First I want to just re-iterate what many Theatre teachers say that there are no small parts! You can take any part and make it your own and memorable - in my acting career both in school and out I mostly had smaller parts, and I was often talked about the most after.. On to the understudying - it is fairly common for one person to understudy multiple roles. Less common in High School, but any Broadway, Touring or major regional production usually has swings, covers, standbys and understudies (similar but not fully the same) and one person will cover multiple roles. It is a lot of work, and often those performers will get a guaranteed performance - I've worked on multiple shows where we had one paid performance that would be understudies - so they have a chance for their friends and family to come see them. That isn't always the case, but finding out if you can actually go on is a big help. If not, I have also worked in places where understudies have gone on with scripts - they still give great performances, but when you're not guaranteed a performance it is hard to ask someone to learn EVERYTHING. My biggest piece of advice is that YOU get to decide. Just because you are offered something or asked to do something, does not mean you are obligated to do it. If you feel like you are not getting anything out of the situation, or that you are to overwhelmed you can absolutely say no. Your health and well being are the most important thing. Lastly - this industry is rife with disappointment. But something to think about - many of my friends who were leads in HS no longer do theater - while I had the reverse and made a career out of it. Just remember, there are always more shows, and more chances to perform. Some of my favorite roles and most cherished productions were post high school.

Thank you so much for your reply!! There is only one performance so I doubt I’ll get to understudy, but I agree that it’s definitely good experience for the future!

I'm pretty sure I got them at the local dollar store

I spent a whole lesson teaching my Stagecraft 1 (9th and 10th Grades) classes how to read a tape measure!

I am not super familiar with automation rigging, most of that has been out of the budget for the theaters I've worked with - but I can look into it!

I KNOW. I'm rehearsing as an understudy for a character, and I got told I was going to be an understudy only a couple days after the main actors were told they were going to be in it (It's a school performance, and the understudies are chosen at the same time as the main actors to make sure they're ready if they need to be called in) and the show is in a few months. I can't imagine being told HOURS beforehand with little if any rehearsal time

It honestly depends on the performer, the type of production and a lot of other factors - there are stories of people who have learned roles in a day, while the quickest I've had to do it was a week. If you are great at memorization or remembering choreo, etc - or even if you've done the show before, you might be able to do it faster than someone who is not as quick at those things.

BAHAHAHAHAHA

Thanks elizabeth