Backstage drama feeds the comedy in ‘The Understudy'
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The company, which is also distinguished by its 'pay-what-you-can' policy for all performances (which keeps their productions accessible), mounts three productions each season, two in the fall and winter at the Boston Center for the Arts and one during the summer at Club Café.
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''The Understudy' is our fifth summer production here,' says Elias. 'It's a fun place with a great vibe, and the Club Café staff have been wonderful partners. The room encourages us to create a more immersive theater experience for our audiences.'
And while the Club Café space doesn't have the bells and whistles of traditional theaters (there's a limited lighting grid and no wing space), award-winning actor and director Paula Plum, who has worked with the company since their inaugural season, says Hub has a team that makes magic happen.
'Lighting designer Emily Bearce
has worked wonders with limited instruments, Justin Lahue has created evocative projections for the walls of the theater, and Peyton Tavares's set is very flexible,' she says.
''The Understudy' has a kind of 'Play That Goes Wrong' vibe,' says Elias, 'so our creative solutions to three set changes and exits and entrances through the audience add to the fun.'
The action takes place at an understudy rehearsal on the stage of the Broadway premiere of a newly discovered play by Franz Kafka. Jake (Cristhian Mancinas-García) is a B-list action film actor trying to boost his credibility with the Broadway gig. He shares the stage with the never-seen Bruce, a megastar who makes 10 times Jake's salary. Harry (Kevin Paquette), an actor struggling to find work, has been cast as Bruce's understudy, but also happens to have jilted the stage manager weeks before their wedding six years ago.
'I have been so excited by the on-stage chemistry between the two men,' Plum says. 'That's not always something you can predict, but Cristhian is very skilled at physical comedy and Kevin's reactions increase the humor.'
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As the characters work through the scenes in the absurdist Kafka play (which appears to be a cross between 'The Castle' and 'The Trial') the two build a begrudging friendship. This places even more pressure on Roxanne, who is trying to stay calm through the chaos created by a stoned board operator while navigating the emotional upheaval caused by Kevin's appearance and Jake's interest in her.
Rebeck's script doesn't shy away from drama with a capital D, and the absurdity of a life in the theater. Plum says that beneath the humor lies real insight into 'what it really means to deal with an acting career. There's a lot of heartbreak and disappointment,' she says. A speech where Harry claims he's not bitter 'exposes all the anxiety and neuroses of lots of actors.'
Navigating all the emotional extremes might seem to demand a firm directorial hand, but Plum says she follows her instincts, and Elias describes it as 'adjusting the barometer.'
'Really,' says Plum, 'when you have great actors, my role becomes making sure the technical aspects of the play work smoothly.'
As she looks ahead to more Hub seasons, Elias says three shows a year feels right, despite growing audience interest in Hub's work.
'In the early days, people would come to the show because they knew someone in it, 'she says. 'Now, more and more, I'm seeing repeat customers, people who came to one show and want to see what we are doing next. That's gratifying.'
That word-of-mouth success is something that anyone would be lucky to understudy.
THE UNDERSTUDY
Presented by Hub Theatre Company of Boston, at Club Café, 209 Columbus Ave, Boston, July 19-Aug. 2. Tickets are pay-what-you-can. Audiences receive 20% off Club Café food bill.
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Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Boston Globe
Backstage drama feeds the comedy in ‘The Understudy'
'We are always looking for new collaborators,' says Elias, 'but they have to be ready and willing to roll with the punches.' Advertisement The company, which is also distinguished by its 'pay-what-you-can' policy for all performances (which keeps their productions accessible), mounts three productions each season, two in the fall and winter at the Boston Center for the Arts and one during the summer at Club Café. Advertisement ''The Understudy' is our fifth summer production here,' says Elias. 'It's a fun place with a great vibe, and the Club Café staff have been wonderful partners. The room encourages us to create a more immersive theater experience for our audiences.' And while the Club Café space doesn't have the bells and whistles of traditional theaters (there's a limited lighting grid and no wing space), award-winning actor and director Paula Plum, who has worked with the company since their inaugural season, says Hub has a team that makes magic happen. 'Lighting designer Emily Bearce has worked wonders with limited instruments, Justin Lahue has created evocative projections for the walls of the theater, and Peyton Tavares's set is very flexible,' she says. ''The Understudy' has a kind of 'Play That Goes Wrong' vibe,' says Elias, 'so our creative solutions to three set changes and exits and entrances through the audience add to the fun.' The action takes place at an understudy rehearsal on the stage of the Broadway premiere of a newly discovered play by Franz Kafka. Jake (Cristhian Mancinas-García) is a B-list action film actor trying to boost his credibility with the Broadway gig. He shares the stage with the never-seen Bruce, a megastar who makes 10 times Jake's salary. Harry (Kevin Paquette), an actor struggling to find work, has been cast as Bruce's understudy, but also happens to have jilted the stage manager weeks before their wedding six years ago. 'I have been so excited by the on-stage chemistry between the two men,' Plum says. 