You're Not Just the Understudy: How to Do the Job Well Without Losing Your Spark
by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder
Getting cast as an understudy can be a weird emotional rollercoaster. You’re thrilled you were noticed, excited to be part of the show… and then the title Understudy sits there next to your name like a weird asterisk. No costume fitting. No solo bow. No guaranteed stage time.
It’s really easy to start spiraling. Am I just a backup? Did they not think I was good enough? Was this some pity casting move?
Pause. Breathe. Let’s be clear about something: being an understudy doesn’t mean you’re less than. Not even close. If anything, it means you’re the person they trust enough to step in without warning and keep the entire production from falling apart. That’s no small thing.
So if you’ve found yourself cast as an understudy, here’s how to do the job well — and stay proud of yourself while you’re at it.
1. Learn the part like you're opening night, not "maybe"
Some actors only half-learn the role, thinking, Eh, I’ll cram if I actually have to go on. Please don't do that. If you're an understudy, you need to know the lines, the blocking, the quick changes — all of it — like you're opening the show tomorrow.
Even if you never set foot onstage, the team will notice who showed up ready and who coasted. And if you do get that 3:00 PM call that the lead is sick before a 7:00 PM curtain? You’ll be ready, and you’ll be a hero.
2. Respect the actor you’re covering — but don't try to copy them
It’s tempting to secretly treat it like a competition: I would have made that choice differently. Or worse, I would have been better.
But good understudies don’t shadow the lead trying to out-act them. You’re there to support the show, not outshine or imitate anyone. Learn their blocking, respect their tone, but build a version that feels truthful to you. You’re the Plan B, not the carbon copy.
3. Stay visible without being annoying
Be present. Go to rehearsals, show up early, do the warm-ups even if you're not called that day. Let the team know you’re locked in.
But there’s a difference between being reliable and being the person constantly dropping hints like, "If you need me, I know all the harmonies already!" Play it cool. Show them through your work, not by fishing for attention.
4. Remember the huge amount of trust you were given
Think about it: they handed you someone else's entire performance and said, We trust you to protect this. That’s massive. You are Plan A for when Plan A can’t happen.
Being an understudy isn’t about standing in the background. It’s about stepping into chaos with two hours' notice and holding the show together. That’s not something you "settle" for — that’s something you earn.
5. Find your joy offstage too
It’s really easy to tie all your self-worth to the number of performances you get. But theatre isn’t just about the applause. It’s about the process. The people. The work.
Even if you never get to go on, you’re still part of the story. You’re still part of the company. You’re still growing. And if you can find the joy in that — in the craft, not just the curtain call — you’ll have a much longer, happier life in this business.
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So no — you’re not just the understudy. You’re the safety net. The team player. The insurance policy they hope they never have to use but are so grateful to have.
Hold your head high. Learn the part like it’s yours. And when your moment comes (because it will), you’ll be ready — and you’ll know you earned every second of it.