What’s the difference between an “Understudy” and a “Standby” in a professional stage theatre production?
I thought that an “Understudy” was an actor who usually plays a small part (but fills in for a larger part), while a “Standby” does not usually perform.
But I’ve now collected many Broadway Musical programs (and Broadway straight plays) where the “Standby” does have a regular part. ? Is this a union thing? I looked in the Equity rulebook and couldnt find a definition!
Here’s an example of a "Standby " with a regular part: (George Lee Andrews in On the 20th Century):
http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=4040
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In my experience with amateur theater (mostly with school), the understudy never steps on stage, unless there’s a problem of some sort with the primary actor. I’m not familiar with the term “standby”, though. Is it possible that you just had the definitions reversed?
I got all excited when I saw a GQ about theatre, and I can’t even answer it. I’ve never even heard of a “standby” in my 10 years working in proffesional theatre. Understudies often do have small parts (tee hee) that can be covered if they need to step up to the plate.
Often times (esp. with big names) there will be someone who performs the matinees and any other “unimportant” shows, so the star only has to work nights. Could this be the case? I’m not familiar with the show you’ve linked to. Sorry. I’ll ask around tonight and see if anybody knows at work.
From a quick IM with my GF (Broadway stage manager) she thinks it’s just a status thing. Your initial thought on the meaning is correct. Standby’s are typically older, more established actors who know one major role cold, and only come in when requested. As lightingtool said, understudies play smaller parts and can fill in other parts as needed, sometimes several.
You’ll note that Andrews in your example is the 4th person listed in the cast, and the first understudy is 10th. Since he’s already got a major role, he was probably called a standby to separate him from the understudies.
Lightingtool: I have a LOT of theatre questions, but SD never seems to give me much of a response 
Nobody answered by thread about whether any indoor opera companies are “miked”.
Re: Standbys and Understudies – the terms are often used interchangeably - I’m just curious when a Playbill in an Equity production uses BOTH terms - some performers are “standbys” and some are “understudies”. When both terms are used, the “standby” means the performer who does not report to the theatre unless there’s an illness and he has to go on. But that doesn’t explain George Lee Andrews who usually performed the role of MAX JACOBS (in my earlier cite). And I’ve found a few other good counter-examples. WAG: it’s in the performer’s contract; a “standby” gets paid more than an understudy, because the agent demands the billing distinction. Kind of like having a “box” around your name?