'That's not always something you can predict, but Cristhian is very skilled at physical comedy and Kevin's reactions increase the humor.' Advertisement As the characters work through the scenes in the absurdist Kafka play (which appears to be a cross between 'The Castle' and 'The Trial') the two build a begrudging friendship. This places even more pressure on Roxanne, who is trying to stay calm through the chaos created by a stoned board operator while navigating the emotional upheaval caused by Kevin's appearance and Jake's interest in her. Rebeck's script doesn't shy away from drama with a capital D, and the absurdity of a life in the theater. Plum says that beneath the humor lies real insight into 'what it really means to deal with an acting career. There's a lot of heartbreak and disappointment,' she says. A speech where Harry claims he's not bitter 'exposes all the anxiety and neuroses of lots of actors.' Navigating all the emotional extremes might seem to demand a firm directorial hand, but Plum says she follows her instincts, and Elias describes it as 'adjusting the barometer.' 'Really,' says Plum, 'when you have great actors, my role becomes making sure the technical aspects of the play work smoothly.' As she looks ahead to more Hub seasons, Elias says three shows a year feels right, despite growing audience interest in Hub's work. 'In the early days, people would come to the show because they knew someone in it, 'she says. 'Now, more and more, I'm seeing repeat customers, people who came to one show and want to see what we are doing next. That's gratifying.' That word-of-mouth success is something that anyone would be lucky to understudy. THE UNDERSTUDY Presented by Hub Theatre Company of Boston, at Club Café, 209 Columbus Ave, Boston, July 19-Aug. 2. Tickets are pay-what-you-can. Audiences receive 20% off Club Café food bill. Advertisement
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When The Kelly Clarkson Show won a Daytime Emmy in December 2023, Kelly Clarkson wanted the news on her personal Instagram fast. 'Hey Jake, do you mind getting this up for Kelly tonight?' someone from Clarkson's team texted her personal social media manager Jake Updegraff, along with the approved message. Updegraff, who was in the middle of a Friday-night holiday gift exchange with friends, quickly jumped on it. He logged into Clarkson's account, because, yes, having a celebrity's password is just part of the job. The message itself was standard — a thank-you to the Daytime Emmys and a shout-out to her team. But something about the post was unusual once it went live. It turns out Updegraff forgot to delete the internal note that preceded the approved copy. It began, 'Hey Jake, do you mind getting this up for Kelly tonight?' Updegraff had put his phone on Do Not Disturb after he finished the assignment. 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Or maybe it's someone like Updegraff, one of the many digital ghostwriters and content strategists working behind the scenes. Their job? Curate every pixel of a celebrity's personal brand online — on their verified account, in their voice, as if they posted it themselves. It's not a new role in Hollywood, but it's one that has evolved significantly. Today's celebrity social media manager is part brand strategist, part confidant, part crisis manager — and, most important, an invisible architect of influence. It's a high-stakes, high-speed job that requires precision, patience and a sixth sense for timing. And while the work is mostly behind the curtain, the impact is often front-page. I spoke to four social media managers — two on the record, two anonymously — who've run social media accounts for some of the biggest names in Hollywood. 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He cites these stars as ones who leaned into the medium, embracing personality-driven posting and helping reset industry expectations. Their successes — coupled with the rise of influencer culture — rewrote the rules. Suddenly a strong online presence wasn't just helpful; it was vital. Social media became a brand engine, and behind every glossy post, there needed to be someone pulling the strings. Enter the celebrity social media manager. What started as a nice-to-have role quickly became essential. As celebrities embraced social media as a tool to shape their personal brands, the expectations grew — not just from their teams but also from their followers. Stars were expected to be 'authentic' and always on. Fans didn't just want promotional posts; they wanted birthday shout-outs, behind-the-scenes glimpses and unfiltered moments — all while maintaining a level of polish and control that only a professional could provide. The real challenge became finding someone who could manage the pace, protect the brand and disappear into the background. Today Instagram feels like the one platform stars have to be active on. It's the digital front door to both a celebrity's brand and personal life, where a single post can launch a product, spark a headline or shift a narrative. For one social media manager who worked closely with two A-list stars, a key part of her job wasn't the content strategy or the caption copy — it was knowing how to disappear. She asked to remain anonymous due to NDAs she signed with both celebrities, so we'll call her Sarah. 'The most important quality of being a celebrity social media manager is the art of being invisible,' she told me. Her job required her to be with one actress almost 24/7. 