Every night on Broadway, dozens of the best performers aren’t on stage.
They are backstage, standing by, ready to go on at a moment’s notice. The unique and challenging lives of Broadway’s Understudies and Standbys are finally revealed in this behind-the-scenes documentary, a critically acclaimed film that will inspire anyone following their dreams.
Never-before-heard stories from industry insiders and celebrities reveal the struggles and triumphs these talented yet under-appreciated performers endure as they wait in the wings for their shot at performing on Broadway.
Go backstage with The Standbys to find out:
What it is like to be a working professional on Broadway
How these unique performers are cast and rehearsed
How directors, producers, and casting directors perceive “covers”
Featuring: Ben Crawford, Merwin Foard, and Aléna Watters
With Interviews from: Bebe Neuwirth, David Hyde Pierce, Zachary Quinto, Sutton Foster, Brian d’Arcy James, Cheyenne Jackson, Jerry Zaks, Nelle Nugent, Michael Riedel, Jim Wilhelm and more...
Now on IndieFlix!
What People Are Saying
“Illuminating”
— Hollywood Reporter
“Evocative”
— Playbill
“A triumph.”
— San Francisco Chronicle
“An empathetic and affecting tribute”
— Village Voice
Watch the trailer
More interviews, outtakes, and insider videos from Jerry Zaks, John Leguizamo, Christian Borle, Stephanie J. Block, Karen Olivo, Zachary Quinto and more are available here.
Featured Performers
Ben Crawford
Ben was the Standby for Tony Award Nominee Brian d'Arcy James who plays Shrek in “Shrek the Musical.” For over a year Ben was given the rare opportunity to step into the title role of a Broadway show and become Shrek. But when the National Tour gets underway he is forced to audition against his own standby to keep the role.
Merwin Foard
Merwin had covered 25 roles in his 26-year Broadway career. We meet him when he is the Standby for both Tony Award winner Nathan Lane and Terrence Mann in the Broadway musical “The Addams Family”. Merwin has chosen to take minor roles for almost 20 years to feed his family rather than hold out for leading roles he knows he is worthy and capable of. But maybe his time is now.
Aléna Watters
Aléna arrived on Broadway with a dream in her heart - one that she achieved amazingly quickly after setting foot in New York. We follow her journey as her dream is crushed and it takes everything she has to pull herself together and keep believing in herself and her talent. But will that be enough?
How wonderful to see the very often unsung heroes of Broadway, the Standbys and Understudies, get their due. It is probably the hardest job in the theater, and this touching documentary reveals the ups and downs of three gifted performers, who are stars in their own right, and what it’s like to be a working professional. Bravo!
~ Nathan Lane
Listen to the Soundtrack
Original Score by Jonathan Dinerstein Now Available on Amazon