What Is the Difference Between a Broadway Swing, Standby, Alternate, and Understudy?
In honor of National Swing Day, Playbill parses out the difference between the four separate-yet-related professions.
Today is Sunday, May 24, 2026 Closing: Beaches A New Musical Broadway Baby Birthdays: Billy L. Sullivan Leslie Kritzer John C. Reilly Gene Anthony Ray Kristin Scott Thomas Alfred Molina Nell Campbell Philip Campanella Bob Dylan Arvin Brown Michael Fesco Arnold Wesker Lilli Palmer Joseph Anthony Robert B. Sinclair June Keith Maude Gilbert Elsa Maxwell Robert Hood Bowers Emily Fitzroy Arthur Wing Pinero Patti LaBelle Carolyn Kirsch Gerald McGonagill William Dodds Alex Lacamoire Siobhán McKenna George Tabori Frank Signorelli Eduardo De Filippo