Good Morning, World!

[@moshpitprincess1]

That girl who was first cover Veronica and Heather and had to play her own part must have a Sherlock Holmes mind palace type memory!

[@relliottt]

She then went on to be first cover for Jenna and Dawn in Waitress as well, she's amazing!

[@rosadiaz1739]

yesss olivia Moore is so so amazing ❤️

[@relliottt]

I think Lauren Drew covered Heather C, but I agree Olivia would have been so good in red :)

[@julialelewel4477]

Rhiannon B Yeah in the Other Palace run she actually covered Duke as well (Meryl hadn’t joined yet), as well as McNamara and Veronica haha

[@WingsOffButterflies]

When Mean Girls was in previews on Broadway, a bunch of members of the cast got sick and had to call out. They didn't have a Janis, so one of the standbys (who didn't even cover the role) learned all of Janis' material/blocking in two or three hours and went on in someone else's costumes/wigs! After that, they made her an official standby for Janis. I can't even wrap my mind around learning a full show with no rehearsal time and all of that pressure of carrying the show. People who can do that are amazing!!

[@sashkapolly6724]

Her name is Tee and she also did her Broadway debut (I believe) in that day. I've seen a video with her singing "I'd rather be me" before that show and she was so good. Would never said that she learned it just now. P.S. Sorry, if something isn't correct - not a native speaker

[@jessicabennett5895]

I think you have to be a certain type of person to be a swing or a cover. Being able to remember parts you don’t do much, switching parts, different harmonies and also being in the ensemble! Crazy!

[@whatdoyousuppose]

it is pretty wild! I was an understudy for a whole group of dancers in a scene in the Nutcracker ballet (the reed flutes) and not only did I already have what I was doing in the show (multiple roles in different scenes in both acts), now I had to learn the reed flutes dance inside and out, but especially I had to know the blocking from EVERY reed flute dancer’s position & point of view so I could jump in for any one of them if they got sick or were injured and keep the blocking intact without any weird holes where a dancer would’ve been. and I was 12 at the time 🙃

[@HelenRosemarySmith]

@@whatdoyousuppose whoa that's so much! especially for a 12 year old!

[@sweetForgiveness]

I literally cant wrap my head around the SIX covers when they have to learn six diffrent tracks

[@freebitch22]

Seriously! The amount of them who have hit Swingo is insane!

[@isobel6196]

Ikr there so talented!

[@maddietillem6778]

Swings and covers work so freaking hard!!

[@miagoddardx]

I saw Will as Marty and still can’t get over how good he was with such little rehearsal

[@jamied4430]

I would say I have a decent memory for stuff like this but the amount of panic and pressure would have me shaking. So much respect for the people who can do this sort of stuff!

[@jessicabennett5895]

Always love Carrie’s dresses! And I like Ollie’s style too! ☺️

[@kieraespey1747]

Yesss! The whole “know your stuff” thing is real. I was first cover Millie in thoroughly modern Millie and I would sit and watch or video every single rehearsal and I’m so glad I did because the person playing Millie got ill after the first show!

[@jusmarch3740]

All the covers must have amazing memories xxx

[@sherb1750]

Once in my life I would like to be a first cover, second cover or a swing. I haven't done theatre in years, but I absolutely love memorization. It's so exciting to know the lines and cues for multiple parts, or filling in wherever needed at a moment's notice. Sounds like a dream theatre role for me in some capacity. Major kudos to anyone who does it regularly!

[@samanthajones8854]

Oil’s face when Carrie drinks upside down 😆🤣

[@azuraathena]

I remember going to a cast change of a show. One of the roles was getting a new first cover but they were keeping the principal & second cover. The principal had been off for a while before cast change & the second cover was also off sick, so the new first cover was told on their opening day that she would have to go on. She had no rehearsal but I would not have been able to tell as she was amazing in the role.

[@katey8711]

Was back at sixth form today, which is why I’m so late! But hope everyone had a good day, this video was actually really helpful-thank you!💗

[@abilisious5556]

I live for these videos every morning 😂❤️

[@whatdoyousuppose]

I’m in the US, are covers the same as understudies? We have standbys and swings (and alternates) but cover is usually used as a blanket term, and understudies are basically the same as what you described as first/second/third covers where they have an ensemble track but also go on for principals when they’re ill/injured/on vacation/etc. I was an understudy for Lily in a professional production of The Secret Garden last year and never went on for the lead (even when she was getting sick by the final performances she still went on!), but I loved my ensemble track so it wasn’t the end of the world! And to be honest I’m still slightly young for this role age-wise, so I’m hoping someday I’ll get another shot at Lily now that I’ve extensively studied the role!

[@HelenRosemarySmith]

From what I can see from searching it, understudy and cover seem to be the same thing!

[@Aleeeeeisha]

Hold your breath and swallow twice while holding your breath to get rid of hiccups!!

