You're On In Five! The Art of Understudying

Scott Sawa and Elana Elyce speak with actors about their experiences as an understudy, and how those roles have informed their technique and career.

25 - TIMOTHY EDWARD KANE 02/08/2024

25 - TIMOTHY EDWARD KANE Are you ready to be soothed by the dulcet vocals of one Mr. Timothy Edward Kane? Well you better get ready. Grab a warm beverage and a fireside, relax and listen to him talk about early career hard learned lessons, playing the romantic interest of his actual wife, and ask yourself, “how many times can one person understudy Hamlet?” Come on in, we’ve been waiting for you. /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/29859383

24 - CONNAR BROWN 01/04/2024

24 - CONNAR BROWN Hold on to your butts! Connar Brown shares delightful stories from her high school’s version of Avenue Q, Jr. to dinosaur-sized storytelling to The SpongeBob Musical to that time she took on a one-line role and saved the day. Full of laughs and very few complaints, Connar’s career has been quite exciting and we can’t wait for you to hear all about it! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/29347058

23 - DEREK CZAPLEWSKI 12/14/2023

23 - DEREK CZAPLEWSKI “They say the mind is the first thing to go-go Gadget helicopter!” Join us as we try to get Derek to remember things he’s blocked out or can’t recall! Scott & Derek reflect on their respective and connected POSEIDON! experiences and Elana gets on a too-high horse about critics & reviews. This fun episode is a journey and we’re so glad you’re taking the ride with us! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/29088728

22 - MANATSU TANAKA 11/22/2023

22 - MANATSU TANAKA Japan. New York. Japan. D.C. Japan again! Go on an international theatrical adventure with us and Manatsu Tanaka (they/them)! Manatsu is a Japanese nonbinary Performer and an Artist with many creative outlets: dance, acting, singing, Tate (Japanese Sword Stage Combat/Fighting), improv on the piano, aerial silks, drawing and recently they have started practicing hand poke tattoos. You do NOT wanna miss the exciting stories from this multi-talented extraordinary artist! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/28739143

21 - TANIA RICHARD 10/31/2023

21 - TANIA RICHARD There are smart people / kind people / wise people. Tania Richard is all of the people! Join us as we chat with, learn from, and are moved by Tania’s take on understudying, making career choices, and priceless advice. She takes us to school with life lessons that we can’t wait for you to hear. Oh and, check out her podcast Tania’s Take on race, culture and the culture of race. www.taniarichard.com /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/28466513

20 - JUAN FRANCISCO VILLA 10/30/2023

20 - JUAN FRANCISCO VILLA Scott and Elana kick off Season 3 with New Yorker-turned-Chicagoan-turned-Angelino, Juan Francisco Villa! Anytime someone’s FIRST understudy gig is at Steppenwolf Theater, you know they have some exciting stories to share! Join us as we hear about Juan’s unique experiences, including having to take the stage without rehearsal!! Thank you for listening! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/28269098

19 - KALEIGH CRONIN 12/20/2022

19 - KALEIGH CRONIN In our last episode of 2022, Scott and Elana speak with Kaleigh Cronin, our second Broadway understudy! Kaleigh fell in love with the thrill of understudying when she was thrown on last minute for Olive Octopus (a role she did not cover) in a summer theater production in her home state of NH and the rest is history. On Broadway, she stepped in for Emma Stone as Sally Bowles in “Cabaret” when she left to attend the Oscars (no pressure), has understudied and performed as a Mom twice her age (the deep voice comes in handy), has had to learn how to play accordion (apologies to her husband who had to deal with her practicing daily) and rehearsed yet did not go on for a stern lady-boss in a killer power suit (Boo, Covid). Her non-understudy credits on Broadway include Sexy Soccer Lady/Helga (Yes. Seriously.) in “Mrs. Doubtfire,” Giorgio Moroder in “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical”, Marie in “A Bronx Tale,” Lulu / Two Ladies in “Cabaret” and Lorraine in the National Tour cast of “Jersey Boys.” We discuss all these juicy credits, and so much more in this really awesome conversation! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/25372077

