Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Parks
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/5/04
#0Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:09pm
I saw Avenue Q on the 25th-and in the "School For Monsters" scene, I couldn't help but notice Jennifer Barnhart was doing something with her mouth...Dear God, she was chewing gum...ON STAGE!
I've always been told not to chew gum on stage for one reason or another...
Who all have you seen chew gum on stage?
(I'm not really mad at her, this is semi-sarcastic).
SueleenGay
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
#1re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:21pmIs it possible it was a character choice for that one scene? Or perhaps she is on some sort of medication that dries out her mouth (antihistamines can do that) and she needs it to keep her mouth moist.
poppy isabella
Swing Joined: 7/26/05
#2re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:28pm
Yeah, I've worked with lots of actors who chew gum while performing to keep their mouth from drying out due to medicines, nerves, whatever. But I've never actually seen it while in the midst of a scene. I agree with the previous poster that it totally could have been a character choice for Avenue Q 
jczelyph
Broadway Star Joined: 10/21/04
#3re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:29pmI noticed one of the guys in the Chicago ensemble was chewing gum. I was surprised.
#4re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:30pmIt's not so hard to have gum in your mouth and have no one know it if you truly need it.
jczelyph
Broadway Star Joined: 10/21/04
#5re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:33pmI was in a show once and was chewing gum. I went onstage having forgotten to take it out. I am obviously not one of those people who can conceal their chewing because as soon as I started singing, it flew into the orchestra pit, straight out of my mouth. I thought it was funny but kept singing. Just my tuppence worth.
Bwaydreams01
Stand-by Joined: 5/10/04
#6re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:45pmthe guy in Chicago always chews gum... atleast all the times i've seen it
jczelyph
Broadway Star Joined: 10/21/04
#7re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:48pm
Aah, that may be part of his persona. Or he just likes gum. He must be a good masticator.
poppy isabella
Swing Joined: 7/26/05
#8re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:48pm
Oh my gosh, jczelyph! Of all the things I've had fall on me in the pit, never gum! Ick and hilarity!
love meagan
jboy1
Stand-by Joined: 9/9/04
#9re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:56pmI'm doing a production of ANYTHING GOES right now and my good friend who's playing Bonnie chews gum on stage. She discussed it with the director and stage manager and decided it was part of her character. So if it's agreed upon within the production team, it's appropriate for the show.
jczelyph
Broadway Star Joined: 10/21/04
#10re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:00pmIt landed on the snare drum (the pit kinda protrudes from the stage). It was hilarious. I was singing 'Meek Shall Inherit' (the 'I don't knowwwwwww') bit and i had to keep a straight face.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#11re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:06pmChicago chewing gum....as in "You pop that gum one more time...."
kombatkoala
Understudy Joined: 5/12/05
#12re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:09pmI believe some people in Hairspray have had gum. I know I've seen pictures where you can tell that they have gum in their mouth.
SeeIreallycouldn'tSING!!
Stand-by Joined: 8/29/04
#15re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:38pmIn CHorus line Pamila Blair (the orignal Val) always chewed gum, and then when her song came up she'd give it to whomever played MArk.
jczelyph
Broadway Star Joined: 10/21/04
#16re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:42pmHaha, dat's funny. I want to see ACL.
#17re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 3:49pmoff the topic slightely, but I love when Tracy in Hairspray chews gum.
#18re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 4:54pm
I love gum when it's a good character choice. I remember in the 42nd Street revival, there was one ensemble girl who decided her character was a gum chewer, and every so often, she'd blow a large bubble, but it wasn't distracting or upstaging in the least. And the gum was ALWAYS gone for the big finale, because it can be dangerous when you're dancing like that.
I've never used gum myself, but when I was in a show this past spring, I was really sick and was constantly sucking on throat lozenges, and I actually went on-stage with one still dissolving in my mouth without realizing it. Mine didn't fly out into the orchestra pit, though, so my story's not nearly as interesting as jc's 
#19re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 5:02pmPenny Pingelton chews 2 packs a day
#20re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 5:03pmThis thread reminds me of Babs I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE audition.
jczelyph
Broadway Star Joined: 10/21/04
#21re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 5:08pmThis is such a funny thread. And representative of why I love love love this board. Even when I hate it.
#22re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 5:12pm
I've never seen the CHICAGO boys chew gum. And I've seen the show 3 times. I do watch the ensemble have convos with eachother on the side of the stage..
whatyouown223
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/4/05
#23re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 6:13pmPenny has "mighty strong" muscles in her mouth because she chews a lot of gum :)
#24re: Actors Chewing Gum...ON STAGE!
Posted: 7/29/05 at 6:41pmMichelle Kittrell as Bebe "Bubbles" in Urban Cowboy!
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
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