Shows
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingKALEIGH 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...2022-12-201h 13
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingROSALYN COLEMAN WILLIAMSY'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!2022-08-301h 07
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingDARREN JONESScott 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!2022-08-021h 06
You're On In Five! The Art of Understudying16 - KIM FUKAWAY'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!2022-05-241h 10
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingGREG GEFFRARDElana 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! 2022-04-191h 28
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingLANISA 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. 2022-03-291h 07
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingMICHAEL TURRENTINEIn 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!!2021-07-141h 30
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingHONEY WESTChicago 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!2021-06-301h 13
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingKAT EVANSScott 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! 2021-06-161h 27
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingECHAKA AGBAThe 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!2021-06-021h 28
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingGABY LABOTKAScott 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!2021-05-191h 23
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingNICHOLIA Q. AGUIRREElana 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!2021-05-051h 07
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingPATRICK BYRNESElana 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/3.0/2021-04-211h 23
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingJENNIFER GLASSEScott 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.2021-03-101h 25
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingALBERTO MENDOZAScott 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!2021-02-2457 min
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingNANCY PAYNE / SARAH GISEIn 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!2021-02-101h 14
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingJOE LINOIn 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!2021-01-271h 06
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingEMJOY GAVINOScott 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. 2021-01-221h 19
You're On In Five! The Art of UnderstudyingJOSH KEMPERScott 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. Josh has also performed/understudied with many Chicago storefronts such as Hell in a Handbag, Black Button Eyes Productions, and Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights. We also chat with Josh about creating a strategic storytelling party card game called It's Kind of a Fun Story.2021-01-111h 13