Seth Rudetsky Writes About Life as a Broadway Musician's Understudy
While audiences are informed when an actor's understudy is performing, no one ever knows about the musicians understudies.
Seth Rudetsky writes about his experience as a keyboard sub for shows like "Les Miserables," "Phantom of the Opera," "The Producers," and "Ragtime" in MetroFocus. As a sub, Rudetsky went against union rules and tape performances because subs are not given the opportunity to rehearse with the orchestra. "The first time you play with the show is during an actual performance," Rudetsky writes.
Rudetsky recounts a nerve-wracking experience subbing for "The Kiss of the Spider Woman" with Chita Rivera and a harrowing encounter with a wate rbug while in the pit of "Seussical."
Rudetsky's novel "Broadway Nights' was re-released by Vantage Point this month, with an introduction by Tony-winner Audra McDonald. The novel tells the story of Broadway musician and conductor Stephen Sheerin who dreams of directing a Broadway musical.
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