Do Swings Perform Every Show? – Celebrity
On Broadway, a “swing” is a performer who has learned several different tracks (theater-speak for roles) and can step into any of them when called. Swings are not on stage every night—but when they are, it’s often at a moment’s notice.
The most impressive thing about a swing is the ability to stay calm in a high stress situation. With so much knowledge in their heads, swings often know the show more intimately than anyone else onstage. 1. There are more swings on Broadway than you think.
While swings often receive advance notice of when they will go on, other times they find out only minutes before heading onstage—just like understudies for principals. The most impressive thing about a swing is the ability to stay calm in a high stress situation.
Depending on the show, swings may be needed to cover all of the ensemble tracks of both genders. The seven swings of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 covered all 20 of the ensemble tracks—regardless of gender. “We covered both genders because the ensemble tracks were interchangeable that way,” says The Great Comet swing Mary Page Nance.
Why are swings important?
This is because the longer that a show runs, the more likely that an actor will be out of the building due to vacations, medical leave or personal days.
The most impressive thing about a swing is the ability to stay calm in a high stress situation. With so much knowledge in their heads, swings often know the show more intimately than anyone else onstage. 1. There are more swings on Broadway than you think.
Swings have some of the most mentally taxing jobs in theatre as, by definition, they are responsible for understudying multiple ensemble tracks (sometimes ALL of the ensembles tracks) in a show.
In an industry where “the show must go on,” sometimes—due to illness, injury, etc.—shows don’t have the correct number of players to fill all of the roles. If there are fewer actors available to perform than onstage tracks, swings are required to perform multiple tracks simultaneously.
Universal swings are responsible for knowing ensemble tracks in multiple different companies of the same show.This means they know all of the blocking, dance, vocal parts etc. for all the roles they cover on Broadway, on tour, even on select international sitdowns or tours.
Depending on the show, swings may be needed to cover all of the ensemble tracks of both genders. The seven swings of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 covered all 20 of the ensemble tracks—regardless of gender. A scene from the original Off-Broadway production of Natasha Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Chad Batka.
What is swing on Broadway?
What is a Broadway swing? On Broadway, a “swing” is a performer who has learned several different tracks (theater-speak for roles) and can step into any of them when called. Swings are not on stage every night—but when they are, it’s often at a moment’s notice.
For this reason, previews are sometimes cancelled when a principal actor is unable to perform , since their understudy hasn’t yet learned the role.
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Dance training is especially paramount if you want to get cast as a swing. Broadway dancers are some of the best in all of showbiz—which means that their covers must be, as well! For more on the ins and outs of auditioning to be a swing or understudy, check out our in-depth guide to getting cast on Broadway.
For this reason, previews are sometimes cancelled when a principal actor is unable to perform, since their understudy hasn’t yet learned the role.
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Swings, more so than understudies and replacements, are the most likely to be considered entry-level. But that perception is misleading, says Simeone. “As much as people think that being a swing is an entry-level position, the fact of the matter is being a swing is at the opposite end of the spectrum, where the lead is,” he explains.
So many huge Broadway stars have been understudies, swings, and replacements—and not just at the start of their careers.
