Kevin Kuska, a member of the staff at Hinsdale's BAM Theatre, has been a relative constant on Chicago area stages since he began his career two years ago. He's appeared in Broadway Chicago shows, at the Paramount Theater in Aurora, at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace and at other venues throughout the area. (photo provided)
What is a swing actor?
At any moment during the run of "Cinderella" at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Kevin Kuska may be called upon to step into the role of chef or king - or summoned to spread a special message from the prince.
"I will step into any of those three roles with as little as maybe an hour's notice," said Kuska, a swing actor in the current production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella", playing now through Dec. 29.
Should an actor playing any of the three roles twist an ankle, fall ill or have a family emergency, Kuska is ready to take their place, having learned the lines, blocking, songs and choreography for the chef, the king and the herald.
That's not to suggest that Kuska is spending his time waiting for a call to the stage. He has many other shoes to fill and hats to wear, including those of stage manager, musical director and private voice teacher at BAM Theatre in Hinsdale. In those roles he organizes the theater program's private lesson schedule and curates master classes led by leaders of the theater world.
"We've had people from Broadway," including an actress who played the role of Elpheba in "Wicked," Kuska said. "She came and gave an incredible two-hour class for us."
Kuska also manages BAM's conservatory program, which meets every Sunday to prepare for competitions all over the country.
Teaching voice was once something Kuska considered his "survival job," but Kuska Studio, where he teaches adult singers and coaches Chicago theater professionals, has become much more than something to do between shows, Kuska said.
Kuska's relationship with musical theater began in seventh grade, when the director of his church choir suggested he audition for a production of "Little Mermaid the Musical."
"I didn't really love it," he said.
It wasn't until he was cast in "Legally Blonde" a few years later that the performance bug bit. From then on, Kuska said, musical theater was all he wanted to do.
"I went to college specifically to train in musical theater performance," said Kuska, who graduated from Millikin University in Decatur with a degree in musical theater and a minor in dance. He's now pursuing a master's degree in musical theater vocal pedagogy.
As a backup to the regular cast of "Cinderella," Kuska attends at least a couple of shows each week to keep up on the roles he may be asked to play. Filling the role of swing isn't new for Kuska.
"This is my fourth swing show this calendar year," said Kuska, and while he prefers to have a single role, he has come to appreciate the importance of swings.
"Without them, shows would be canceled every single day," he said.
"It works your brain in a better way. I think it makes you a better performer and a better person," he said. "I learned I was capable of much more than I thought I was."
Kuska said he's grateful for the many people who encouraged him to pursue his dream, and for everyone who supports the theater in one way or another.
"Give back how you can, because theater really can change a student's life," he said. "Everyone needs a place to go, and sometimes the theater is just the perfect place."
