What Does an Understudy Do Anyway?
Posted by Gary Simmers on 9/08/2009
Hi, I’m Gary Simmers and, for the upcoming production of Fake, I have the honor of understudying Francis Guinan and Alan Wilder. So this begs the question: what does an understudy do?
If you’ve been to prior productions, you may remember seeing a few non-descript people slipping in the back of the theatre just before the lights go down. You may also remember seeing these same folks disappearing quickly after the show is ended. Congratulations! You have seen an understudy in the wild!
For the most part, the job entails the following:
• Knowing the lines
• Knowing the blocking
• Going to all tech rehearsals prior to opening
• Going to all preview performances
• Knowing the lines
• Being at the theatre before every show until release by the stage manager
• Seeing the show two, three times per week once the show is open
• Knowing the lines
• Going to understudy rehearsals every week
• Knowing the lines
• Being prepared to go on at a moment’s notice!
Now that last point is the really exciting one! When I was understudying for Art in the spring, I did have the chance to go on twice during the run. To say it was fun to share the stage for a few afternoons with Fran Guinan and John Procaccino would be an understatement. It is really nerve wracking, though. I mean, here’s this show you’ve been watching for the past months, learning all the rhythms, following along as closely as you can, imagining yourself in the these moments and BLAMMO, you’re on!
To be fair, I did know well in advance that I would be in the show. The other understudy in the show didn’t get that notice. He showed up one day and Ian Barford was ill. Bang! You’re on in 30 minutes!
Did I mention we really need to know the lines?
You do know you’re alive at times like these. After you get over the initial shock of really being out there, you start to wish the play was longer, or maybe would never end. I was always amazed at how much the audience seemed to be rooting for you. For example, I was understudying the role of Yvan (played by K. Todd Freeman and Joe Dempsey in the Steppenwolf production), and this role requires you to deliver a monologue of roughly 10 minutes in length. It was exciting to know that, for a few minutes, everything was on my shoulders. Feeling the crowd rooting for me to do well all along the way was one of the more special moments I’ve ever had on stage. Ever.
All that being said, it is always important to remember that, as an understudy, the hope is you will never get to be in the play. That means that no one from the original cast has had to miss a show… and that’s a good thing. Or as a production manager I know would say, you’re really an insurance policy. I’m okay with that. Once a show is open, we get to rehearse a few times a week. These are our performances. Getting to go on is a gift.
Many of my actor friends are loathe to ever be considered for the job of understudy. I’ll admit the perks aren’t all that obvious. Most of us (myself included) would of course prefer to be in the cast. But, allowing yourself to really enjoy this job and take it seriously, there really are many wonderful perks.
Chief among these perks would be that, as performers, we are encouraged to continue taking classes and honing our approach to the art form long after our college days have ended. I would suggest to you that spending a large amount of time with the caliber of true craftspersons that inhabit Steppenwolf productions is most definitely satisfying that requirement. To see Alan Wilder, Fran Guinan, Kate Arrington, Coburn Goss and Larry Yando work their process, make discoveries and bring their characters to life is a workshop you would pay big money to take out in the world. To see those different styles, intentions and working processes all focused on a common goal of making the finest possible production of Eric Simonson’s play is fairly priceless. Seeing these same people struggle with a line, scene or concept, the same line, scene or concept I was just struggling with… is absolutely life-affirming!
Besides, it’s the best part-time job ever! And did I mention we play cards backstage? And there is always a lot of snack food and free coffee? Well, it’s true!
So, next time you’re at the show, sneak a peek toward the back of the house as the lights are starting to come down. If you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of one the rarest of creatures… the free-range understudy!
See you at the theatre.