Exhibits, Shows and Displays

What happens when a Broadway actor/actress gets sick when he/she has shows to do?

I noticed that broadway shows run daily nowadays except Mondays. The actors/actresses seem to be the same for every show. What happens when the actor or actress gets sick? Do they have replacements for them or do they just tough it out?

Public Comments

1. Some tough it out and others have what are called "understudy" that in easy terms is a replacement... M.G
2. They have understudies that study their parts, just in case the actor/actress gets sick, and they do the show.
3. They have what is called an understudy. If they cannot perform, the understudy takes their place. An announcement may be made prior to the show.
4. The understudy for the role takes over. Sometimes this results in a shift in the entire cast. In the case where the star is sick, the understudy for the starring role might usually play an more minor role. So then the understudy for the minor role steps into the minor role. The understudy for the minor role might usually be in the chorus. Then the chorus is one person short, and someone from the swing chorus gets to go on when they normally would not.
5. theres a back up actor but if that one is also sick then i think they pick a person who know there lines the best or they end the show
6. They have replacements called understudies. The understudy knows every line of the play like the other actors, but is only used if the primary actors are ill or injured.
7. UNDERSTUDY
8. And on the eighth day God created the understudy and He saw the understudy and it was good. Most Broadway stars begin as understudies
9. They have an understudy.