18 - ROSALYN COLEMAN WILLIAMS 08/30/2022

18 - ROSALYN COLEMAN WILLIAMS Y'all, we booked a BROADWAY UNDERSTUDY - And she does not disappoint! Roz has been in the business most of her life, and is so generous with her time and stories. Her acting journey has seen her on Broadway in plays by Katori Hall, Tom Stoppard, and Aaron Sorkin! She discusses acting with big stars, the "accoutrements" of being a Broadway actor, how she got started, and so much more. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/24182844

17 - DARREN JONES 08/02/2022

17 - DARREN JONES Scott and Elana welcome the south side's own Darren Jones to the podcast! After he fell into acting in the 90's, he's worked consistently as an actor, and often as an understudy! We talk about so many things in this episode, including being "discovered" while on a date after church, working with Spike Lee on "ChiRaq", and we discuss our experiences with Showmances - YIKES! Enjoy! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/23908119

16 - KIM FUKAWA 05/24/2022

16 - KIM FUKAWA Y'all! We have Kim Fukawa on the show! Kim has understudied at The House Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, Babes with Blades, and so many others, and we get the scoop on the understudy life in non-Equity Chicago storefront theatre. We talk dressing rooms, what happens when you end up understudying during an open-caption performance, how Kim is constantly making all the crafty stuff, and so much more with this kickass lady! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/23190167

15 - GREG GEFFRARD 04/19/2022

15 - GREG GEFFRARD Elana and Scott welcome Greg Geffrard to the podcast! Greg Geffrard has understudied at Steppenwolf (Bug), Goodman (Lottery Day, A Christmas Carol), Remy Bummpo (Seascape), and at least 7 other productions, many involving multiple tracks. Crazy. We talk about those experiences, the theatrical intimacy revolution, Langston Hughes, being the "first, different, only", and what happens when you have to go on as an understudy for the dance captain - when you're not a dancer. There's so much more in this awesome and thoughtful conversation! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/22840478

14 - LANISA FREDERICK 03/29/2022

14 - LANISA FREDERICK #HashtagBooked Phenom and Commercial Superstar LaNisa Frederick joins Scott and Elana to discuss her experiences understudying at the Goodman Theater and Steppenwolf, among others. She talks about getting paid in pasta and pizza, the benefits of having learned Latin in high school, and that whole LA thing. /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/22609097

13 - MICHAEL TURRENTINE 07/14/2021

13 - MICHAEL TURRENTINE In our Season 1 Finale, Scott and Elana chat with Michael Turrentine, a veteran understudy at Steppenwolf, Lyric Opera, and Theater Wit! We talk about those experiences, the magic and electricity of live performance, and the joy of upending audiences' expectations. Thank you for listening!! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/19802774

12 - HONEY WEST 06/30/2021

12 - HONEY WEST Chicago Trans Icon HONEY WEST joins Elana and Scott to discuss her experiences understudying, particularly on Hell in a Handbag's Golden Girls and Bewildered, which Scott starred in. They discuss her appearances in Who Killed Joan Crawford (another US performance) and Porchlight's Gypsy, as well as her early days as a singing server. We also learn how to thump a watermelon, why Scott briefly considered law school, Honey's first nude scene, and so much more! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/19659716

11 - KAT EVANS 06/16/2021

11 - KAT EVANS Scott and Elana welcome Kat Evans to YOIF! Scott understudied with Kat twice in his career, and we talk about those experiences at length - particularly how Scott was ill-prepared for both, oof! We also chat about using dialects to find our characters, gleaning business tips from our more experienced Equity overstudies, and how to snag a principal role out from your overstudy (kinda). Enjoy our conversation with this intelligent, driven, and quirky actor! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/19499615

10 - ECHAKA AGBA 06/02/2021

10 - ECHAKA AGBA The hosts welcome Elana's United Flight 232 co-star Echaka Agba to You're On In Five! We talk about understudying at Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare, and Pegasus Players, dive into the controversial Method acting technique, and discuss how to take care of ourselves better. Enjoy this very intimate, giggly, and loving conversation! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/19324241

