What: 2400+ boots, 6 continents, 56 countries, 33 languages

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Last updated: 22 March 2022

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Status: Open for trades

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Taste: Exquisite

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Check out my full dictionary of theatre and trading terms like Off-Broadway, pro-shot, and more!

 

On e/c, u/s, s/w, s/b, alt, and t/r:

 

-- It turns out that "understudy" isn't a generic name for performer who steps in when the usual person can't play the part at a given show. It's a specific type of backup performer.

 

-- I had no idea

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-- alt is alternate (but you guessed that.) An alt is a backup performer who is scheduled for regular appearances as the role. It's usually used in lead and very demanding vocal roles, like Christine in POTO (standard practice) or Valjean in Les Mis (sometimes, because there are so many good ones).

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-- u/s is understudy, a member of the regular cast, usually the ensemble, who moves up into a lead or bigger role

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-- t/r is temporary replacement, a performer who plays a part regularly for a set amount of time while the usual cast member is taking a break for the production (surgery, vacation, engagement in a different short-term production, what have you)

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-- s/w is the attempt to make an acronym out of the one-syllable swing, a member of a cast who does not play a regular part on stage, but can step into ("swings on") a variety of roles as needed. Because they have to know all the different parts ("tracks") so well, they spend a lot of their non-performing time helping new/future cast members learn their own role(s)

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-- s/b is standby, a not-regularly-appearing cast member who is regularly on call to fill a role when needed

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-- standbys also often have to be available during shows, in case the performer who starts the show can't finish for whatever reason

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-- e/c is emergency cover: someone, anyone in the rough geographic area who knows a role/the show and can fill the part if there are no understudies, swings, or standbys who can. An e/c is often a former cast member, whether or not they played the specific part before

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-- I read on a couple of sites that there's a fairly standard order in which productions move to the different categories as backups, but I also know from looking at the patterns individual shows follow (RENT, looking at you here) that everyone has their own rules

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-- "RENT, looking at you here" is the unofficial motto of this site

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-- The distinctions matter especially with respect to Equity (Broadway union), which regulates the minimum salary that shows have to pay each category of first and backup performers

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Disclaimer:

- All opinions are my own, unless labeled as the master's or...well, as "not my notes"

- I update my list as I get new things; the "last updated" date is more like "the last time it added up to a lot of boots so you're not hunting for the one hidden new thing"

- The original version of the header image is by vectorpouch through Freepik; the amateurish editing and coloring is my fault

- The best boots are the ones Mimi wears during Out Tonight

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