understudy
noun

- an actor who learns another’s role in order to be able to act in their absence

(Compact Oxford English Dictionary)

- a person trained to do the work of another

(American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

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WORD ORIGIN

In the theatre, an understudy is a person who learns the part of a leading performer. The understudy takes over the part if the main actor or actress is unable to perform due to illness, injury, or other unforeseeable circumstances.

Typically, an actor or actress is an understudy for a main character while still performing a smaller role within a particular production. In other cases, however, an understudy has no assigned regular part within the performance and simply acts as a standby who can step in when needed. An understudy is sometimes called a "swing" in a musical or a "cover" in an opera.

For an aspiring actor or actress, working as an understudy is often the first step to a long and possibly prosperous career. Understudies work closely with well-known talent, typically making valuable networking connections in the process of rehearsing and learning a role.

An understudy also receives great exposure if he/she is actually allowed to fill in during a performance. Anthony Hopkins got his first big chance by filling in for the role of Edgar during August Strindberg’s The Dance of Death when Laurence Olivier became ill in the middle of the production run.

(adapted from wiseGEEK.com)

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SYNONYMS

alternate, backup, double, fill-in, pinch hitter, replacement, reserve, stand-by, stand-in, substitute, sub, successor

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SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:

"Lots of UNDERSTUDIES have gone on to great careers in Hollywood and on Broadway."