[@roscoestanley4858]

Thanks ahahah

[@roscoestanley4858]

Michael Simpson ahahahahah

[@the_outlandish_owl]

I find the Thenardier jigsaw puzzle hilarious to imagine!

[@marylarson2529]

Best hiccup remedy! I have done it for 40 years! Only thing that works!

[@joxclever]

Guys, FOOLPROOF hiccups remedy: I've always struggled with them. Get a lime or a lemon, cut a big wedge and BITE into it, as if t'were an apple. I mean really chomp on it. The shock of the taste obliterates the hiccups. Might wreck your teeth enamel though.

[@AmberWoodMusicx]

i have hiccups every day but loads of times it’s just the once😂the holding the breath and then breathing in further technique works for me

[@xAbbieCx13]

Aww I love what Carrie said about Olivia, she went on to cover Jenna and Dawn in Waitress and she's a superstar!

[@CrownMooseCostumes]

I drink water upside-down to get rid of hiccups too

[@rosadiaz1739]

only watching this now cause I’ve gone back to school again so the routine is very different but so nice to come home after a bad school day and watch a carrie and Oli theatre vid ❤️

[@willowarmstrong5136]

same!

[@kandi756]

I always hold my breath for ten seconds whilst taking a couple of sips of water and then my hiccups are gone!

[@alwaysdancing2836]

Do covers get their own costumes made for them or do they wear the costumes worn by the lead when the lead is off?

[@whatdoyousuppose]

Yes for many shows they do! Phantom of the Opera has custom fit versions of the dresses for each Christine, I’m pretty sure Wicked does this too, and that goes for wigs as well (sometimes covers get completely different styles or colors of wigs depending on the show), and for many more shows. And then you have Six where since there are no ensemble tracks there are girls who are there to cover one or more of the queens each and when they go on, they each usually get a completely custom costume in a different color & style instead of wearing what the principal would wear in that role! It’s a cool way to differentiate between the different performers and if you see the show enough times it’s fun to spot the different color palettes and costumes represented by each different actress!

[@alwaysdancing2836]

@@whatdoyousuppose Thank you, thats so interesting!

[@rosadiaz1739]

I think most shows they have their own costume made for them because when your in a musical you do have to move around a lot or dance and you really need your costume to fit properly so I’m guessing most shows have their own fitted costumes for covers as they could be completely different body types or sizes x

[@annemariebowden1833]

Drinking from the opposite side of the glass is the 'Best way' to get rid of hiccups 👍

[@hannahbradshaw2186]

What's the difference between a first cover and understudy? Or is it the same thing just with a different name?

[@rosadiaz1739]

I think it’s the same thing, mainly in professional theatre they call it covers but I think it’s just the exactly same thing cause they do the same thing / have the same routine ❤️

[@aidanlam5336]

First cover = first understudy etc.

[@melinanicolestratigos]

I'm pretty sure it's just a regional difference. Cover- UK, Understudy- USA

[@madcaptainsundy]

For closed auditions, do you decide which role you're auditioning for or does the creative team call you in to audition for a specific role? Thank you so much for your videos about musical theatre, they're so helpful. Hope you're having a good day!

[@susanbrown9869]

Would a cover be allowed to sit and watch their principle rehearsal when the lead actor is initially blocking the show?

[@amyw7976]

covers are usually in the ensemble so they would be involved in the rehearsals anyway

[@mind_palace]

Maybe another hiccup trick to add to the list: this one works wonders;) doesn't everyone say that though 😅 For the hiccup. Place one hand on your belly(feel the diaphragm move with each breath) and breathe in and out deep and rythmically. it's almost like 1 second breathing in, and 1 second breathing out. Feel the diaphragm move whilst your breathing in(nose) out (mouth). Hold on to that rythmically breathing for a couple minutes/moments. It's sort of like training your diaphragm to be in a steady rythm again

[@amyw7976]

Charlotte got thrown on as Martha mid-show and hadn’t even had a full cover run before that 🤯

[@katefights]

This is how I get rid of hiccups! It works 100%

[@jennyjenjen80]

I drink water backwards to get rid of hiccups too. It's the only thing that works other than someone making me jump

[@sashkapolly6724]

I knew that Carrie's gonna say something about Olivia!

[@alaynakrastins9812]

This trick actually works, I always have the hiccups😂

[@sarahsmallbone7335]

Carrie looks beautiful in that dress :)

[@kitsbasstime2878]

I think when your covering multiple roles, you just need to revise all of them A LOT! The more you do shows playing different parts, it will all just sink in your head! This is the same for if your playing one part!

[@jackbrady666]

That works for me for hiccups too.

[@jszeweluk5794]

I do the same, drink water upside down but squeeze your nose so the water doesn’t come through it.

[@alyssamaehurley6090]

this made me feel sick omg the ANXIETY

[@jacquihollyhead]

Drink with your left arm in the air when you have hiccups! (Love your technique too)

[@carriemummy]

The hiccup cure is more about you focusing on something.

[@meganlovsmusic]

accidentally first?

[@elliehopesuzanne]

😂😂