Broadway Musicals--Standbys And Understudies Quiz

Answer: Lainie Kazan

When "Funny Girl" first opened, Barbra Streisand's standby was Lainie Kazan. Early in the run, Miss Kazan was informed that she would be going on for Miss Streisand in the show. Miss Kazan informed the press, who covered her performance and praised it. Soon after that, Miss Kazan left the show. Miss Streisand's new standby was informed that she could not contact the press in the event she went on.

Answer: Lenora Nemetz

Gwen Verdon's standby in "Chicago" was the young dancer Lenora Nemetz. Miss Nemetz went on for Miss Verdon during the out of town tryout and received excellent notices, and went on to have a career in musical theatre herself, including the show "Working."

Answer: Shirley MacLaine

Alfred Hitchcock came to see the show to see if Carol Haney would be right for his next picture, "The Trouble With Harry". That night, Miss Haney was out of the show and her understudy Shirley MacLaine went on for her. Mr. Hitchcock cast Miss MacLaine in the film, which was her motion picture debut and lead to a quite long career in films.

Answer: Jo Anne Worley

Believe it or not, Carol Channing's standby when "Hello, Dolly!" opened was Jo Anne Worley, a few years before she reached prominence for being on television's "Laugh-In." Miss Worley was in a few musicals in the 1960s and has made sporadic returns to the genre ever since.

Answer: Cloris Leachman

Another interesting tidbit! Although known today primarily as a dramatic performer (she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in "The Last Picture Show"), Miss Leachman was Miss Martin's standby in the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic musical "South Pacific." A few years later, it was announced that she was going to star in the next Rodgers and Hammerstein show, but that did not come to pass.

Answer: Helen Gallagher

Helen Gallagher, who played the featured character Nickie in "Sweet Charity," was also Gwen Verdon's understudy. Miss Gallagher states it was an ego-crushing experience. Every time she heard the announcer state, "Today playing the role of Charity Hope Valentine, Helen Gallagher," the next thing she would hear would be dozens of people scurrying to the box office to get their tickets exchanged for another performance of the show.

Answer: Rex Everhart

Rex Everhart had the opportunity to go on for Mr. Da Silva when the latter was ill when "1776"'s Original Cast Album was being recorded. Therefore, Mr. Everhart, although a standby, can be heard performing the role on the album. Mr. Everhart was also standby to the performer in the role of Ben Franklin when "1776" was revived on Broadway in the 1990s.

Answer: Elaine Stritch

Comedienne Elaine Stritch stood by for Ethel Merman in "Call Me Madam." Since Miss Merman was famous for almost perfect attendance, Miss Stritch took a second acting job at the same time, that of Melba in the 1952 revival of "Pal Joey." As Melba only appeared in the second act, Miss Stritch would make sure Miss Merman was ready to perform in "Call Me Madam" and then go the theatre where "Pal Joey" was playing.

Answer: Larry Kert

When "Company" opened on Broadway, Larry Kert was Dean Jones' standby. A few weeks after the show opened, Mr. Jones left the show and Larry Kert, who had previously been on Broadway in "West Side Story," took over the role. Mr. Kert went on to star in the London production of "Company."

Answer: Carol Channing

Carol Channing was Eve Arden's understudy in "Let's Face It." In one of those theatrical coincidences that I find so interesting, Miss Arden replaced Miss Channing in the Chicago company of "Hello, Dolly!" more than twenty years later.

Thank you for playing my quiz. I hope you enjoyed it! :-)