Swings, etc.!

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Swings, etc.!

Posted: 6/11/11 at 11:38am

Hi, we're in NY having a great time! I have a couple of questions for you experts! What does it mean in the playbill when it says someone is a "swing"? And, can a replacement be nominated for a Tony, or just an original cast member? So far we've seen Catch Me If You Can and Book of Mormon. Both were fantastic!! I can't imagine why Aaron Tveit wasn't nominated along with Norbert. They are both fantastic! Of course, so were the Mormon guys. What fun! We felt so irreverent (sp?) sitting in a church for a concert last night after seeing Book of Mormon in the afternoon. hee hee

Still have War Horse and How To Succeed to go!

Swings, etc.! Answers

Posted: 6/11/11 at 11:55am

A swing is someone who is an understudy for many members of the ensemble, sometimes even lead. Using an example from a show you saw, in Book of Mormon, there is a swing named Nick Spangler, who covers many of the missionaries, as well as Elder Price. Tyson Jennette covers many of the Ugandan male ensemble guys as well as Mafala Hatimbi. To counter that example, Graham Bowen is the dance captian and a swing, but only covers missionary enesemble members.

No, a replacement cannot be nominated for a Tony, usually, because by the time they come the show is not new to the season. Example: if someone replaces Aaron Tveit in July who is much better than him, he cannot be nominated, because Catch Me if You Can's season has already past, and it is not a "new" show anymore. I have never thought about this, but could TV Carpio get a best featured actress nom next year? Since she replaced so early? I guess so, because they go by opening night cast, in less there is a rare case in which an understudy is on.

Updated On: 6/11/11 at 11:55 AM

Swings, etc.!

Posted: 6/11/11 at 11:59am

No, only the person that orignated the role can be nominated.

A swing is a cast member who is in charge of knowing many roles or "tracks" in the show. So when a lead is not performing that night, one of the understudies steps up into that role, and the swing covers all the understudy roles

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

Swings, etc.!

Posted: 6/11/11 at 12:08pm

Shrekster, you would be right: whomever opens the show is who is eligible. It doesn't matter how many times it changes before that time. (I'm sure if the understudy DID go on on opening night, then they would simply have to petition the Tony committee to make sure the "correct" actor was in consideration. didn't this happen not too long ago?)

Swings, etc.!

Posted: 6/11/11 at 12:10pm

And "originated" means whomever is listed in the Opening Night Playbill credits. Sometimes an actor did the role in a pre-Broadway tryout or in Previews and got replaced (a la T.V. Carpio replacing Natalie Mendoza in SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK). If that happens, it is the actor who performed during Opening Night. UNLESS, however, the show petitions otherwise.

Two years ago when BILLY ELLIOT was nominated, all three Billys shared a nominated even though only one performed on Opening Night. This is because the show petitioned for that to happen and they were granted that special permission. HOWEVER, they did NOT petition for the actors playing Michael to share a nomination, which is why only one of the two actors who shared that role received a Tony nomination (the actor who performed on Opening Night).

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

Swings, etc.!

Posted: 6/11/11 at 12:39pm

So does this mean someone like Nick Spangler of Mormon doesn't perform unless an understudy is needed? Or, is he part of the chorus as well? I guess that depends on how big the chorus might be? Thanks so much for all the detailed answers!!!

Yall are great! Also, I remember Nick from Amazing Race! I didn't know he was in the show, so I either missed him or he didn't perform for anyone. Thanks!

Swings, etc.!

Posted: 6/11/11 at 1:02pm

Some swings do have their own tracks, others do not. Is he listed as anything other than a swing? If not, he only performs when needed and might not have been on when you were there.

Swings, etc.!

Posted: 6/11/11 at 1:53pm

Specific for Nick, he is only a swing. You probably didn't see him, but he did go on for Elder White for about 10 performances, I think Ben Schraders track? I haven't seen the show yet.

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