Mexican-American Actor Jorge Guerra has been a fan of Hamilton for a while now, which made it a dream come true when he was brought on as a swing and understudy for the Broadway National Tour of the beloved show. Tonight, the First-Gen star will be performing in Austin, a city he lovingly calls home, but a few weeks before, Guerra and I chatted all about the show, the importance of representation, and the absolute insanity that is being cast as a swing for a huge production like Hamilton. Enjoy our conversation below!
So, to start it off, you were cast as a swing for Hamilton. Before we get into anything, were you familiar with or a fan of Hamilton?
I always was a fan of Hamilton. I have had the honor of being in In The Heights before in several regional productions. In fact, my very first professional anything I did as a performer was In The Heights at the Zach Theater in Austin.
Oh my gosh!
Yes, and that introduced me to the genius that is Lin-Manuel.
That’s phenomenal. I’m such a fan. So, for those who do not know, could you tell us what a swing is and what, specifically in Hamilton, your role has been?
Yes. So, I am a swing and understudy here in Hamilton. I’m gonna give you three different terms of what an understudy, a stand-by, and a swing is. So a stand-by quite literally is somebody who is standing by specifically only for the principal roles of the show. An understudy typically tends to be somebody who is in the show every night because you have your onstage and your offstage, but the people who are onstage cover one of the leads; that is oftentimes what is referred to as an understudy.
And then the other term is a swing. So, a swing is an offstage member similar to a stand-by. And whenever any of the ensemble members are out, they are on for them that day for whatever reason, whether it be sickness, injury, or all the way to vacation. And or if one of the understudies in the show goes on for the lead, then one of the swings jumps into that ensemble role. But I cover all five ensemble men, and I understudy Laurens Philip (John Laurens and Philip Hamilton).
Oh, my goodness. Okay, so, I love Hamilton. So what has it been like being a swing for such a robust musical because this isn’t just a normal musical where you pop in and you do your little dance. You have so many words, there’s so much nuance, all the different characterizations. What is that like?
It is very intense. I would say that this has been the hardest thing I have done in my entire career and the most rewarding because you feel it; you feel the benefits of being connected to the story. Early on, they told us it is a monolith of a show. I mean, if you consider each person is a three-hour show that you’re learning, having 18 hours in my mind is a lot. And sometimes, you accidentally play a different person’s part in your head that you’re not supposed to be doing, or you’ll accidentally jump into a wrong spot. But you very quickly adjust. You are very quickly on your toes. You pay attention to what you’re doing. Ultimately, what I have found is the best that I have done in the show as a swing is when I have connected the most to the story; it’s when I’m focusing on the right ingredients versus am I two centimeters to the left to wrong?… I have loved being a swing because I get to do it in a very nuanced fashion, in six unique different roles with six different points of view. And that’s forced me to grow as an artist, as a singer, as a dancer, and as a human as well.
It for sure would be like a boot camp. My hat’s off to you. Even just watching, I can’t believe how one person can do that. Is this something you would want to do more in the future? Would you be open to being a swing and having that be a part of your career? Or is this just a really fun time for the time being?
You know, it’s interesting you say that ’cause I have swung before and understudied before, and this is just very unique and different. This is what we consider the Olympics of what swinging would be considered in a theater setting. But to answer your question…I want to be leading shows I want to be representing, but I think a huge reason for that is because I am Latino. It’s because I’m a queer Latino man. I feel like it is important for people to see me in roles that are traditionally cast by a white prince or has redefined beauty to only look Eurocentric in a lot of ways. I think my placement in other specific musicals will speak more to our communities and be able to outline that it’s not just one look that gets to be called beautiful or attractive or gets to have the love interest or the story. So I have made it my mission in my career to make sure that I get to those places.
I love that answer. Basically, yes, you enjoy being a swing, but you would love to be a lead because it’s so imperative for our communities to see brown men as leads.
Yes.
I absolutely love that! With that being said, in light of everything happening, what would you tell our students about having pride in their cultural background?
We were here before it happened, and we’re gonna be here after it happens. So it is up to us to navigate everything we do with integrity, regardless of what people’s opinions are of our culture. And opinion is not the truth or the identity of the culture, but how we allow other people to perceive us has a lot to do with how we walk in this world and the types of contributions we make to our community and to other communities as well. I think it’s incredibly important to recognize that while we are a marginalized community, in many facets, we are not the most marginalized community or the most vulnerable community.
