Voting is now open for West End Frame's 2014 Understudy of the Year Award.
Understudy of the Year is a celebration of standbys, alternates and understudies, without whom the West End wouldn’t be able to function. For six weeks it is always inspiring to see some of the West End's most talented yet unrecognised stars step into the limelight.
UPDATE: Voting for Understudy of the Year 2014 is now closed. The full result will be announced on Friday 18th July 2014.
UPDATE: Voting for Understudy of the Year 2014 is now closed. The full result will be announced on Friday 18th July 2014.
Voting for West End Frame's Understudy of the Year 2014 opened at 1pm on Friday 6th June and must close at 3pm on Wednesday 16th July. Scroll down to vote.
Last year the award was won by Ashley Day for understudying Elder Price in The Book of Mormon. Top Hat's Alan Burkitt finished second whilst Wicked's Hayley Gallivan finished third. In 2012 Katy Treharne won Understudy of the Year for alternating Christine in The Phantom of the Opera. Chicago's Jenny Gayner came second and We Will Rock You's Lauren Varnham came third.
Understudy of the Year runs as part of the 2014 West End Frame Awards. Unlike other theatre awards, West End Frame only opens voting for one category at a time and combines male and female actors from musicals and plays into the same categories (where applicable).
The 2014 West End Frame Awards began in March, with The Book of Mormon winning Funniest West End Show. Earlier this month Tam Mutu picked up our Best Performance of a Song in a Musical award for his rendition of Stars in Les Miserables.
'Follow' us on Twitter and 'Like' us on Facebook for exclusive updates during the voting period and to be the first to find out when the result is announced on Friday 18th July 2014. The result can be previewed until Wednesday 2nd July. Please note our system only allows one vote per IP address. Multiple votes from the same IP address will not be counted.
View the nominees and cast your vote below. Happy voting!
Voting is now closed
Our system allows one vote per IP address. If you have any questions about Understudy of the Year 2014 please email contact@westendframe.com. Voting must end at 3pm on Wednesday 16th July 2014.
Has to be Emma Hatton! She is a superwoman and a super-Elphaba!
ReplyDeleteEmma Hatton definitely! Super standby, super Elphaba, super role model. Absolutely outstanding, is an honour to have been able to see her perform.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, Emma is outstanding and needs to win this award.
DeleteOne of the few times the standby is better than the lead!
DeleteShe's okay but nowhere near as good as the lead.
DeleteWhat!? She's absolutely brilliant. My vote lies with Emma Hatton, in the last couple of months she's been on nearly as often as the lead, she performed 15 shows and ran a marathon for charity in the same 2 weeks and I've never seen a standby as popular as her! She deserves to get the lead at cast change she really does. Emma is immensely talented and should have won this award when she was in We Will Rock You. Emma, you are phenomenal and we love you.
DeleteEmma all the way :D
DeleteI've just voted for Emma because I've seen her 3 times and thought she was really great - I'm not sure how so much sound can come from someone so small! But I completely disagree that she's better than the lead.
DeleteI've just voted for Emma because I've seen her three times and thought she was really great - I'm not sure how so much sound can come from someone so small! But I completely disagree that she's better than the lead.
DeleteWillemijn (the lead) is brilliant but her acting is not a patch on Emma's and vocally they are very similar. Emma Hatton all the way :D
DeleteEMMA DEFINITELY :D
DeleteLayla harrison!!!amazing at playing meg and should be the main one!x
ReplyDeleteI agree that it should be Layla Harrison - a professional, stalwart and beautiful dancer!! Multitalented girl.
DeleteTotally agree! Don't understand why she's still not the principal Meg! She's the best one for the show.
DeleteHere, here! Layla is just superb in everything she does but as Meg she is just perfect and so right in the role.
DeleteDavid O'Reilly it has to be! Best Elder Cunningham of any of the shows :)
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOODNESS NEEDS TO BE EMMA HATTON <3
ReplyDeleteGo for Tanya Manalang :-)
ReplyDeletego for Tanya Manalang
DeleteLayla Harrison got my vote and I hope she wins! Her role is so underrated but she plays little Meg perfectly. And in addition she's a fab dancer and professional in the work she does.
ReplyDeleteNo nominations for any of the wonderful Urinetown understudies :(
ReplyDeleteJade davies has to win such a beautiful cosette
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Layla Harrison! Fab Meg and amazing in everything else she does. A true triple threat!
