What "Hamilton" Dancer Kamille Upshaw Eats in a Day
Nearly two years after its Broadway debut, Hamilton is still the hottest ticket in town. The show is still sold out every single night, and for Kamille Upshaw, that means bringing her A-game every night—even if she doesn’t end up onstage. As one of the cast’s swings, Upshaw may fill in for an injured or vacationing cast member, or she could end up getting called in mid-show if something happens to an ensemble member. (No pressure.) She needs to know all the choreography at all times, and needs to be warmed up no matter what. That also means Upshaw, a Juilliard grad and former Dance Spirit cover girl, needs to fuel her body properly so it can be ready to rock in a moment’s notice. What does that entail? We got Upshaw to dish on what a day in the life of her diet is like.
8:30 am: Breakfast
“Breakfast is half a bagel with three eggs and two pieces of bacon,” Upshaw says. “I like to have a full breakfast to make sure I give my engine enough fuel.”
11:30 am: Snack
“Time for some sunflower seeds,” Upshaw shares. “They really help keep my energy up until I break for lunch. I also drink a lot of water throughout the day. Warning: It makes you pee a lot.”
12 pm: Treat break!
“Sometimes during rehearsal we get treats,” Upshaw says. “Today it was Dunkin Donuts.”
2 pm: Lunchtime
“It’s always so hard for me to figure out what I want to eat for lunch because there are so many options near the theater,” says Upshaw. “Today I chose Green Symphony, which has fresh protein shakes and smoothies along with a variety of food. I got a Funky Monkey shake—it’s banana, peanut butter, and rice milk—and a curry chicken salad wrap with avocado.”
8 pm: Dinner
“Nothing fancy tonight,” says Upshaw, who didn’t have to perform in that evening’s show. “Chicken breast with Brussels sprouts and couscous.”