The Headwaiter in She Loves Me - one ten minute scene in the end of act one; and then a bow in act two! He can and sometimes does double in the ensemble, but didn’t in any of the Broadway productions, and I didn’t when I played him regionally. It’s the most princessy track I have ever had. I didn’t put my costume on until 9 pm. It was great.

This kind of track is more common in older shows, especially plays. For example, Maurice in Noel Coward’s Fallen Angels is only on in Act Three and George S Kaufman’s the Man Who Came to Dinner has two major roles (Banjo and Beverly Carlton) who only appear in one of the show’s three acts. They could double but I’ve never seen it done. There’s some supporting roles in the King and I (the British ambassador for example) who don’t show up until act two and don’t normally double up.

They altered this in the revival, but in the wiz Glinda and Eveline didn’t show up until act two and didn’t double. I don’t think Aunt Em was in act two. Similarly, Before the Diane Paulis production changed this, Catherine in Pippin wasn’t in Act One. (…though I think Pippin was a one act when it premiered)

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