Updates

Greetings! It's been quite some time since I've written, so I thought I would take some time to update!

Following a wonderful layoff in NYC, we did a quick five show weekend in Albuquerque, NM. From there, we moved to Dallas, TX for a two week run. We had a wonderful time in Dallas at the beautiful AT&T Performing Arts Center. In addition to sharing a hotel with the cast of DREAMGIRLS, we traded tickets and forged friendships (We will cross paths again in San Francisco!). In addition, we were able to see the world premiere/revisal of SUPERMAN at the Dallas Theatre Center. In addition to officially meeting MTI ShowSpace vlogger Andrew Keenan-Bolger, I befriended fellow Beef & Boards veteran Cara Statham Serber and saw old BSU alums Christopher "Waffles" Wathen and Aaron Johansen. The boys showed me some fun nights out on the town and are both doing incredible work in theatre! Go Cardinals!

Fayetteville was a welcome adjustment. Coming from NYC and Dallas, it was very quite! We had a great gym with Clubhaus Fitness and I met quite a few fun people. Our local staff were all incredible people and I miss them already!

Now we are in Kansas City at the Starlight Theatre. Prior to arriving, I took a day to play in Branson with fellow cast mate Clifford Lyons. Cliff and I left after our last show in Fayetteville to drive to his Mother's home. It was nice to be in a house--albeit only two nights--with comfort, charm, and a delightful miniature poodle! Cliff and I had an awesome golden day at Silver Dollar City, Tanger Outlets and the Showboat Branson Belle!

Moo Moo Country Fun!

The Cotton Blossom?

Nothing like Dinnertainment!

Now that we are here in Kansas City, I'm reminded of my days at Jenny Wiley! Should be an interesting week...bats, bugs, and heat! The show starts with a national anthem before the curtain rises and the cast is introduced to 7,800+ seats. Since the sun doesn't go down until about nine, some of the initial illusions are adjusted for this unique space. Luckily, we have a cozy air-conditioned hotel to return to every evening!

Starlight Theatre

Finally, I'll conclude this leg of tour with two weeks in San Francisco. My buddy Tyler may come visit!!! I'm excited to meet California and this historic and beautiful city.

Following San Francisco, I have a layoff from August 30 to September 19 and I've decided to come home to Indiana!!! I'm anxious to visit my three nephews and my newly married Kristin Rapp! I'm also having Lasik done on September 10. It will be great to be around my entire family, correct my vision, and see old friends. (I'm making plans now--let's talk!)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Free Personal Training!

Just wanted to let my readers (mostly friends on tour!) know that their is a great website for getting fit! Bodybuilding.com is an awesome site for fitness advice, products, and goal tracking! Be sure to check out their Personalized Muscle Building and Fat Loss Guides as well as their new iPhone app!

Look out! I hope to be riiiiipped in 12 weeks. :)

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! :)