The Understudy

The Understudy — cover art

Broadway, opening night, 1949. At five o'clock a telegram sends the lead home to Allentown, and at eight the curtain goes up on you. Somebody in the company doesn't want you to get through the night.

backstage dramaNewShort read

~46–47 pages · 5 chapters · 3 endings · 3,072 paths

A book that casts you as the lead

This is a personalized choose-your-own-adventure book: before you begin, it asks a few questions, then weaves your answers into the prose while your choices steer the plot. The full story is free to read in your browser — no account needed for the opening — and if it becomes yours, you can keep the complete book, every path included, as a personalized DRM-free EPUB.

How it becomes your story

From your profile: name, pronouns, hair color, eye color, handedness.

This story asks: mirror charm, throat remedy.

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