwise that I can see but maybe I missed something.

Oh, I doubt very much that it's that he can't be bothered. I was exhausted just watching him let alone doing it 6 times a week!

Press Night tonight! I wonder what the reviews will be like? Not that it seems to make a huge difference to the box office these days, but it will certainly need decent notices to fill the Dominion.

Even with incredible reviews, I just can't see this lasting past September.