ReplyDeleteJade Davies all the way..what a stunning, beautiful voice and such a fantastic actress.xx
ReplyDeleteLayla Harrison makes a wonderful Meg in Phantom. She really turns the role into something and is beautiful to watch.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely David O'Reilly!!! Only seen him as Elder Cunningham once, in my 1st show, but holy shit, that boy's talent is out of this world! Everyone go and vote for him!! :)
ReplyDeleteMarc McBride, who is an amazing understudy for Boq in the wonderful Wicked
ReplyDeleteLayla Harrison is just fabulous!
ReplyDeleteAdam Lilley has to be the one to vote for, he was fantastic as Hannay !
ReplyDeleteJoelle Moses to Win... Bodyguard. Joelle is Awwesome..
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Adam Lilley. Fantastic, energetic performance!
ReplyDeleteHad to vote for Melanie Bright! She was truly amazing as Fantine
ReplyDeleteHad to vote for Joelle Mose, she's a rising star!
ReplyDeleteJoelle was Wonderful in the BodyGuard. Joelle all the way
ReplyDeleteJoelle was Wonderful in the BodyGuard. Joelle all the way
ReplyDeleteTanya Manalang! :)
ReplyDeleteJoelle Moses
ReplyDeleteIan mcintosh
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes to Emma Hatton, she is absolutely stunning, and she so deserves lead at cast change!! One of the best Elphaba's the ever grace the West End!
ReplyDeleteHas to be Jade Davies! An amazing voice. Grabs your attention in the chorus and blows you away as Cossette
ReplyDeleteI agreed such a charismatic and beautiful young lady with a unique voice. You just cant get enough of her!! A leading lady one day I hope
DeleteAgreed!
DeleteMy vote goes to Carolyn Maitland. This young lady was already going places when I first saw her at Chichester some time ago. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteTANYA MANALANG!
ReplyDeleteJoelle Moses when she plays rachel marron its just so effortless
ReplyDeleteJoelle Moses going places, that Huge voice Amazeballs
I Have to say Emma Hatton.
ReplyDeleteA little unfair that the Miss Saigon understudies are included on this list.. Im sure they're are wonderful, but have any of them even been on yet? I realise its the big show of the moment, but a great understudy shows consistent ability and stability over the length of the contract- maybe some more stringent rules for consideration next year?
ReplyDeleteTanya Manalang is an alternate Kim. I think she does 4 shows a week!
DeleteFair enough, but the show's barely open. Understudy of the YEAR should have had to have been in the show for more than a month or two.
DeleteAlso, if you're doing four shows a week- is really fair to have them in this category? The wonder of a great understudy is the confidence,professionalism and grace under pressure when thrown on stage at the half, unaware that they were going to be on that night- not the ability to share the job with the 'named' lead.
DeleteCarolyn Maitland went on as Helen during the previews in front Cameron with only an hours rehearsal. Google some of the reviews before telling everyone which show should and shouldn't be on the list. #justsaying
DeleteI vote for Tanya Manalang...pinoy aq eee...
DeleteThe more reason to vote for her. She's doing the same number of shows per week as Eva, but she's barely recognized. I've seen exchanges in Twitter where Eva had to correct people from congratulating her on a great performance, when actually it's Tanya they saw. Saw Alister correcting people too. For the longest time she's listed as "ensemble" in the Miss Saigon website.
Delete"Understudy of the Year is a celebration of standbys, alternates and understudies, without whom the West End wouldn’t be able to function."
DeleteDon't feel bad because you only have 2% of the votes.
Could it be anyone else other than Emma Hatton? I hate the thought of it going to anyone else because no understudy has worked as hard as she has and performed as much as she has these past couple of months!
ReplyDeleteTanya Manalang! :)
ReplyDeleteMelanie Bright, truly a rising star of the West end. Why She isn't playing the part, I don't know. Beautiful stage presence, incredible voice. One of the great Fantines.
ReplyDeleteMy vote has to go to Jade Davies!! At just 21 years old and playing Cosette understudy in Les Mis! What a career this young lady is going to have. GO JADE!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis award should go to someone who has proven themselves as an amazing understudy/alternate/standby over a long period of time - with that, my vote's with Layla Harrison.
ReplyDeleteMust be the superb Alice Fearn - understudy for BOTH female leads - surely a lead in her own right is not far away
ReplyDeleteGo Tanya Manalang! <3
ReplyDeleteIt has to be Carolyn Maitland. She went on with only an hour's rehearsal when the lead was taken ill 3 days before opening night. Amazing performance.
