#both shows glinda was played by the understudy

[gayverlyearp]

2009 -> 2024

[jules-has-notes]

Aca Top 10: Broadway — VoicePlay music video

VoicePlay have a reputation as the theater kids of the a cappella world. So it should come as no surprise that the second entry in their "Aca Top 10" series is a countdown of songs from Broadway musicals, and that they made it entertaining as all get-out.

Details:

title: Aca Top 10 – Broadway

original songs: "Everyone's A Little Bit Racist" from Avenue Q; [0:27] "Sherry" from Jersey Boys; [0:45] "Belle" from Beauty and the Beast; [1:07] "Seasons of Love" from Rent; [1:26] "Master of the House" from Les Miserables; [1:43] "All That Jazz" from Chicago; [2:03] "He Lives In You" from The Lion King; [2:19] "Popular" from Wicked; [2:43] gentle mockery of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark; [2:45] "Phantom of the Opera" from Phantom of the Opera; [3:10] "Hello!" from The Book of Mormon

written by: "Everyone's A Little Bit Racist" by Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx; "Sherry" by Bob Gaudio; "Belle" by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, & Tim Rice; "Seasons of Love" by Jonathan Larson; "Master of the House" by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, & Jean-Marc Natel; "All That Jazz" by John Kander & Fred Ebb; "He Lives In You" by Lebohang "Lebo M" Morake, Mark Mancina, & Jay Rifkin; "Popular" by Stephen Schwartz; "Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart, Richard Stilgoe, & Mike Batt; "Hello!" by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, & Robert Lopez

arranged by: Layne Stein & Geoff Castellucci

release date: 17 September 2014

My favorite bits:

starting with just Geoff and Layne, then revealing the others by raising dropping the curtain

Puppets! And puppet violence!

Geoff lowkey doing the "Sherry" choreography from their boy bands medley, and Tony playing to the camera

Earl's adorable cartoon-y giggle

singing Belle's name on a bell chord, nice

getting double duty from the Book of Mormon by using it as Belle's ♫ "a-MAAA-zing" ♫ book

✨ ::jazz hands:: ✨

the sudden ~drama~ when they start "Phantom"

and the sudden lack of drama when they jump into "Hello!"

Layne's utter delight at getting to poke his finger through the doorbell drawing on the sign

the bloopers from Earl's outro spiel

Trivia:

○ Several of these songs have appeared in later VoicePlay videos:

Based on feedback to this video, they recorded a full version of "Phantom of the Opera" with Rachel Potter just over a year later.

They partnered with L.A.-based singer AJ Rafael for a beautiful rendition of "Seasons of Love" in early 2017.

"Popular" was, of course, included in their epic 2022 Wicked medley with Emoni WIlkins and Rachel Potter.

○ Friend and frequent collaborator Rachel Potter had understudied Glinda in the second national tour of Wicked.

○ They have since done a few collaborations with John Pinto Jr., a longtime cast member in The Book of Mormon both on Broadway and in the touring company.

○ This medley was included in their setlist for the 2015 Sing-Off tour.

○ The video got a nice feature article on Broadway World.

○ It also received several nice responses from friends and some of the shows.

[xfandomimagines]

AS LONG AS YOU’RE MINE (BARRY ALLEN IMAGINE)

Summary: When Barry gets cast in Wicked as Fiyero, he meets you, the Elphaba to his Fiyero, and falls in love. However, issues arise in the form of Helen, the Glinda.

Gender: Female

Notes: After I saw the musical episode this week, I just knew I had to write this, and again, I knew I had to use Wicked because Grant Gustin is like my dream Fiyero ever (CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE). Also, I planted a few little Wicked easter eggs in this so if you’re a giant musical/Wicked nerd like me, I hope you recognise them. 

{REQUESTS ARE OPEN}

Barry entered the rehearsal room apprehensively, not knowing what to expect. Ever since the whole Music Meister thing had happened and everyone found out he was decent at singing, whenever they saw something come up for performing, his friends kept suggesting he went for it. At first Barry was completely against it, but slowly, he started warming up to the idea; and that’s how he found himself currently going to the first rehearsal for the Central City Theatre Society’s production of Wicked.

