Swing it, Brother! Swing!

Recently I was pleased when producer Ken Davenport featured Arbender Robinson, a Dance Captain/Swing on his blog. From reading this account, I am inspired to share my own experience approaching such a heavy job!

First off, many of you might not know what a Swing is or does! Often when I tell people I'm the Male Swing on Beauty and the Beast, they say "I don't remember that character in the castle!" :)

Essentially, as Swing I am an on-call actor. If someone can't do the show (due to illness, injury, or conflict), I fulfill their performance, or track. My job is to cover the eight tracks of the male ensemble. I was also hired to understudy Lefou. In an emergency situation, I also cover the eight female ensemble tracks in the town scenes!

Requirements:
Arbender spoke very accurately when he said swinging "requires a ton of homework to remember different vocal parts, blocking, choreography, and acting intentions for each character. This includes everything they do offstage, too: costume changes, prop shifts, entrances and exits, etc."

Swinging requires a person to be very organized and detail oriented to document and implement every nuance of a role. In addition, one has to delineate what is critical to the show vs. an individual's artistic choices. One has to be able to fulfill ALL the critical requirements AND adapt/adopt the artistic choices.

Tips/Tricks:

It's easiest to get everything down first! I choose to work digitally through videos, notes, charts and tracking sheets. Once in the computer, it's easy to clean up and implement changes. Digital notation makes it easy to record future notes, modifications and discoveries as well as preserve the work for future generations!

While I'd love to elaborate on my methodology of digital notation, it is my hope to find freelance work after this tour teaching my process to stage managers, dance captains, swings and any directors/choreographers interested in preserving or selling their work. Swinging is a very difficult job and I am hopeful that my process can be further refined and perfected to become useful to others.

I will say that if one finds themselves in a Swing role, begin by WRITING THINGS DOWN. Many of your questions can be answered by returning to your own notes! Look at the big picture. Find the patterns first, and then notate the myriad variations with MAXIMUM specificity.

Hint: Think about movement in terms of US/DS (or upstage and downstage!) as well as towards center or away. (It will help you to quickly reverse things!)

Pitfalls:
You get MANY days off!
Inevitable anxiety...

Positives:

You get MANY days off!
You get to play MANY parts!

I really enjoy my job because every day is different! Performing the same role everyday in a long run has its advantages and disadvantages. However, Swinging Beauty and the Beast has taught me things about myself and theatre that I would never have garnered if I didn’t get to observe and do so much!

I am grateful and proud of this show and hope you'll get the opportunity to see it--with or without me in it! :)

Finding "Home" on the Road

It's been a while since I've written--mainly because I've been insanely busy performing the last two weeks with Beauty and the Beast!

Rather than elaborate on the show and the pandemonium of split tracks and traveling, I'd like to write more about what I'm learning and exploring.

1.) What do you want to do after this tour?
Those closest to me know that I'm always planning and thinking ahead. It's a weakness of mine. Sometimes I wish I lived a more reactive/present life than a proactive/prospective one. Regardless, by setting micro and macro goals, I'm maintaining financial security and striving to reach my potential. I have many side interests and am currently torn about what to do with the rest of my life!

In the next 10 years, I want to:
1. Garner critical appraise in roles (Regional/NYC)
2. Have financial security
3. Establish community
4. Be healthy
5. Challenge myself

Ideally, I'd like these five ambitions to be lifelong.

I LOVE theatre and I've been fortunate in working consistently. (Success!) I could continue to explore this path--but I'm finding myself unsatisfied with the type of roles I'm booking. Eventually, I want to take on more prominent roles that require all of my skills--specifically in NYC.

I have an opportunity to return to NY and sign with a prominent dance agency, but I'm considering taking a year or two off to go to graduate school. I want to study voice and acting in a focused distraction-free zone. I need to garner confidence and an optimized identity. I want support and feedback from teachers that are actively interested in my growth and development. What is most important to me is that I don't look back at my decisions/life with regret.

I wonder whether taking two years off to study and invest would bring me this work faster than trying to broaden and develop my craft while active in my profession? Perhaps it is better to work, approach auditions differently, and seek understudy opportunities?

It's a difficult decision that I'm only beginning to investigate. I have plenty of time to explore/ponder/research/evaluate with my current contract. I will continue to talk it out with my friends and family but welcome any advice/commentary should any colleagues read this! :)

2.) What are you doing/learning while on tour?
Tour life is exhausting. Often I don't know what day it is or what city I'm in. This blur can be attributed to our early status. We are still daily rehearsing, learning, tweaking, and adjusting (I'm reminded of Wendy Mortimer's adage "Every show is a rehearsal.") alongside the creative team.

