An understudy is a person who learns the part of a leading performer in the theater. If the main actor or actress is unable to perform due to illness, injury, or other unforeseen circumstances, the understudy takes over the role. Typically, an actor or actress serves as an understudy for a main character while also appearing in a supporting role in a production. In other cases, an understudy has no assigned regular part in the performance and simply serves as a standwho can fill in when necessary. A “swing” in a musical or a “cover” in an opera is the term for an understudy.
Being an understudy is more difficult than playing the lead role in a theatrical production in many ways. The understudy is required to learn all of the lead character’s lines and blocking, but he or she is paid poorly and receives little public recognition. If the understudy is called to perform on stage, he or she must be ready in a flash. To make matters even more complicated, an understudy may be expected to learn the lines for three or more parts in a single performance. This saves money for the producers, but it’s a stressful experience for any performer.
Working as an understudy is often the first step toward a long and successful career for an aspiring actor or actress. In the process of rehearsing and learning a role, understudies typically form valuable networking connections with well-known talent. If an understudy is allowed to fill in during a performance, he or she gets a lot of exposure. In fact, Anthony Hopkins got his big break filling in for Laurence Olivier in August Strindberg’s The Dance of Death when the latter became ill with appendicitis in the middle of the run.
While understudies are extremely useful, it’s worth noting that they aren’t always present during a performance. Many shows are not contractually obligated to hire understudies, according to the Actors’ Equity Association, a labor union that represents many actors and stage managers in the United States. Because there is no guarantee that an understudy will be required, some producers of smaller shows choose to forego understudies altogether in order to save money on production costs. If a key actor or actress is unable to perform, the show is either canceled or rescheduled for a later date.