'When I'm in the glam room, when I'm in the hotel room getting my content, she doesn't even feel my presence — but I'm always at the ready. I'm getting what I need, but I'm never in the way.' Sarah started as a personal assistant to a television personality, eventually running that star's personal and business social accounts before moving on to an A-list actress. "There's a lot of perks to the role," she tells me. " When I traveled, I got to stay where they stayed. They're staying at the f***ing nicest hotels, I get to stay at the nicest hotels. We're flying first or business class. The best part, bar none, is the exposure to their worlds — not from a gossip level but just being able to attend events and go to the premieres and get all the perks.' But with those perks came pressure and unpredictability. "The hardest part is the emotional roller coaster that comes with [the job]," she says. "Every day is a different emotion and a different hurdle, but you also learn to be super empathetic to what they deal with. There's somebody needing something from them 24/7. They're never alone. And I think you forget that they're people too.' That emotional proximity gave her a front-row seat to something else: just how involved celebrities actually are in crafting their online images. Far from being hands-off, many stars are invested in what they post and how they're perceived. They care about the tone of the caption, the order of the photo carousel and the filter used on pictures. For them, every post is a piece of the puzzle: a carefully calibrated extension of their public persona. And they expect the people running their accounts to not just understand the vision but to execute it flawlessly. Quickly learning that the job required emotional intelligence as much as creative instincts helped Sarah be successful. For the A-list star, she knew all personal socials were "the front door into all her business verticals." "I was with her every single day, traveling the world with her, in her home," she says. But with proximity came pressure. The closer you are to a celebrity, the more disciplined you have to be. 'Where people in this job really struggle is they make their presence too known,' she said. 'They try to insert themselves into their lives too much. The people who are successful in a celebrity's life want nothing in return. I don't need to be in the video. I don't care if my socials grow. I just want to do a good job and make sure she's comfortable and happy.' I spoke to another woman, I'll call her Kate, who also asked to remain anonymous as she's still running all personal and business social accounts for a major multi-hyphenate celebrity. Like Sarah, she assumed the star she worked for might be more hands-off. After all, said star should be busy running an empire. 'I come from a news background, and I was like, she's one human being — how much work could there possibly be?' Kate says. 'But with her in particular, she's omnipresent. She's constantly doing stuff.' Kate manages a small team who assist her with drafting copy, pulling selects from photo shoots, scrubbing through shared albums for raw content, and posting across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X. She's in direct contact with the celebrity daily, reviewing captions, approving content and texting about trends. While Kate's client is unusually open — 'shockingly so for a celebrity at her level' — she's also extremely hands-on. 'She'll say, 'Swap photos seven and nine.' She has 800 other things to do, but she still wants to see everything before it goes up.' Waiting for approvals across time zones can stall content for hours — and the back-and-forth is round-the-clock. 'She's stunning, obviously,' Kate says. 'But there's a f*** ton of editing that goes into even her [photos].' Still, the star's involvement is part of what makes her feel real to fans — even when it's not technically her posting. 'Sometimes I'll DM someone and say, 'Hey, this is Kate from [celebrity]'s team. She saw your comment and wanted to send you something.' Meanwhile, she didn't. But it makes their day. And my boss loves that — she wants to uphold that reputation because she really is very fan-first,' she explains. That kind of quiet, careful work might be the norm for this job — but it's not the only way to manage a celebrity account. Although some social media managers live in a world of day-to-day maintenance and approval loops, there's a more strategic side too — building campaigns that go viral and making headlines. For Updegraff, who also works with clients like Pentatonix and Alicia Silverstone, his work is about creating the moments fans (and press) can't stop talking about. Updegraff helped launch Alicia Silverstone's TikTok account in 2021 — and turned her debut into a full-blown cultural event. It was Updegraff who had the idea to re-create the "As if" scene from Clueless for her first-ever post, complete with a cameo from her son Bear. 'She gained like two million followers in 24 hours,' he says. 'It was insane.' The idea came together quickly, but strategically. Silverstone was collaborative, even asking if he thought the 'As if!' moment was the film's most iconic scene. 'I knew we could make a splash,' Updegraff says. 'We posted it on a Friday. And it was everywhere.' Silverstone's willingness to lean into nostalgia and share glimpses of her personal life — like including her son — has made her and Updegraff a successful team. Another win: the 'That's Not My Name' trend, which he and Silverstone also kicked off together. 'That one was pretty big,' he recalls. Updegraff says his job is part creative director, part executive assistant. He pitches ideas, films content, edits videos, builds UGC campaigns and posts each one across a dozen different platforms. 'People don't realize how much time it takes just to post,' he says. 'It's the same piece of content, but you have to format it 20 different ways.' Not every celebrity wants to get personal, and that's fine with him. 'If you're not comfortable [with an idea], I have 12,000 more,' he says. 'But I'll gently push you if I think something's worth the risk.' He's always encouraging stars to be more vulnerable but never in a way that feels forced. 'Authenticity wins,' he says. 'You just have to know what's real for each person.' While all the social media managers I spoke to came from different backgrounds and approached their roles differently, they all believe one thing: The job is misunderstood. 'People think it's just posting,' Updegraff says. 'But it's emotional labor. It's creative strategy.' To be successful, all four say it isn't just the skill or the access that makes it possible — it's the trust that allows them to operate in the background without disrupting the spotlight. In a culture where everyone is watching — fans, brands, press, Reddit threads — the most important thing might be making it all look effortless.
