Article May 21, 2012 Issue

When the spotlight shines on someone else

Allison Knight

I have always loved the freedom of expression that singing and dancing bring. When I’m dancing, I feel so much joy, and I have loved performing in regional musical theater productions throughout the years. 

During my third year at college, I auditioned for a production of A Chorus Line, thinking I was practically guaranteed to be cast in a leading role. I had been cast in previous productions at this theater and knew the staff and production team. So I went into the audition feeling confident in my abilities, grateful for the training I was receiving in my college musical theater classes, and fully expecting to be one of the leads.

I did get cast, but it was far from what I had expected. The theater company wanted me to be a “swing,” an understudy who covers multiple roles. In my case, this meant learning the roles of three different women in the cast. Should one of them ever need a substitute to perform in her absence, I would step in. The three women I was understudying had parts that I’d desperately wanted. To be the swing meant I had to attend every rehearsal and learn three different sets of lines, lyrics, and dance steps that I was not guaranteed ever to perform. Feeling defeated and deflated, but still wanting to be part of the show, I accepted the offer.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

When the spotlight shines on someone else

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access