There was a stage at the end of the room where other cast members were casually hanging out, reading their scripts and getting to know each other. Barry scanned over them, when one girl caught his eye. You were sat alone in the corner of the stage, your Y/H/C hair falling in your face as you read your script and as he got closer he could hear you quietly singing One Short Day to yourself. Barry smiled to himself and began to walk over when he got interrupted.

“Hi! I’ve never seen you here before, I’ve been involved in all the company’s shows for the past 5 years.” She introduced, her red stained lips curving up into a smile, holding her hand out. “My name’s Helen, I’m playing Glinda.”

Barry looked over her shoulder at you, before turning back to her, not wanting to be rude. He took her hand in his. “Barry. Barry Allen. I’m playing Fiyero.”

Helen let out a small squeal. “Oh, that’s great! We’re going to be seeing a lot of each other.” She grabbed his arm, and led him over to the stage. At the sound of her heels clicking on the ground, many people turned over to look at them, including you, Barry noted. “Here, meet everyone.”

“Uhh, hi.” Barry said. Helen carried on unbothered.

“Guys, this is Barry, he’s going to be playing Fiyero. Barry, this is Katie, she’s playing Nessarose.” A small brunette girl smiled at him. “James, he’s playing Boq, and Miriam, she’s playing Madame Morrible.” James smiled and shook his hand and Miriam, a plump woman with curly hair, kissed his cheek in greeting. “Then this is Nigel, the Wizard, director and my daddy.”

“It’s great to have you joining us.” Nigel greeted with a firm handshake.

“Thank you, it’s great to be part of the production.” Barry replied, realising she completely ignored you. “So, uh, who’s playing Elphaba?”

“Oh, that’s Y/N, over here!” Nigel motioned over to you, who smiled at you warmly. “She only joined us during last year’s production but she’s so talented so I just knew I had to cast her as the lead.”

“One of the two leads!” Helen piped up, walking over to them with a slightly sour look on her face. Immediately your face fell and you looked back down at your script. “I mean, Glinda’s a lead too, right?”

“Of course. Anyway, let’s get rehearsals off to a start!” Nigel called out to everyone and the cast started to get into position.

 Throughout rehearsal, Barry kept getting accosted by Helen so he never managed to go and introduce himself to you. You were amazing, he thought ever since you first got on stage. You performed with such grace and elegance and you seemed to just dissolve into the character. Barry was enraptured by you.

Finally right before the started the songs, Barry managed to slip over to you. Again, you were sat in the corner, reading through the lyrics and quietly singing to herself.

“Hi, it’s Y/N, right?” Barry sat down next to you and you stopped, looking up at him. “I’m Barry.”

“Yeah, it’s nice to meet you.” You held your hand out, and Barry clasped it in his, his heart fluttering slightly. You were so beautiful.

“You too. You’re amazing up there, I can’t believe someone could perform so well.”

You blushed, looking down at your lap. “Thank you, you’re pretty good yourself.”

“How come you sit here all alone?” Barry asked, the question bugging him ever since he saw you. From what he’d seen you seemed so sweet and talented, it made no sense that someone like you would be all alone.

“Helen.” You said, simply. Barry looked at you questioningly. “Last year, when we were doing Little Shop of Horrors, Helen was Audrey and I was her understudy. Half way through the performances she fell down some stairs and broke her leg and I had to cover for her. According to Nigel, the shows I was on got better feedback than hers and she’s never forgiven me for it.”

“That’s ridiculous. You can’t help what other people prefer.”

“Tell that to her.” You said, nodding towards Helen who had just returned from the bathroom. “Anyway, looks like we’re about to start again.”

As if on cue, Nigel headed back up on stage. “Y/N, Helen, we’re going to start with For Good, then we’re going to move onto Wicked Witch of the East with Katie, Y/N and James, after we’ll do Wizard and I and end with As Long As You’re Mine.”

