understudy
noun[C]
uk/ˈʌn.dəˌstʌd.i/us/ˈʌn.dɚˌstʌd.i/anactorwholearnsthepartsof otheractorsin aplay, so that he or she canreplacethem ifnecessary, forexampleif they areill:
候补演员，替角An understudy took over for therestof theperformanceand theeveningshow.
Understudies neverknowwhen they might have to go on.
Compare
standby
stand-in
substitutenoun
- Theplaystartswith the Directorannouncingthat oneactorhas beenreplacedby an understudy.
- Sometimes the understudy really does get abigbreak.
- Shetellsme she isindisposed, and her understudy is toplaytheparttonight.
Cinema & theatre: casting, roles & scripts
- billing
- bit part
- callback
- cast list
- casting couch
- chorus
- dialogue
- exit
- fictionalize
- Harlequin
- miscast
- opposite
- pantomime horse
- script
- tapescript
- teleplay
- theatre
- title role
- typecast
- undramatized
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Cinema & theatre: actors & performers
understudy
verb[TorI]
uk/ˈʌn.dəˌstʌd.i/us/ˈʌn.dɚˌstʌd.i/tolearnthelinesof otheractorsin aplay, so that you canreplacethem ifnecessary, forexampleif they areill:
He understudied thetitlerolein Broadway's "Tarzan".
Bigrolesare always given tobigstars, so understudying is the only way in thebeginning.
Compare
stand in
substituteforsomeone/something
- He was with thenationaltourof "The Lion King", understudying therolesof Scar and Pumbaa.
- Sheessentiallyunderstudies elevencharactersin themusical.
- Lisa Fennell, inadditionto herrolein thechorus, was to understudy Désirée.
Cinema & theatre: acting, rehearsing & performing
- act out
- amateur theater
- appear
- blocking
- camp
- chew
- chew the sceneryidiom
- corpse
- dumb show
- greasepaint
- interpreter
- method acting
- overact
- re-enactment
- recreation
- rep
- tread
- walk throughsomething
- walkthrough
- wrap party