How to find out which understudy you saw (and keep a record)
How do I find out which understudy performed at the show I saw?
Scan the QR code printed in your Playbill. Productions such as Chicago, Wicked, The Outsiders, and Hadestown link it to atthisplaybill.com, which lists who went on at each performance for about a month. Older shows, or productions without the code, rely on the paper insert, the lobby board, and the show's own social posts. Write it down that night.
An understudy appearance happens once. The principal is back the next night, and within a few weeks the official record of who played which role is gone. If you want to know, or remember, who you saw, the time to find out is during the performance.
Where is the cast for my performance listed?
The QR code in the Playbill. Participating productions, including Chicago, Wicked, The Outsiders, and Hadestown, print a QR code that opens atthisplaybill.com. It lists the cast for each performance, covers included. It is the quickest and most complete source when the show has one.
The insert. When a cover is on, a slip inside the program names the change. Shows without the QR code still do this, and shows with it often do too.
The lobby board. Most theatres post the night’s cast changes near the entrance or the merchandise stand. Take a photo before you go in.
The announcement. Changes are usually read out before curtain. It is easy to miss, so don’t rely on it alone.
The show’s social accounts. Some productions post their covers on the day. This is the most useful source when you are trying to piece together a performance after the fact.
The difference between an understudy, a standby, and an alternate is covered in Standby vs. alternate vs. understudy.
Why you need to write it down the same night
atthisplaybill.com only keeps about a month of performances. After that, the online record for your date is gone, and the paper insert is easy to lose. Fans looking up a show from a few seasons ago usually end up searching old social posts, and often find nothing.
Write down the date, the performance time, the role, and the performer. That is enough to answer the question for good.
What if I saw the show a while ago?
If it was within the last month, try the QR code or the site first. If it was longer ago, check whether you still have the insert, then the production’s posts from that date. For long-running shows, cast changes are frequent enough that the cast-change guide explains what is likely to have happened.
The terms, side by side
- Insert
- The small printed slip placed inside the Playbill on nights when a cover is on, naming who is playing which role at that performance. It is the traditional record of an understudy appearance and the only one most people keep.
- Going on
- What theatre people say when an understudy, standby, or swing performs a role they cover. "She went on as Elphaba" means she played the part at that performance.
Frequently asked questions
How far back does the Playbill QR code show cast changes?
About a month. atthisplaybill.com only keeps recent performances, so a show you saw last season will not be there. If you want a record of who went on, save it within a few weeks of the performance.
Does every Broadway show have the QR code?
No. It appears in the Playbills of participating productions, including Chicago, Wicked, The Outsiders, and Hadestown. Other shows still announce covers only on a paper insert, on the lobby board, and in the pre-show announcement.
I saw a show years ago. Can I still find out who the understudy was?
Sometimes. Keep the insert if you kept the Playbill, since that is the only printed record. Otherwise, look at the production's social media posts from that date or fan cast-tracking threads. There is no complete public archive of who went on at every performance.
Is the QR code the same thing as Playbill's "At This Performance" concerts?
No. "At This Performance" is Playbill's concert series featuring understudies and standbys. The QR code in the program is a per-performance cast listing, and the two only share a name.
Sources
- At This Playbill Accessed
