Understudy
noun
An actor who learns another actor's role in order to perform it if needed.
In the play, his job was to understudy the lead actor.
Often appears as...
- understudy role
- biggest understudy
verb
To study another actor's role and be ready to take their place if they cannot perform.
She was hired to understudy the lead actress in the musical.
Often appears as...
- understudy lead role
- understudy main actor
noun
An actor who learns another actor's role in order to perform it if needed.
In the play, his job was to understudy the lead actor.
Often appears as...
- understudy role
- biggest understudy
verb
To study another actor's role and be ready to take their place if they cannot perform.
She was hired to understudy the lead actress in the musical.
Often appears as...
- understudy lead role
- understudy main actor
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Theater Specific
The term 'understudy' is mostly used in theater and performing arts contexts.
She's an understudy for the Broadway show.
Pro Tip 2/3Unexpected Opportunity
'Understudy' often implies being ready for sudden chances to perform, rarely with short notice.
He never expected to go on stage, but as an understudy, he was prepared.
Pro Tip 3/3No Spotlight
An understudy might not receive much public recognition unless they perform.
As an understudy, she rehearsed but wasn't featured on the posters.
Pro Tip 1/3Theater Specific
The term 'understudy' is mostly used in theater and performing arts contexts.
She's an understudy for the Broadway show.
Pro Tip 2/3Unexpected Opportunity
'Understudy' often implies being ready for sudden chances to perform, rarely with short notice.
He never expected to go on stage, but as an understudy, he was prepared.
Pro Tip 3/3No Spotlight
An understudy might not receive much public recognition unless they perform.
As an understudy, she rehearsed but wasn't featured on the posters.
Pro Tip 1/3Theater Specific
The term 'understudy' is mostly used in theater and performing arts contexts.
She's an understudy for the Broadway show.
Pro Tip 2/3Unexpected Opportunity
'Understudy' often implies being ready for sudden chances to perform, rarely with short notice.
He never expected to go on stage, but as an understudy, he was prepared.
Pro Tip 3/3No Spotlight
An understudy might not receive much public recognition unless they perform.
As an understudy, she rehearsed but wasn't featured on the posters.
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Video examples
4 Adorable Animals That...
sorts of studies on the world lemurs just it's very interesting isn't it really we've done all sorts of studies just orally my behavior and that kind of thing the amount of numbers they've got in the world because that's something that's relatively understudied and they're in the middle of building
Video examples
The fascinating (and...
compared to, let's say, Europe, was so understudied that it was something akin to near virgin territory. But that, along with its location, made the sheer potential for discovery so exciting, and I had so many questions.
Video examples
Canada's Wild Rivers -...
today we're in a lake system in north of Ottawa my research assistant and I are heading to an understudying water body to document ecosystem health what makes protecting watersheds
Video examples
4 Adorable Animals That...
sorts of studies on the world lemurs just it's very interesting isn't it really we've done all sorts of studies just orally my behavior and that kind of thing the amount of numbers they've got in the world because that's something that's relatively understudied and they're in the middle of building
Video examples
The fascinating (and...
compared to, let's say, Europe, was so understudied that it was something akin to near virgin territory. But that, along with its location, made the sheer potential for discovery so exciting, and I had so many questions.
Video examples
Canada's Wild Rivers -...
today we're in a lake system in north of Ottawa my research assistant and I are heading to an understudying water body to document ecosystem health what makes protecting watersheds
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Jennifer Garner
American Actress
I always, always meant to be on stage. I only ended up even auditioning for television and movies because I was understudying a Turgenev play on Broadway and was so broke that, when I got a mini-series, I had to take it and was so ashamed because I was such a snob.
Quote examples
Lucas Hedges
American Actor
My dad's a filmmaker, and my mom's an actress. She was the original understudy, actually, for Harper in 'Angels in America' and did the show for about several months while she was pregnant with my older brother. And so I grew up obsessed with film and filmmaking.
Quote examples
Jeffrey Tambor
American Actor
My part had three lines. I said, 'You look wonderful, sir,' three times. All my friends said, 'Do not take that role - and do not understudy. You'll regret it the rest of your life.' I did both of those things, and I've never regretted it once.
Quote examples
James Lecesne
American Actor
As an actor you make choices that are either right or wrong, and you find the ones that are right for you. As an understudy, the choices have been made, so you have to make those choices right. Going into the role, you can't really question it.
Quote examples
Emma Watkins
Even when I was working for the company as a dancer, I didn't think it was even going to be a feature in the future at all. The Wiggles had understudies in case there were family issues, but it was never a thing.
Quote examples
Glenn Ford
American Actor
I don't know how it is now but the assistant stage manager had to understudy several parts. You had to be ready to go on at any time if the actor couldn't make it to the play. I didn't think anything of it.
Quote examples
Madeleine M. Kunin
American Diplomat
The vice presidential candidate does not usually make much difference at the polls. But that may be changing as voters become more aware that the understudy must be ready to take over if needed.
Quote examples
Haley Joel Osment
American Actor
With 'The Sixth Sense,' my dad and I discussed how this was not so much a horror story as a story about communication. I understudied with my dad, in a sense. It made a huge difference.
Quote examples
Alice Ripley
American Actor
Norm Lewis, who plays Jake in 'Side Show,' and I had a song together in 'Tommy,' and I understudied Mrs. Walker.
Quote examples
Elizabeth Mitchell
American Actress
I did theater for 15 years, and I spent a lot of time as an understudy.
Quote examples
Jennifer Garner
American Actress
I always, always meant to be on stage. I only ended up even auditioning for television and movies because I was understudying a Turgenev play on Broadway and was so broke that, when I got a mini-series, I had to take it and was so ashamed because I was such a snob.
Quote examples
Lucas Hedges
American Actor
My dad's a filmmaker, and my mom's an actress. She was the original understudy, actually, for Harper in 'Angels in America' and did the show for about several months while she was pregnant with my older brother. And so I grew up obsessed with film and filmmaking.
Quote examples
Jeffrey Tambor
American Actor
My part had three lines. I said, 'You look wonderful, sir,' three times. All my friends said, 'Do not take that role - and do not understudy. You'll regret it the rest of your life.' I did both of those things, and I've never regretted it once.
Quote examples
James Lecesne
American Actor
As an actor you make choices that are either right or wrong, and you find the ones that are right for you. As an understudy, the choices have been made, so you have to make those choices right. Going into the role, you can't really question it.
Quote examples
Emma Watkins
Even when I was working for the company as a dancer, I didn't think it was even going to be a feature in the future at all. The Wiggles had understudies in case there were family issues, but it was never a thing.
Quote examples
Glenn Ford
American Actor
I don't know how it is now but the assistant stage manager had to understudy several parts. You had to be ready to go on at any time if the actor couldn't make it to the play. I didn't think anything of it.
Quote examples
Madeleine M. Kunin
American Diplomat
The vice presidential candidate does not usually make much difference at the polls. But that may be changing as voters become more aware that the understudy must be ready to take over if needed.
Quote examples
Haley Joel Osment
American Actor
With 'The Sixth Sense,' my dad and I discussed how this was not so much a horror story as a story about communication. I understudied with my dad, in a sense. It made a huge difference.
Quote examples
Alice Ripley
American Actor
Norm Lewis, who plays Jake in 'Side Show,' and I had a song together in 'Tommy,' and I understudied Mrs. Walker.
Quote examples
Elizabeth Mitchell
American Actress
I did theater for 15 years, and I spent a lot of time as an understudy.
Example 1 of 10
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