Performing in Hello Dolly and final reflection of the show and process!!

As I mentioned in other blogs, I was the female swing for the theater program's production of Hello, Dolly! In some shows, you can be an onstage swing, which means you cover multiple tracks while also being in the show. For Hello, Dolly! I was an offstage swing and knew from the beginning that I wouldn't be performing unless I needed to cover someone. Therefore, my family wasn’t planning to come see the show. It’s not that they don’t care about the school, but living an eight-hour drive away makes it hard for them to visit often—especially since driving or flying costs so much time and money. 

During tech week, I was sitting in the house watching the show when I got the news that I would be filling in for a girl during the Friday night and Saturday performances. Hearing that brought on a mix of emotions. While I was excited to perform after putting in so much work to prepare, I was also sad because of the reason I was stepping in. The girl I was covering—whose name I’ll leave out of respect—lost her grandfather during tech week, and the funeral was scheduled for the weekend. Of course, I didn’t want to take her performances, but I also wanted her to feel she could say goodbye to someone important in her life without worrying about the show. She chose to be with her family, which I believe was absolutely the right decision. If my grandma passed away, nothing would stop me from saying goodbye either. I’m honestly so proud of her, though. When she returned for the Sunday show, she had nothing but a smile on her face and brought the same level of humor and energy to our dressing room as always.

Despite the unfortunate circumstances, I was lucky my mom could come see the show. As soon as she found out, she bought a plane ticket, and I’m so grateful for the sacrifices she’s made to support me. Since I found out during tech week, my mom was the only one in my family who could make it—but I’m not complaining. I’m just glad she got to see me perform alongside my friends. I also wanted to use this post to reflect on my experience as a swing and share one final thought about Hello, Dolly! before closing this chapter.

Overall, I had a great experience. At first, I was nervous and didn’t think I’d enjoy it. Growing up dancing, I’ve played a wide range of roles—from leading and supporting characters to ensemble parts and understudy positions. Unfortunately, my previous experiences as an understudy weren’t always great. I’ve had times when I was treated horribly for being someone’s understudy. There’s often a misconception that an understudy is “covering” a person, when really, we’re covering a role. That mindset can create a subtle bias, whether intentional or not, and it can make someone feel superior to their understudy. That attitude then shows in how they treat others. No matter what, swings and understudies deserve the same respect as anyone else in the cast. Without them, if someone gets sick or needs to miss a show, there would be no one to step in without disrupting rehearsals or performances.

Being an understudy doesn’t just benefit the show—it benefits the individual too. Sometimes, people are chosen as understudies not because they’re not good enough, but because the director wants to challenge them. Other times, it's because they’re quick learners, especially with choreography. Even if they’re perfect for the roles, directors often trust understudies or swings to step in at any moment without hesitation. For Hello, Dolly!  my director told me he chose me for both reasons: he knew I could pick up choreography quickly and keep rehearsals running smoothly, and he wanted to push me artistically. As a swing, it’s not just about knowing the steps—you have to know where people stand, who their partners are, their quick changes, and everything else tied to each track.

Some of my other friends from that came to support us! 

I’m incredibly grateful I got to be a swing for this show. I never felt disrespected or like I didn’t belong, and that’s because of the cast. I don’t know if I would’ve had the same experience with a different group of people. I felt comfortable asking questions without judgment, and I appreciate everyone who helped me throughout rehearsals and performances. I loved getting closer with each person, and I’m thankful Scott trusted me with such a challenging role. I’m proud of myself for stepping in and doing what was needed. Overall, I had a wonderful experience with this show and the amazing cast I got to share it with.

Me, Cass and some of our other friends in the show!