I am learning to survive "homelessness" by reaching out to close friends and family--while creating a new family on the road! I invite you to share email updates, photos or video chat with me!

I'm slowly becoming a minimalist. I am learning to evaluate what I need, what matters, and how to prioritize function for space! I feel that when I return to an apartment (in NYC or at a university), I will find myself selling possessions in favor of clarity, organization, and cleanliness.

While I'm on tour I've set four priorities, based on many articles on minimalism.

1. Craft
1. Read books
2. Stay up to date on current events
3. Rehearse every night
2. Health
1. Listen to your body
2. Eat right
3. Reserve some time for yourself
4. Work for optimal strength and flexibility
3. Graphic Design
1. Continue to develop skills
2. Freelance for supplemental income
3. Consider online courses
4. Create!
4. Exploration 
1. Research graduate programs
2. Research teachers/studios/opportunities in NYC
3. Consider taking another international excursion!

Now isn't this a better blog than my typical ramblings about the show?! :)

Warmly,

Tony

Rants and Raves

It has been quite some time since I've written. Part of that is my writing style/preferences for blogging. On most days, I want my blog to be positive and professional...because I don't know who might read it. However, after reading other friends' blogs I feel it is okay to truly speak my mind.  After all, we are protected by the first amendment and my adopted mantra is to be bold, free and truthful! :)

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is currently en route to Kalamazoo, MI. I'm anxious to get there because we will begin understudy/cover rehearsals. I'll get to work/rehearse!!!

I feel disconnected in many ways. It has been hard for me to sit in various locales and observe the show for so long. While it's been great to look at the show (macro and micro) and notate, I wasn't quite prepared for the daily anxiety and lack of rehearsal space/time. Nevertheless, now comes the time to test my mind and memory--and PLAY!

I know that I will eventually enjoy this formidable experience and return to NYC smarter and stronger. Already, I understand more about the creative process and the various components of commercial theatre. I will have traveled the country, worked with a Disney dream team and fulfilled a childhood dream! In addition, I'll be acclimatized to a long process and touring!

Reviews for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST have been very positive and nightly audiences have been full and responsive. While all of the men have been able to perform, our female swing/D.C. recently went in for an ill female ensemble member. I was in the audience recording some new choreography and must say I'm very proud of her. We haven't had much time on our feet and she stepped into the show rather effortlessly.

On other fronts, I've greatly enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with many friends! Many of you are getting married and I hope I can attend! I've appreciated save the date's, invitations and cards. For the next sixteen months, please write me at:

Tony Howell
C/O BATB Tour
7135 Minstrel Way, Suite 105
Columbia, MD 21045

I've also been doing some creative work and am in the process of developing an ongoing project. More to come later...

(((LOVE)))

Tony

Opening Night Celebration

(L to R: Carolyn Violi, Connor Gallagher, Matt West, Rob Roth, Tony Howell, Hols Fischer)

Opening Night Cakes!

Leaving our mark on Providence, RI!

"Final" Rehearsal Days

I am writing from Starbucks in Downtown Providence early in the morning. After attending the best Super Bowl party of my life (sorry Hoosiers!), I came home and couldn't sleep more than a few hours. After endless tossing and turning, I decided it best to get up and blog this morning, work out and begin to work on my 2009 taxes!

It's the day of our "final" dress rehearsal. I use final loosely because the show is really in previews. Tonight will be the last time the doors will be closed to the public, but the show will still be finessed and rehearsed for weeks. It is an exciting day as Broadway photographer Joan Marcus joins us to capture the show. I'll post links to the photographs when available.

I'm constantly running the show in my head. I get frustrated when I can't think of what comes next because I know that will be a huge problem when I go on! In good news, I'm developing a great methodology! Because I'm on tour, I'm turning all of my notes/charts/script digital!

I'm working with the dance captain to create charts for every musical number in the show. By creating a template in Photoshop, when we need to follow one track more specifically, I can highlight track positioning in a number of ways!

Say "Bonjour" to Act One, Song #2 at Bar 16!

In addition, I've created an excel spreadsheet for every track. Having Stage Management and Wardrobe share their spreadsheets have allowed me to more quickly assemble costume/set changes and props!

Since I'm working so much on my computer in rehearsal, I've also begun taking notes digitally. This allows me to quickly write down changes and later wade through my charts and spreadsheet to make the necessary adjustments--sometimes for nine people!

If that's not enough to keep me busy, I'm also doing some print pieces for a previous web client, Angela Kariotis! I look forward to sharing her work here later.

If you are really interested in the show, be sure to take advantage of some of the virtual media available:
Official Website and Press
Official Tour Blog
Become a BATB fan on Facebook

I look forward to the journey and adventures ahead! Hope to see you soon!

Tony