SwingNation, the theatre mentorship program led by Joanna Carpenter (Sweeney Todd) and Cate Benioff (Chicago), has announced it will permanently relaunch this spring as a fixture under The Lantern Fund, the nonprofit arm of The Harriet Tubman Effect.
The program pairs first-time swings, or actors that cover numerous tracks in a single production, with experienced mentors while they perform on Broadway, Off-Broadway, or on national tours. The first phase of SwingNation was implemented in fall 2024, and under the Lantern Fund, the program will be able to operate on an ongoing basis rather than for a limited season. The roster of mentors has also been expanded to offer support for swings who are deaf or hard of hearing.
"We knew this type of mentorship was going to be of service to the community, but I don't know if we had fully anticipated the impact it would have on the collective confidence of this group of first time swings," Carpenter said in a statement. "Being able to cheer our mentees on through Broadway debuts, first Dance Captain experiences, mid-show swing-ons, and all the chaos that comes with being a swing has been the greatest joy and we are thrilled to be able to continue this work.”
"This program was also founded on the values that we show up equally for swings on non-union tours as much as we do for our mentees on Broadway," added Benioff. "Non-union swings and dance captains are often taken advantage of the most and under-resourced more than anyone, so it's important for us to support these artists alongside our union members. The swing community is the beating heart of theatre, and being able to shape support for new generations of performers on this path is an opportunity we take great pride in."
SwingNation is accepting financial support on an ongoing basis through donations to the Lantern Fund. To donate, click here, and specify Swing Nation as the initiative you would like to contribute to.
