Waiting In The Wings (Working In The Theatre

Their roles as understudies on Broadway was the focal point for this panel of actors -- Tony Carlin ("Lend Me A Tenor"), Bryan Fenkart ("Memphis"), Corinne Melançon ("Mamma Mia"), Jay Russell ("Our Town") and Paul A. Schaefer ("The Phantom of the Opera") -- as they discussed the first time they went on as an understudy; what kind of preparation is involved for their roles; the differences of understudies, swings and stand-bys; whether or not they continue to audition for other roles; how they handle stepping into a role mid-performance and covering for a "name" performer; and how much of their own voice is given to a character when they perform the role.
Originally taped - March, 2010
American Theatre Wing’s Working in the Theatre documentary series features the most fascinating people on the stage, behind the scenes, and in the audience. From Tony Awards® and Obie Awards® winning artists to the next generation of theatre makers, we capture theatre’s inner-workings, industry luminaries, and unique stories that surround important work.
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