No notice when a Swing goes on?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 3:18pm

I am in the process of taking the cast lists from Playbills and inputting them into an online database (for work, don't ask). These are from specific performance dates, so some Playbills have understudy slips. As required by AEA, when an understudy or standby goes on, there must be a slip inserted into the program, and also either posted on the board in the lobby or have an announcement be made.

However, I noticed that the Swing who would take on the missing ensemble track is NOT listed. Is this not, too, required by Equity?

For example, on January 17, 2004 at the 2:00PM performance of AIDA, Chuck Saculla (normally in the Ensemble) went on for Cheyenne Jackson in the role of Radames. This means that one of the Swings must take on Saculla's ensemble track, however there is no notation of which of the two male swings did so.

I at first thought this to be a mistake, however I have encountered the same problem with other shows' understudy slips.

Is it that Equity does not require to give the audience notice when a Swing goes on? Or is it that signage was posted in the lobby and no slip is required?

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 3:34pm

Or is it that signage was posted in the lobby and no slip is required?

Exactly. At that point they might not have even been sure as to what swing would go on, so the signage is enough. As long as it is announced. Even with lead performers being replaced last minute, they could get away with an annoucement before the show begins.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 3:38pm

I know that shows like Hair and Wicked have swings boards but I'm not sure of other shows.

[tamra2]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 4:00pm

i am pretty sure i read once on an entry in The Producer's Pperspective blog that Equity requires that a show must announce a cast change in 2 of 3 ways. A slip in playbill, on a board outside, or an announcement. so if an announcement is made, and its on a board outside no slip is neccessary.

however i do not actually know the rules and i suspect either they allow shows to not post slips just for when someone is covering an ensemble track, or they just don't enforce it. there have been plenty of times seeing a larger cast show (such as wicked) that an ensemble member has been out and they did not list the name of the swing performing in any of the three ways. (if that makes any sense)

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 4:09pm

I mean it makes sense for the Equity rule that applies for understudies/standbys to be enforced, ESPECIALLY when it is an above-the-title performer. However, it would sense for Swings to be overlooked since the audience typically doesn't give a hoot what no-name lowly theatre actor plays sixth Ozian on the left. Still, AEA would want to equally represent all of its members, yes? So I assume that posting Swings in the lobby is sufficient according to Equity.

Yes?

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 4:12pm

Most shows do not list when swings go on for ensemble tracks, not even on the understudy board. I've seen this be the case countless times.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 4:16pm

Wicked has very recently begun posting a swing board. Like within the last 6 months.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 4:18pm

I wanted to add more specifically: ensemble tracks without a character name are the ones I was speaking of.

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 4:19pm

Most shows do not list when swings go on for ensemble tracks, not even on the understudy board. I've seen this be the case countless times.

They're supposed to. However, they way swings are selected to go on (sometimes very last minute), it doesn't allow time to put up the signage. A swing has the right to demand his name announced to the audience.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 4:22pm

From the current rulebook:

"When a Swing is performing in a track with no identifiable characters, the Swing’s name shall, at the producer’s option, be posted by means of a slider on the House Board in the lobby, or by means of insert in the daily program."

[otis33]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 4:25pm

As a swing, I've gone on mid-performance for one number. Not sure what the rule is there - but no announcement was made. With advance notice, I was always announced on the board in the lobby.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 4:36pm

In cases like yours, Otis, I have actually heard announcements made after the show, after house lights were up.

[Jon]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 4:58pm

A swing is technically a member of the ensemble - just one who isn't in every performance doing the same "track". Since they are not replacing a specific character with a name and dialogue, there's no point in announcing them.

What would they say? "Chorus Member Betty is playing Galinda tonight, so Swing Mary Lou will be in the chorus, doing the stuff Betty usually does"?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 5:00pm

I've seen slips before saying "The roles played by ______ will be played by ______ at this performance."

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 5:03pm

What Phyl said.

[shrekster224]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 5:10pm

Exactly. My most recent experience with this was at The Addams Family, when Colin Cunliffe was on Eric Buckley's track. He was announced on the understudy board but there was no slip, but the audience wouldn't really care if the ensemble is being understudied.

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 5:34pm

but the audience wouldn't really care if the ensemble is being understudied

That's your opinion. Any performer deserves the same credit as anyone else for being onstage, especially those who know multiple tracks and do them well.

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 5:38pm

What should be differentiated here is what must be done and what a given show/producer may choose to do.

