This Week's Wellness Topic

Swings, Understudies and Double casts

Spring has arrived!

This week less science and education. More musings about Wellness in the Theatre industry.

It’s been a busy last several months as the theatre world has slowly started working again.

As the industry has opened up, I have been watching what has changes and what has not changed through the lens of a health coach eye. As theatres have opened and then paused for Covid running through casts, I am left with wondering if much has changed in the last 2 years.

Prior to 2020, it was common practice to crawl on stage half dead. Sick or not, the show must go on and cast members do anything and everything to crawl on stage. The war stories of how people got through shows while practically on their deathbed are numerous. Blogs and podcasts are filled with tips on elixirs to take, meds to pour in your body, and crazy remedies to try to crawl on that stage. The pandemic had the industry rethinking what it costs to have cast members on stage sick.

In some ways I think the Pandemic was the greatest things to happen to the theatre world. It allowed everyone to pause, think, and reevaluate how the industry has been operating.

But have we learned anything?

On-Stage Blog wrote a piece about the use of Swings and understudies on Broadway. There was some backlash after a theatre exec commented that Swings were not very good and insulted a whole group of people who frankly are needed right now to keep these shows running.

OnStage Blog article on Swings

I applaud the recognition of the swings and understudies holding the theatre industry afloat. We need to embrace every single one of the Swings and Understudies in all the shows.

However, I have been struck with the thought that there is still so much work to do to truly make the theatre industry a place where individual health and wellness is valued over “the show must go on” attitude.

In my health coach wish for the industry I hope we can get to a point where it’s not a badge of honor to go on stage with a fever, raging infection, exhaustion, or a zillion other health related issue. Until the pandemic, it was rare to have a swing go on due to a performer illness. In fact, there are many community theatres who operate without swings or understudies leaving them no safety net.

What if we embraced rest and recovery and normalized swings going on for performances?

What if every performer valued health & wellness?

Yes, this will cost theatres and productions more money. I am not blind to the business side of theatre. However, the true cost is the well-being of the artists who are the reason there is a show.

What if the industry strived for performers who rarely get sick because health & wellness is a priority in the industry?

THIS is my passion, vision, and goal for the industry. I am here on this planet to teach each individual to value their Health & Wellness and create lifelong habits that will minimize the times you have to drag yourself on stage because you are sick.

The pillars to optimal theatre industry health are as follows:

• Optimal Immune Function
• Healthy Gut function
• Optimal mental wellness
• Good Sleep, Rest and Recovery
• Good daily wellness practice
• Healthy relationships
• Financial Health

One of the ways you can keep your immune system tuned up is by making sure you have the right nutrients on board. Eating the Rainbow every single day is key (all the colorful fruits and veggies) to keeping your immune function up. Avoiding processed food is even more important because they zap the immune system.

I wish I could say we can get all the nutrients we need from our food but unfortunately the Standard American diet and even our produce is depleted in the nutrients are bodies need. Supplements can be a great way to get those nutrients we are not getting enough of. Unfortunately, I often hear clients say that they don’t take supplements or buy fresh produce because they are expensive. Something is only expensive if it’s not a priority or valued.

One of the things I really talk about with clients is prioritizing wellness. Often, we CAN afford to buy supplements or fresh produce if we take a hard look at where we are spending money on health draining expenses. Can you cut out some of those daily Starbucks drinks? Can you buy one less bottle of wine a month. (Alcohol depletes vitamin C in the body)

Can you cook more and get less prepared foods a night or 2 a week?

There are lots of little tricks to shifting your budget if you are looking and truly prioritizing. I work with clients on this all the time. Wellness coaching is sometimes about how to re-prioritize our expenses.

Here are some inexpensive supplements to start with:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D3
• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Omega 3 DHA/EPA

For more advanced supplementation and your own personal needs, let’s talk!

Mental Wellness of the Double Cast

Double Casting is not something that happens in professional theatre unless you are under 18. However, double casting does occur in high school theatre and some community theatre. Double casting is a double edge sword. It gives more performers the chance to perform. However, it can be a source of comparison and competition for some.

I had a conversation this past week about a performer who is double cast in a role.

The performer was feeling very down about not being as good as the other performer. The other performer does the role different. The other performer sings the songs differently.

This reminder is for EVERYONE in the industry….because you ALL tend to forget…..

Comparison is the Thief of Joy.

Every performer brings something different to the table. The nuances of different actors is what makes live theatre so great.

Embrace the way you do the role or who you are as a performer. No one wants to see how you can copy someone else. What everyone wants to see if how you OWN the role and embody your vision of the role.

That’s my pep talk for the week.

Embrace who you are as an actor. Treat that body & mind as a temple so that you never have to have tell war stories & have swings go on in your place.

Just imagine if you were the person that always gets casts because you are embracing your true self as a performer and you are that performer that is never sick because you have such high work and health ethics.

You’d be unstoppable.

What I am Listening to:

We Can Do Hard Things Podcast (yes I am obsessed)

What I am Watching:

CODA

If you have not seen CODA, the movie that won the Academy Award for Best Picture, go watch it! The deaf community is yet another demographic left out of theatre and film. My heart is so happy for their wins.

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Health Coaching

The real work and education at Theatre RN happens in my coaching sessions. If you want to explore your own unique whole wellness, contact me for a free consult: Nicole@theatreRN.com

As always my business is primarily a word of mouth business. Please share this Newsletter and my services with friends.

Until Next time, I will be over here behind the curtain advocating for the best health & wellness for all in the Theatre Industry.

Health and Happiness,

Nicole, your Theatre RN

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