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How do you list roles you understudied? (Read 218 times)
Dec 1st, 2008 at 4:39pm

superstar   Offline
Scenery
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So there are a lot of shows I've done where I've not only had a role but I've also understudied multiple roles in the same show and ended up performing a bunch of the roles I understudied. I'd like to have that on my resume but when I'm listing it, it kind of looks like all I've done is understudy rather than performing AND understudied...any ideas/recommendations on how to make this clear? Here is an example of what it looks like now...
                        � �
Seussical      Bird Girl/Cat in the Hat Understudy* � � Matthew Howe

*Denotes performed as Understudy

I played the role of a Bird Girl but I understudied (and went on multiple times) the role of the Cat in the Hat. Is this clear or is there a better way to list this? When I have people who are not in theatre read it they are a little confused. Please give me suggestions!
 
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Reply #1 - Dec 1st, 2008 at 4:54pm

BlueRoses   Offline
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If you understudied a role, and then ended up on stage actually performing the role during the run of the show, it then counts as a real role. You are no longer someone who merely studied the role. You played the role! You wouldn't need to list understudy in that case. List it like any other role.

If you understudied a role but never appeared on stage in that role, you can list yourself as an understudy. I wouldn't capitalize the word "understudy" on your resume though. The character's name would begin with a capital letter of course, but the word "understudy" is not part of the character's name.

I hope this makes sense and that it helps. It should eliminate the need for the confusing asterisk. Let me know if you have any other questions. I work professionally as a resume consultant for performing artists.
 
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Reply #2 - Dec 1st, 2008 at 5:33pm

mr. spiker   Offline
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I second Blue Roses.

The only thing I'd add is that in cases when I have a named role and an understudy assignment, but don't go on ... I simply don't list the understudy role.

So: You went on, so you are the Cat In The Hat. If you had not gone on, I'd just list bird girl.

The only understudy roles I list are at major theatres where the name recognition might get me some credit ...
 
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