AEA AGMA SM's post is spot-on quoting the rulebook. When a swing is on for a chorus track that has no designated "parts" or "specialties", there is no requirement to announce, post or insert a slip into the Playbill. Blaxx's is unfortunately incorrect in this instance -- shows are not "supposed to" announce and while I guess a swing can demand whatever he/she wants, there is simply no requirement of the show to make an announcement.

All of that said, in the interests of harmony within the chorus and understudy ranks, some shows do it voluntarily anyway, especially if a chorus person is moving up to play a principal role since there is a certain logic there -- i.e. since they are required to post/insert/announce that chorus person x is moving up to play principal y's part, the show also notes that swing z is on in chorus person x's track. If a chorus person (with no parts or specialties) is simply out at that performance, it's essentially undetectable by the audience (unless they know the actors involved) so posting in those cases in a less frequent voluntary gesture by the show.

To be clear, though: if a swing is performing a track with one or more named chorus parts or specialties, it's no longer an option. Then the "2 out of 3" rule applies as noted by a previous poster. Before the show (or even after), however, most audience members don't know which are named chorus parts/specialties and even fewer know the specific union rule, which then accounts for the different experiences audience members may have had with announcement vs. no announcement, board vs. no board and slip vs no slip.

EDIT: I absolutely agree with Blaxx's sentiment noted immediately above this post (which was added as I was writing the above). However, for better or worse, it's simply not a union requirement unless the chorus track includes a named part/specialty (as designated by that very same union) so some shows keep to the letter of the law instead of doing the "nice" thing. It may show them off as being unkind or insensitive, but it doesn't make them wrong.

Updated On: 6/2/10 at 05:38 PM

[shrekster224]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 5:49pm

"That's your opinion. Any performer deserves the same credit as anyone else for being onstage, especially those who know multiple tracks and do them well."

It's actually not my opinion. Being a Broadway junkie, I like to know when swings go on for other ensemble members. What I said was that the normal tourist audience, who are simply there for entertainment, do not care as much as anyone on this board does about non-title roles. Like I said, at The Addams Family, Colin Cunliffe was on for a track that actually has a few solo spots, such as a big moment in "Morticia". There were places where you could clearly see he stood out, and was very talented. Go swings!

[sorano916]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 5:50pm

In the case of "American Idiot," since the ensemble is relatively small compared to, say, "Wicked," I've seen the understudy board list when swings go on for ensemble (or when ensemble went on for ensemble, in the case of Gerard Canonico on for Theo Stockman). However, the slips in the program only happen when someone was on for a titled character and an swing was on for the ensemble member.

Understudy board:


Slips:

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 5:55pm

Thank you all for your assistance. I was aware of what the requirements were in regards to understudies (2 outta 3) but was unclear about what Equity's rules were in regards to Swings.

May I also add: If they know ahead of time, when they go to print the slips, they should most definitely insert the Swing in there, too.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 6:00pm

I sometimes just get the board.

with no slip or announcement.
Updated On: 6/2/10 at 06:00 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 6:24pm

AEA AGMA SM's post is spot-on quoting the rulebook. When a swing is on for a chorus track that has no designated "parts" or "specialties", there is no requirement to announce, post or insert a slip into the Playbill. Blaxx's is unfortunately incorrect in this instance -- shows are not "supposed to" announce and while I guess a swing can demand whatever he/she wants, there is simply no requirement of the show to make an announcement.

I don't understand what part of the rulebook indicates it is optional, or that they are not "supposed to". I clearly read "shall" and "or".

"When a Swing is performing in a track with no identifiable characters, the Swing’s name shall, at the producer’s option, be posted by means of a slider on the House Board in the lobby, or by means of insert in the daily program."

Corrrect me if I'm wrong, but that to me reads that one or the other must be done, not that it is optional altogether.

Updated On: 6/2/10 at 06:24 PM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 7:08pm

I interpret that passage the same why blaxx does - that the producer's "option" is that they can can decide to use the slider or the slip, but has to do one or the other. I am surprised that the announcement doesn't remain an option. In every show I have ever worked, it is usually the slide and/or an announcement, being as mentioned above, very often which swing is going on may not be known until last minute. They may not have the correct slip or the time to put them in the playbill. Also, in the case of a vacation swing, who almost always is by job description a short-timer, the company will often opt not to make slips at all.

eta: I'll admit the passage is poorly worded, and the phrase "at the producer's option" is badly placed, causing the current confusion.

Updated On: 6/2/10 at 07:08 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 11:43pm

during A Chorus Line, they never posted/announced if a swing went on for one of the cut dancers.