The Understudy

Club Cafe
209 Columbus Avenue Boston

It's complete chaos behind the curtain! From the acclaimed creator of Smash comes a bitingly witty comedic satire about Broadway dreams and backstage nightmares. When Harry, a hapless understudy, Roxanne, a frazzled stage manager, and Jake, an up-and-coming Hollywood hunk collide in rehearsal for a newly discovered Kafka masterpiece, things begin to spiral spectacularly out of control. As tempers flare, tensions rise and the stoned stage crew goes rogue, a routine run-through turns into a full-blown disaster. Will the show still go on? Get ready for misplaced props, oversized egos and lots of laughs in this show perfect for theatre lovers and haters alike.

Thru - Aug 2, 2025

The Understudy Reviews

Average Rating based on 2 reviews

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Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended

"...A well-done backstage farce is always a good time, especially for theatre lovers. But a well-done backstage farce with something to say, with layers and depth-that is harder to come by, and even more of a good time-thespian or no. Hats off to Hub Theatre Company of Boston's The Understudy for delivering the latter in the intimate Club Cafe setting that immerses us in that stimulating world from lights up."

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- Emily Brenner

New England Theater Mirror - Highly Recommended

"...Playwright Theresa Rebeck's smart, funny, snarky The Understudy takes us straight into the belly of the beast known as "Broadway Theater." (Rebeck also penned the smash TV series, "Smash.") Set backstage during an understudy rehearsal for The Castle, a fictitious long-lost play by Franz Kafka, the three-hander starts with a five-screen surround projection of close-ups of a Clint Eastwood-esque guy's stubbled face. He mugs and does a macho muscled vamp, screaming "Get in the truck!" menacingly. Eventually, the film's title ("Trucknado") blazes across the screen as a booming voice warns, "Stay low or drive high.""

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- Shelley A. Sackett

The Understudy at Club Cafe

The Understudy

The Understudy Reviews

Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended

New England Theater Mirror - Highly Recommended

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