Understudy

In theater, an understudy, referred in opera as cover or covering, is a performer who learns the lines and blocking/choreography of a regular actor or actress in a play. Should the regular actor or actress be unable to appear on stage because of illness, emergencies or death, the understudy takes over the part. Usually when the understudy takes over, the theater manager will make a relevant announcement prior to the start of the performance. First coined in 1874, the term "understudy" has more recently generally been applied only to performers who can backup a role, but still regularly perform in another role, usually a minor one.

Similar tasks

Performers who are only committed to covering a part and do not regularly appear in the show are often referred to as standbys or alternates. Standbys are normally required to sign in and remain at the theater the same as other cast members, although sometimes they may call in, until they are released by the Production Stage Manager. If there is no doubt about the health of the actor being "covered," or there are no hazardous stunts to be performed, a standby may be released at the first intermission, if not before. At times, standbys are required to stay within a certain area around the theater (10 blocks in New York City is a common standard). Today, the standbys must also have a cell phone so that at any time they can be called to the theater.

Understudy (Smash)

"Understudy" is the tenth episode of the American television series, Smash. The episode was broadcast on April 9, 2012.

Plot

Rebecca Duvall (Uma Thurman) is stuck in Cuba, which leads to some potential financial backers giving Eileen (Anjelica Huston) only two days to get Duvall if she wants their money, and Derek (Jack Davenport) to have Karen (Katharine McPhee) be the Marilyn understudy in the meantime so that staging can continue.

Dev (Raza Jaffrey) doesn't get the promotion to press secretary he was hoping for, but instead of telling Karen, he turns to R.J. (Tala Ashe) for comfort. Derek is rough on Karen when she makes an amateur mistake, but when Ivy later points out that it's more productive to coddle the lead than yell, Derek takes note. Karen lets it slip to Dev that Derek sexually harassed her when she first auditioned for Marilyn, and Dev becomes jealous starts a fight over her not telling him. Later, when Karen criticizes a line at rehearsal, Derek starts visualizing her as Marilyn. Derek shows up at Karen's apartment that night to congratulate her on such a good job, and apologize for sexually harassing her when they first met. When Derek leaves, he runs into Dev, and the two get into a fistfight. Dev tells Karen he doesn't want her to ever see Derek anymore. Karen sings "Never Give All the Heart" at rehearsal the next day, mesmerizing everyone, but Rebecca Duvall shows up moments later.