Hugh Jackman’s Curtain Speech Praising Broadway Understudies Goes Viral

With just a few hours notice, Kathy Voytko – a swing in the new Broadway revival of “The Music Man” – was told she was going on in the show’s female leading role last night after the star, Tony Award-winner Sutton Foster, received a positive COVID test. Yesterday was Voytko’s first-ever rehearsal in the role. Hugh Jackman, the production’s leading man, has gone viral with his spectacular spot-on speech praising understudies and swings. Not only did he praise Voytko but the other four other swings who were also on that performance. https://www.instagram.com/tv/CX2jJxyqqpv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Voytko reportedly went on with only one rehearsal. The production just began performances this week and is still in previews. From EW:

As those who are deep in the theater world know, Broadway swings are a true treasure trove, generally learning at least six to eight different roles in a single production in order to be able to cover as many as possible. And Jackman noted that it’s not as easy as just taking up someone else’s part.

Calling all the swings to the front of the stage, Jackman explained in his speech, “they watch from the corner of a room while we rehearse, while we get to practice over and over again. They just get to watch and write notes and then five hours before the performance they’re told, ‘you’re on by the way, you’ve got a wig fitting, go!'”

“So to all of these people here — the swings — and I’m emotional because it humbles me — their courage, their brilliance, their dedication, their talent. The swings, the understudies, they are the bedrock of Broadway,” he concluded as the crowd cheered.

Earlier this week, I reported that the president of the Broadway League was roundly criticized for saying that some Broadway productions were closing in part because of the “inexperienced” understudies and swings. The Broadway world was not amused. https://twitter.com/andrewrsorkin/status/1474878843227942915