9 - GABY LABOTKA 05/19/2021

9 - GABY LABOTKA Scott and Elana welcome Gaby Labotka to YOIF! Gaby has stories upon stories from her many understudy gigs, and they are WILD. She's understudied at the House Theatre, the Gift Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare, among others - and THREE productions of Peter and the Star Catcher! We talk about memorization techniques, unrehearsed Shakespeare, EMC points, “Oh No” moments, and so much more! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/19154873

8 - NICHOLIA Q. AGUIRRE 05/05/2021

8 - NICHOLIA Q. AGUIRRE Elana and Scott welcome Nicholia Q. Aguirre to You're On In Five! Nicholia's many understudy experiences include gigs at Redtwist, Lookingglass, and Steppenwolf (under the direction of Phylicia Rashad!!). Alongside our episode 7 guest Patrick Byrnes, Nicholia starred in Casa Valentina, which Scott understudied. Nicholia did a show with Elana too! They talk about all that and so much more! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/18972506

7 - PATRICK BYRNES 04/21/2021

7 - PATRICK BYRNES Elana and Scott welcome Patrick Byrnes to the podcast! Scott was actually Patrick's understudy in Casa Valentina in 2019. We discuss Patrick's many many understudy gigs, we geek out about Sondheim, and so much more! Hyperfun Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) (in Ragtime ad) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/18761477

6 - JENNIFER GLASSE 03/10/2021

6 - JENNIFER GLASSE Scott and Elana welcome Jennifer Glasse to the podcast! An understudy at The Gift, Writers Theatre, Court Theatre, and Theatre Wit, Jennifer shares what it was like to understudy six roles at once (!), how she courted specific Chicago theatres and got her teaching artist job, and so much more in this extra giggly episode. /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/18267992

5 - ALBERTO MENDOZA 02/24/2021

5 - ALBERTO MENDOZA Scott and Elana welcome Alberto Mendoza to You're On In Five! Alberto has understudied The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Red Theater, 2017) and The Light Fantastic (Jackalope Theatre, 2018). We talk about playing a pro wrestler, getting his insides crushed by the devil, and so much more! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/18071789

4 - NANCY PAYNE / SARAH GISE 02/10/2021

4 - NANCY PAYNE / SARAH GISE In our first "Understudy/Overstudy" discussion, we welcome Nancy Payne and Sarah Gise to the podcast! Nancy understudied Sarah in Interrobang Theatre Project's Out of Love in 2019, and had to finish the run after Sarah broke her leg, literally. We talk about that, and lots more! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/17888276

3 - JOE LINO 01/27/2021

3 - JOE LINO In this episode, Scott and Elana talk to understudy extraordinaire Joe Lino! We discuss what it was like understudying at Steppenwolf, we nerd out over Harry Potter, debate “theatre” vs. “theater”, identify non-Equity understudy policy best practices, playing Mario Kart backstage with Movie/TV stars, and SO MUCH MORE! /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/17646107

2 - EMJOY GAVINO 01/22/2021

2 - EMJOY GAVINO Scott and Elana welcome Emjoy Gavino to You're On In Five! As an understudy, Emjoy has gotten to play princesses (Mirror of the Invisible World, Goodman Theatre), a teenage runaway, a savvy cat and a singing ghost (Kafka on the Shore, Steppenwolf Theatre), a strong willed ex-girlfriend, a loving little sister, and a flying ghost (A Christmas Carol, Goodman Theatre) and more. /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/17524775

1 - JOSH KEMPER 01/11/2021

1 - JOSH KEMPER Scott and Elana welcome Josh Kemper to You're On In Five! Josh served as understudy on the production that brought them all together, Here Lies Henry, with Interrobang Theatre Project in Chicago. /episode/index/show/youreoninfive/id/17494511

You're On In Five! The Art of Understudying

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