Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 2022 - 41

crew members are not exposed to crew
swings and understudies until entering a
union, then they may not gain the knowledge
of alternate ways of doing work.
As someone who has both worked
alongside a crew swing and been hired
as one, I can attest, firsthand, that it is
well worth the investment, not just from
a logistical standpoint but from an educational
and hiring standpoint. Want to
see how someone handles a principal
track? Test them out as a swing. Want to
train someone for a specific skill so you
can call them in the future and not have
to spend extra time and money making
sure they can do it? Put them on a swing
track. Crew swings are different from
performer swings and understudies in
that the role will be filled for a night, but it
does not have to be perfect. It just has to
be done well. So, if we frame swing work
as the potential for career growth and onthe-job
training, I don't know of a single
crew member who would not jump at the
chance to dive in and prove themselves
as a valuable team member.
It might seem counterintuitive to argue
that hiring extra people will help to
solve the issue of not enough people available
to work. However, positive change in
our industry comes not just from the content
we create, but the work/life balance
and overall health and well-being of our
players. Creating a sustainable industry
means investing in the creation of future
theatre makers and not just future theatre
audiences. And with the Internet and
social media showing more and more
of what goes on backstage, we want to
ensure an honest portrayal of happy,
healthy, and thriving backstage workers,
so that generations to come will still seek
a life in the arts and go after their dreams.
We all deserve that.
Rachel Stiles is an IATSE
theatrical wigs and makeup
artist, industry coach, and
content creator based in the
Chicagoland area. She
recently launched Stage Creatives Network, a
community networking site for theatre
professionals. Follow her on Instagram (@
rachelannestiles) or on the web (www.
rachelannestiles.com or www.
stagecreativesnetwork.com) to learn more.
Works Cited
Fergusen, Stephanie. Summer 2022.
" Understanding the US Labor Shortage. " US
Chamber of Commerce. https://www.uschamber.
com/workforce/understanding-americas-laborshortage
Saville,
Alice. Fall 2021. " Theatre's Hiring Crisis. "
Exeunt Magazine. https://exeuntmagazine.com/
features/theatres-hiring-crisis/
Sparks, Hannah. Winter 2021. " Hugh Jackman
Praises 'Music Man' understudy for stepping into
lead role last minute. " NY Post. https://nypost.
com/2021/12/24/hugh-jackman-heaps-praiseon-hero-swing-actor-in-the-music-man/
Zendle,
Miriam. Summer 2009. " Behind the
Scenes: The Swing of Things. " Broadway World.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/
article/BEHIND-THE-SCENES-The-Swing-OfThings-20090830
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FALL 2022 | THEATRE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY | 41

https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/understanding-americas-labor-shortage https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/understanding-americas-labor-shortage https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/understanding-americas-labor-shortage https://www.exeuntmagazine.com/features/theatres-hiring-crisis/ https://www.exeuntmagazine.com/features/theatres-hiring-crisis/ https://nypost.com/2021/12/24/hugh-jackman-heaps-praise-on-hero-swing-actor-in-the-music-man/ https://nypost.com/2021/12/24/hugh-jackman-heaps-praise-on-hero-swing-actor-in-the-music-man/ https://nypost.com/2021/12/24/hugh-jackman-heaps-praise-on-hero-swing-actor-in-the-music-man/ https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/BEHIND-THE-SCENES-The-Swing-Of-Things-20090830 https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/BEHIND-THE-SCENES-The-Swing-Of-Things-20090830 https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/BEHIND-THE-SCENES-The-Swing-Of-Things-20090830 http://www.rachelannestiles.com http://www.stagecreativesnetwork.com http://www.rachelannestiles.com http://www.stagecreativesnetwork.com http://www.usitt.org

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