At This Performance: Rebecca LaChance of Broadway's BEAUTIFUL!

BroadwayWorld presents the second installment of our latest weekly feature, 'At This Performance' highlighting the work of some of Broadway's hardest-working actors - understudies and standbys!

Waiting in the wings, these show-savers detail their favorite moments on stage, backstage, and in rehearsal in this new series, offering an inside look at one of the most stressful jobs on the Great White Way.

Rebecca LaChance, currently making her Broadway debut in BEAUTIFUL, first as Tony winner Jessie Mueller's understudy, and now covering for Chilina Kennedy, may have only taken the Stephen Sondheim's stage a handful of times, but when she does, she astounds. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, LaChance's other stage credits include productions at Williamstown Theatre Festival and Olney Theatre Center. While in school, she also studied at Off-Broadway's Playwrights Horizons, prior to taking part in various concerts throughout New York City, including Central Avenue Breakdown, Broadway by the Year and Broadway Rising Stars at Town Hall.

How many times have you gone on as Carole? Around 30.

What was your first time on like? I went on for the first time for our last performance in the out-of-town tryout in San Francisco. I only had about an hour and a half notice and I had never rehearsed! It was a whirlwind of fittings with wardrobe and hair, music rehearsal with our MD Jason Howland, attempting to memorize as many lines as possible last minute and LOTS of crying! The show was a complete labor of love by the entire company and crew. A lot of the day is a blur, but I'll remember it forever.

What's the most challenging part of being an understudy? It's hard to have the thrill of leading a show and then the next day return to my pretty small role in the ensemble. Often times I leave the stage door and people ask, "were you in the show?" It can get you down.

What's your most memorable call-time story? Definitely that last show in San Francisco!

What's your favorite way to pass the time backstage? I'm a big reader. I have logged many, many hours of DEAR (Drop Everything And Read!) at the Sondheim.