ReplyDeleteJade Davis! She is amazing! She deserves to me more than just an understudy, just breathtaking!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agree , a big future ahead, delight to watch
ReplyDeleteRachelle Ann Go should be alternate as Kim in Miss Saigon
ReplyDelete,,,I vote Tanya Manalang as. "KIM"
ReplyDelete,,,I vote Tanya Manalang as. "KIM"
ReplyDeleteDefinitely welsh speaking Jade Davies for me- I saw her sing on s4c when she was around 10yrs old, what a talent she was then always knew she would go onto big things. Good Luck Jade!!
ReplyDeleteLet's be honest... Tanya Manalang is going to win. She's got the entire country of the Philippines voting for her.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are correct, she will win. We love Tanya..
DeleteMelanie Bright is superb as Fantine. always professional - a great actress with a really lovely voice
ReplyDeleteJoelle is absolutely phenomenal in the bodyguard
ReplyDeleteCAROLYN MAITLAND.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn Maitland is an amazing understudy. I think her CV on her website http://carolynmaitland.com says it all.
ReplyDeleteUnderstudy Serena / Mabel / Miss Bell in the UK tour of Fame. (UK Tour)
Understudy Gabriella / Taylor in the High School 2 tour. (UK Your)
Understudy Lucy Harris in Jekyll & Hyde. (UK Tour)
Understudy Vivienne Kensington | Serena in Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre)
Understudy Kate / Lillie Vanessi in ‘Kiss Me Kate’ (Chichester & The Old Vic Theatre)
Understudy Karen Holmes in "From Here To Eternity" (Shaftesbury Theatre)
Understudy Helen in 'Miss Saigon' (Prince Edward Theatre)
Mark Shenton @ShentonStage
DeleteNo sign of Hannah Waddingham at @OldVicTheatre, but @CarolynMaitland stands in admirably - & stands out with a big voice & more warmth.
David O'Reilly - Book of Mormon he is amazing !!!!!
ReplyDeleteIs there any credibility to this voting process? I'm guessing a considerable number of votes are probably coming from people who have never actually seen the understudy they are voting for in action. The eventual winner may be skilled but let's be honest - this is a popularity contest, not a contest based on merit.
ReplyDeletePlease consider leaving your name instead of commenting anonymously If you feel the need to belittle the voting process. Life is all about networking and making friends But I doubt you will ever understand that by the nature of your comment.
DeleteJenny Wilkinson - I'm sorry you misunderstood my comment and chose to label my question as "belittling the voting process." The title of the award is "Understudy of the Year", which implies that the award is about being the best understudy, NOT being good at "life" and "networking and making friends". If that IS what it is about, then the title is a misnomer, isn't it? And, how can anyone who hasn't seen the understudies who are under consideration decide who deserves a vote? I have a feeling you are the one who will never understand, judging by the nature of YOUR comment. Cheers, ANONYMOUS.
DeleteAbsolutely agree with you, fellow Anonymous! This is Understudy of the Year, not "Understudy of my-show-has-been-open-for-two-months-but-I-have-lots-of-friends". Next year there needs to be stricter criteria for nominations. Unfortunately there's no way to restrict voting to people who have seen the show(s)…
Deletemy vote goes to tanya manalang. it's time to recognize the talented filipino. go go tanya. show to the world the best in you!
ReplyDeleteGo Tanya my vote is for u!
ReplyDeleteGo for Tanya Manalang,
ReplyDeleteLets vote our very own Ms. Tanya Manalang. Keep it up Tanya. We wish you the best of luck.
ReplyDeleteKuya Buboy
FOR TANYA MANALANG
ReplyDeleteI have seen Gillian Elisa's perfomance of Granny in Billy Eliot on three occasions. I have no connection to the production, and nothing to gain from reporting that she gave a funny, touching portrayal of the character, and that her featured song and dance sequence was beautiful and very moving. That is why I voted for her.
ReplyDeleteGo Tanya Manalang
ReplyDeleteDefinitely for Ms Tanya Manalang
ReplyDeleteIf I could vote more than once, all of my votes would go to Layla. She is such a kind-hearted person, an incredible dancer, cares about the well-being of animals and people around her, and hands-down my favorite of the ballet girls. Her interpretation of Meg is adorable and absolutely en pointe (pun intended) in terms of how to have fun with portraying a character such as Meg. I can't put it into words how much this girl means to me. She's a small person with a big heart and I absolutely believe that she is the best candidate for this award. ��
ReplyDeleteAnd the winner is...........................
ReplyDeleteThe full result will be announced on Friday 18th July 2014.
Delete