Oscars: Stars and stand-ins rehearse for the big show

Lrigged up for a stunt.

Even competing for attention with some of the biggest stars in showbiz, the stand-ins were sometimes the highlight of rehearsals, giving surprisingly wonderful (and wellresearched) acceptance speeches for everything from best actor to best sound mixing.

One woman was especially excited to accept a certain award from the “dream team” of Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph, who had the busy production staff in stiches running through their bit. They all bowed to her as she came up to accept the plastic Oscar statuette.

Another man played Barry Jenkins and Chadwick Boseman at different points during the afternoon. But the standins can be a tough crowd, too. When one started out his speech for best animated feature with, “What an incredible surprise,” his fellow stand-ins ribbed him from the front row. “I know,” he said, shaking his head.

Show big wigs came in and out throughout the afternoon — film academy President John Bailey could be seen chatting with set designer David Korins (who also designed the look of “Hamilton”). Director Kimberly Pierce sat in for portions as did academy CEO Dawn Hudson. Show director and producer Glenn Weiss and his co-producer Donna Gigliotti seemed to be getting their steps in for the day.

The production crew will have one last dress rehearsal Saturday night, when the musical acts from Queen to Lady Gaga will come back to run through the numbers one more time before the cameras go live to the world for the 91st Oscars Sunday at 8 P.M. EST.