 Barry was blown away; you were breath taking. He could easily see why the audience would prefer you to Helen. You just seemed to be so natural with your singing, whilst Helen had to visibly put more into her voice to become almost par with you. When it came to As Long As You’re Mine, Barry didn’t have to act. He’d become completely smitten with you, he couldn’t help it, in his eyes you were perfect.

 Over the course of the rehearsals, you and Barry grew closer. Whenever you had breaks, you always sat and got to know each other (that’s if Barry could escape Helen, who seemed to latch herself to him), and even starting to meet up out of rehearsal. At first it was just extra rehearsing, but then it developed into hanging out and meeting up without the original purpose of rehearsal. By the time the first show rolled around three months after your first meeting, Barry knew he was in love with you.

“Hey, green girl.” Barry popped his head round the door of your dressing room.

“Hey.” You looked up from where you were covering the fading patches of green on your hand. “You nervous?”

Barry shrugged. “A little. This is the first time I’ve ever performed on stage since I was nine in my schools production of Baa Baa Black Sheep.”

“Ohhhh, challenging. No wonder you’re such a singing sensation now.”

“Yeah, the highlight of my career. Tree #3” You both laughed, and Barry walked into the room, leaning on the vanity next to where you were sat. “You’ll be amazing.”

“So will you.” You replied, looking up and suddenly, your eyes locked. It felt like you were seeing each other so clearly for the first time. Without control, Barry started leaning in and so did you, your lips were about to touch when: “Barry!”

Suddenly, you jumped apart as Helen entered the room, ready for the beginning of the show in Glinda’s bubble dress and her silver wand in hand.

“I just wanted to wish you good luck. I know you’re nervous since this is your first show but don’t worry, you’ll be great!” She walked over to him, her free hand resting on his arm. “Kiss for good luck?” Without giving him chance to do anything, she reached up and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“Thanks.”

“I have to go into position now, but break a leg!” Helen waved, and as quick as she appeared she was gone. Barry turned around to face you. He could tell you felt awkward, looking down and fiddling with your fingers. With a sneaky speed towards you, Barry pulled you into a tight embrace.

“Break a leg.” He whispered into your hair.

 The show started without a hitch and after what happened earlier in the dressing room, Barry got more nervous as As Long As You’re Mine drew closer. Yes, you’d rehearsed the scene and kissed before, but this was different, it was the first time you’d be doing this in front of other people, and the first time you’d be doing this since he acted on his feelings for you.

“There’s a girl I know, he loves her so… I’m not that girl…”

Stood in the wings, one hand in yours, the other clasping the prop oil lamp, you looked over at each other. You both smiled encouragingly, and then you were on. Barry led you forward to the front of the stage, and as you got to your position you knelt down in front of each other.

“Kiss me too fiercely, hold me too tight. I need help believing, you’re with me tonight.”

Barry was entranced, hands dancing along your waist and back, holding you close. All acting went out of the window and he was holding you and telling you how much he loved you like he’d wanted too ever since he first saw you in the corner of the stage, hair falling in your eyes.

“For the first time, I feel… Wicked!” You said, and then your hands were on Barry’s face and you were kissing. Barry melted in you, arms wrapping around your waist, tightly, as your lips locked together and everything fell away until he heard the audience clapping. When you pulled away and you both went into a hug instead, his head went into the crook of your neck and his hand ran through the fake hair of your wig. After the show, Barry thought to himself, I need to tell her.

 All the cast and crew were celebrating, hugging one another and saying their congratulations (or, congratulotions, in some people’s case), and all Barry cared about was finding you. He finished his conversation with James as quickly as he could, and rushed off towards your dressing room, his mind set. However, he was once again interrupted by a flurry of blond wig and big poofy dress.

