Matt Meigs ’12 talks about life as a swing in the new Broadway musical “Tuck Everlasting,” composed by Chris Miller ’99.
Music theatre alumnus Matt Meigs ’12 has had many successes since graduation: performing in the National Tour of “Mary Poppins,” as Franz in “Rock of Ages” in Las Vegas, in the Broadway company of “Matilda,” and now as a swing and assistant dance captain in the original Broadway cast of “Tuck Everlasting,” which is beautifully composed by Chris Miller ’99.
Meigs describes the process of being in an original Broadway cast as exhilarating and very different from being a replacement. “When I was a replacement in ‘Matilda,’ I was taught my entire part isolated in a studio with just our dance supervisor while trying to imagine all the moving pieces around me.
“This time, I’ve been able to see our show built from the ground up and change every single day. Our creative team has tried countless different pieces of choreography, script changes, music and blocking to find the best way to tell the story and to help the audience become fully invested in the beautiful message. Not to mention the excitement of previews, opening night, cast album, awards season and all the craziness that goes with it. I’ve loved every show I’ve done since graduating, but being an original cast member fulfills a huge dream of mine.”
When asked about his first experience as a swing, Meigs said, “Swinging is not for the faint of heart. I understudy all six ensemble men and two of the lead parts. Out of 20 previews, I’ve been onstage for 15 of them already. The joy of this job is that you get to do it all. I get to use every talent I have picked up plus some I never did—span 40 years or more of character ages, stilt walk, puppeteer, juggle, acrobatics, climb a tree as tall as the stage. At a moment’s notice, you are expected to fit seamlessly into a furiously moving machine of people and scenery, most times without any rehearsal. And not only fit in; it’s a musical, it’s a beautiful work of art. You must also help tell and express the story all while your mind is going a mile a minute to keep you on track. It’s an adrenaline rush unlike any other. Luckily, I have a cast full of incredibly supportive actors, many of whom have swung before.”
Catch Matt and the beautiful music of Miller in “Tuck Everlasting,” opening April 26. For tickets or more information, visit http://www.tuckeverlastingmusical.com.