I was cast 4 days before a show. It was stressful, but I pulled it off. They went through 8 actors before they got to me. I had a few flubs, but hey, when you only have 4 days of rehearsals, it's not going to be perfect. has anyone out there experienced this dilemma?

God Bless You if you did!

Never did that. AMAZING. I know I couldn't do it now. I would have to go on with the book. You truly rock. How were you able to retain so much. How big was your part.

It's funny, we were discussing this at rehearsal just last night, and it was "Who HASN'T jumped into a part at the last minute?" I stepped into a role in the last show I directed six days before we opened. Now granted, I was familiar with the show because I had adapted it and directed it, but that doesn't mean I had every part memorized, and learning the fight choreography (rapier and dagger) in a week was an adventure.

Many years ago, I got a call asking if I could come to Massacusetts to cover a role in a musical that I had done a few years previously that same evening for their final dress before they opened the next night. I decided to take the bus rather than drive so I could work on lines, got to sing through the numbers with the musical director once before we started, and dodged scenery as best I could. Due to the volatile situation I had walked into, most of the cast didn't want to work through the show again (or, as it would turn out, do anything for that director again) before the performance so it was an interesting opening. Not the best of situations, but the show must go on, right?

When I was starting out in DC, in 2000, I was asked to come aboard a production of "As You Like It", the day before tech rehearsals begin (about 3-4 days before opening). It was the part of William, so there weren't many lines.

But then 2 days before open, I was asked to memorize Shakespeare's last sonnet, "Little love god lying once asleep..." and rap it to a beat, that they provided.

A week later, I was informed that the guy who played "Charles" (the wrestler) would be leaving in the middle of the run, and would I be interested in taking over his part, as well. So by the end of the run, I was playing 2 characters.

It was scary, thrilling, and very well worth it.

2 years later, the same director called me. Her lead actor in the play, "Anna Lucasta," had to drop out a week before rehearsals began. She'd never cast me as a lead before, and made sure I knew she was putting a lot of trust in me. I had to adjust my whole schedule and life around within a week. But at least this time I had a full rehearsal.

Ended up being the best experience I've had so far in theatre.