At times, we will be, but at this moment, when we look at what’s happening to the world, knowing that we are affected greatly in a lot of ways, we can also recognize that other people are greatly affected as well. And how we respond to the camaraderie of other marginalized communities, that to me is the sauce. That’s how we elevate one another and also give room and jurisdiction for ourselves to be here as well in the best possible light. Because I believe in Latino Excellence, the same way that I believe in Black Excellence, Asian Excellence, and so forth and so on.
What an answer! Thank you. That was so beautifully stated. Considering what you just said, I wanted to know, what does it feel like being a part of a show that’s platformed so many people of color and particularly Hispanic actors?
It genuinely brings so much emotion. I remember my grandma as a child having a conversation with me. I call her Abuelita, but she was making tortillas, and I remember asking her, Why do people not look like me on TV? And she said, That’s because you have to be the first one. And that’s always stuck with me that oftentimes, we will not be represented the way that we’re seeking. I’m not just capable of being a gangster on TV or stage. I’m not capable of just being a drug addict, a drug lord, or whatever it is. Other stereotyped-isms that have been given to the Latino community. I am capable of having running water just like anybody else.
A platform like this has given me the opportunity to show people that I could play anything, because that’s essentially the thesis of Hamilton. It’s being told by what are considered the immigrants of America. In something that has been historically seen as only a one-dimensional story.
Oh, that’s really moving that your grandmother said that. And it’s, I mean, incredible that you’re doing it now.
Yes, I don’t take it lightly that I’m here.
For sure. I’m gonna lighten the mood just a hair. Have there ever been any last-minute calls where you’ve had to go on stage or swing mishaps?
Oh, absolutely! Those are several stories in the making, but I’ll start with the clearest answer. There have been moments where, I wanna say it was a couple of cities back….It has happened to me where I have had to swing on for act two. Like during intermission, there’s an announcement, hi, there’s a change of casting called–
What? In the Middle?
So in the middle of intermission, I quickly run, put my undergarments on, put my costume on, and then just refocus and reset so that I can get myself into act two, and that’s probably been the quickest turnaround I have gotten. Aside from that, I feel like the average is two hours before a show is normally when I find out that I’m on. So that’s the last minute-ness of it.
Wow. That’s, I mean, I’m honestly very impressed. I did theater a lot growing up, and I’m impressed that that’s the only thing. Even just me being an ensemble, I’ve had worse situations that have happened. So that’s amazing. What is your favorite song in the show?
It changes quite a bit, but I have to say “Say No To This”. When she comes out in the red dress, it’s giving Telanovela realness! I just look at that, and I’m like, just gimme one day in that red dress and you’ll see what I can do! [Guerra laughs] You know what I mean? It is just incredible, the beats behind it?
Yeah, the beat is really good!
That song storytelling is amazing. I love it.
That’s a surprising one, but you know what, that’s valid. Mine is very basic, but it would be “Satisfied”. She’s so good. Okay, last question. You consider Austin Home, are you looking forward to being back here performing in a few weeks?
Absolutely. It is full circle. The first show I started being a Lin show and now, yeah. Being here in what is considered the pinnacle of our industry and coming back as a homecoming, it’s like, wow, like that’s why I consider Austin home. I was born and raised in South Texas, by the McAllen region, but when I was in Austin, Austin felt like home. Austin felt like it embodied a lot of the ideals and visions for myself that I saw growing up that maybe in the community that I was in, they did not receive that as well. But when I came to Austin, that’s when I knew this is showing me that I’m not just the crazy little kid who has dreams. That’s what Austin represents for me.
Aw, that’s amazing. I am curious: being in Hamilton, do you guys get to meet Lin Manuel Miranda, or do you get a gift or something for being in it?
Oh yeah! We met Lin when we were in New York rehearsing the show…[He] came to see our designer run [and] the camaraderie was definitely there.
Oh, that’s beautiful. That makes me really happy! Well, thank you so much for talking to me!
Make sure to follow Jorge Guerra and be on the lookout for the Hamilton National Tour in a city near you!