“Oh, Barry, you were amazing!” Helen yelled at him, hugging him tightly. Barry loosely patted her back. “I can’t believe you haven’t performed since you were young, it’s like you’ve been doing it all your life.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Barry said, absentmindedly, looking over at the door to your dressing room, wishing he could escape to you. At that moment, the door opened and you stepped out, looking around. “Sorry, I have too-“

“Everyone has been saying how much chemistry we had together, and that much chemistry can’t be acted, right? Don’t you agree?”

Barry wasn’t really listening, more interested in getting towards you. “Yeah, yeah.”

“Oh, Barry!” And the next thing he knew, Helen’s lips were on his. Barry stood there in shock, not knowing what to do, and his eyes were wide. It was only when he saw you, tears in your eyes, storming back into your dressing room that he came back to his senses and pushed her away.

“Barry?” Helen asked but he paid no attention, and stormed straight passed her towards you dressing room. “Barry!”

Barry knocked on your door, ignoring Helen’s protests behind him. “Y/N, please let me explain!” Silence. “Y/N, let me in, please. That wasn’t me it was Helen.” More silence. “Y/N, I’m coming in.” Barry opened the door and walked in to see you sat your vanity, wig off and your natural hair tumbling down, and your face paint all messed up due to the tears streaming down your cheeks.

“Go away!”

“Just please let me explain.”

“Explain what?” You turned around to face him. “That everything I felt between us wasn’t there? That all this time it wasn’t me you wanted it was Helen? The fact that all this time I thought we were friends, possibly more, but this was a complete joke between you both! Ridicule the quiet girl in the corner who has no friends here but still came back! Just fuck off, Barry!”

“That’s not what it was at all!” Barry cried, rushing over and bending down by the side of your chair. “Everything was there, that’s all true. After the show I was looking for you and Helen came over to me, like she always does. I wasn’t listening to her because you came out the door and all I wanted to do was run over and tell you how much I love you and wanted to be with you. I guess I must have accidentally agreed to something while brushing her off to talk to you because she kissed me.” He closed his eyes and sighed. “It’s you, Y/N. It’s always been you.”

You looked at him, tears still shining in your eyes. “But why me?”

“You don’t realise how amazing you are, do you? You’re beautiful and talented. I love everything about you. I know this sounds cheesy but ever since I laid eyes on you I knew I loved you. You are worth so much more than Helen.” Barry ran his fingers through your hair as he spoke. “Now please, can I kiss you?”

You nodded and then Barry was leaning up and you were kissing as you for the first time. Not Elphaba and Fiyero. Barry and Y/N. Barry stood up and you went with him willingly, allowing him to pull you as close as possible and deepen the kiss. Finally, you had to separate for air and you leant your foreheads together.

“You, uh, have a little green…” You giggled, trying to wipe away the paint from the corner of his mouth with your thumb, which obviously, just made it worse. Barry laughed and moved your hand away, lacing your fingers together.

“I don’t care. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

[lightleckrereins]

swing/stand-by/unserstudy?

just because I’ve seen someone ask this and get a wrong answer far too many times

First thing you need to understand is that all of them are cast members who cover a certain track in a play/musical/show but who they cover and when are they on is what changes They can go on when whoever they cover is sick, injured, on vacation or has taken a personal day for whichever reason. (They also can go on in the middle of a show)

A swing is a performer who can cover a certain number of parts in the ensemble. -They can cover all women or all men -Sometimes they only cover those who sing chorus parts in a certain voice type or who require certain skills. Swings dont go on unless someone in the ensemble cant -A swing can also be an understudy.

An understudy is a member of the ensemble who can cover one or more of the principals -This means they go on their ensemble track unless one of the principals cant do the show -If they are on as a principal a swing does their ensemble track

A stand by is someone who can cover one or more of the principals -most of them only cover one character -this is done usually for really demanding characters like hamilton, glinda and elphaba in wicked or christine in the phantom of the opera to name a few -they can have a specific show each week on which they are always on (in this case thry might be called alternate instead of stand by) -usually a stand by is the first understudy which means that an understudy only goes on tteir understudy track when both the principal and the stand by cant do the show