[Ads-l] swing, a musical theatre term

[Ben Zimmer]

In the archives for _Back Stage_ (on ProQuest), this sense of "swing" goes
back to the '70s at least.

Back Stage, Apr. 21, 1972, p. 17, col. 4
AEA wanted but did NOT get... upped minimums and better coverage
(understudies, swing, etc.) for long runs (10 weeks or longer).

Back Stage, Sep. 8, 1972, p. 21, col. 3
Some of the shows are in their 2nd continuous year, and many run 6 to 9
months, with no vacation, no understudies, no standbys, no cover, no swing.

Back Stage, Apr. 22, 1977, p. 19, col. 1
"Hair" Equity PI & Open Call... All must move well. 22 parts with 2 "swing"
roles.

Back Stage, Jan. 13, 1978, p. 41, col. 2
Available roles: Female Singer/Dancer: to act as female "swing" &
understudy the role of Liat.

Back Stage, Dec. 14, 1979, p. 29, col. 3
In upcoming Equity contracts, more attention will have to be paid to
understudies, standbys, covers and swings... Shouldn't each understudy,
swing, cover or standby have her/his own costume and wig?


On Wed, Oct 19, 2022 at 5:26 PM Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at gmail.com> wrote:

> I recall first hearing about "swings" during "Hamilton"-mania c. 2015-6,
> though I'm sure it was a Broadway term of art long before that. When
> "Hamilton" started playing in multiple cities, they even had "universal
> swings" who could be dispatched to different productions.
>
> https://www.marketplace.org/2017/10/26/playing-every-role-hamilton/
>
> More on the Covid-era importance of swings and understudies in this NYT
> piece last year:
>
>
> https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/24/theater/understudies-broadway-cancellations.html
>
> --bgz
>
> On Wed, Oct 19, 2022 at 5:08 PM George Thompson <george.thompson at nyu.edu>
> wrote:
>
>> From a recent issue of The Guardian (London), profiling professional
>> mermaids:
>> [headline]  The real-life mermaids turning fantasy into reality on
>> Britain’s shores
>>
>> [Previous to taking up mermaiding, one had been an actress and singer, but
>> had developed vocal problems:]
>> She was the show’s swing, a musical theatre term for a performer who can
>> take on any role in the production at short notice.
>> (Sun 16 Oct 2022 10.00 BST)
>>
>> I don't see this in the OED, swing,  noun, #2
>>
>

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