Mastering the ‘what-if?’
Kurt Kemper on life as a swing in ‘The Great Gatsby’
Opulent, glittering, decadent and unapologetically over-the-top. That’s how audiences and critics alike are describing “The Great Gatsby,” which will be making its way to the stage at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh starting Tuesday and continuing through May 31.
Set in the Roaring Twenties and based on the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the story follows the eccentric and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby, who will stop at nothing in the pursuit of the lost love of his youth, Daisy Buchanan.
One cast member who knows the production and Pittsburgh well is Kurt Kemper, a graduate of Point Park University. Now a swing in the show, Kemper–who graduated in 2019 and has since performed as far away as South Korea–is looking forward to returning to familiar ground.
Becoming a “swing”
Kemper understands the meaning of “the show must go on.” As a swing, he must be ready to step into any of seven different roles at a moment’s notice – a challenge that requires both resilience and precision.
“Before I took the job, I was a one-track pony,” he jokes. “This has given me the opportunity to figure out the puzzle myself and make it look fresh and seamless. That adaptability requires a strong knowledge of the roles so that they’re not thrown by anything you do.”
Advice from a seasoned Broadway swing helped him shape his approach.
“The friend told me to view it both in a micro and a macro way–that was the hardest part, training my brain to view the big picture,” he said.
Kemper recently experienced the pressure firsthand when he was called on to replace a cast member in South Korea. The result, he says, was a mix of pride and relief.
Preparing for the part
Kemper, who is coming up on his first anniversary as a swing in “The Great Gatsby,” has developed routines to stay grounded. He likes to meditate, seek out good restaurants and coffee shops, keep himself in peak physical condition for the show’s demanding dance numbers and make time to call his mother.
“I try to check all those boxes because it can be very isolating preparing for the ‘what if,'” he said.
Kemper particularly enjoys what he calls “stepping into the sugars”–ensemble roles featured in the show’s high-energy party scenes that require extensive partner work and tap dancing.
“My father did a lot of singing in church and when I became obsessed with musicals, my mother encouraged me to take tap. I fell in love with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, both of whom taught me to be a true song-and-dance man,” Kemper said.
One standout number, “La Dee Dah With You,” takes place during a party at Gatsby’s mansion where Daisy and Gatsby dance together. It’s a number that’s always well-received by audiences, according to Kemper.
“The Koreans are so polite–they clapped,” Kemper says with a laugh. “But American audiences–they always erupt after that number.”
Standing the test of time
More than a century after its publication, “The Great Gatsby” continues to resonate.
“It’s so well written and now we’re coming up on its 101st anniversary,” Kemper says. “The characters live so excessively that it’s fun to escape into that world,” he added.
The musical has received praise from Fitzgerald’s estate, which described it as “big, bold and thrilling,” noting that it brings the novel’s iconic characters and moments vividly to life while speaking to contemporary audiences.
For Kemper, visiting Pittsburgh adds another layer of meaning.
“I’m excited to be back in a city I love,” he said, “And I can’t wait to visit Pamela’s, Mad Mex and Bakersfield–where I worked to get myself through college.”
For additional information and showtimes, go online to trustarts.org.