Are blondes allowed to play Nessarose in Wicked?- Page 2

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 6/18/18 at 8:32pm

Where's a certain poster to come in and say blondes aren't allowed to play Nessarose because it'll mess with the whole story about the dynamics of privilege? Oh wait, he only complains when black people get roles.

[Bell0708]

Posted: 6/18/18 at 10:01pm

Nessa actually has more than a half an hour between her last scene in Act 1 before her first scene in Act 2. She should have plenty of time to get her hair in an updo I would guess.

[Simón Bolívar]

Posted: 6/18/18 at 11:06pm

I do not think Mr Platt cares

[Valentina3]

Posted: 6/18/18 at 11:21pm

"There's been some confusion over casting here at Shiz, but of course I'll find a Nessa, for I know thats how you'll want me to respond. It seems that the best candidate is...blonde"?

[Fosse76]

Posted: 6/18/18 at 11:22pm

Eliza2 said: "Fosse76 said: "There are many actresses who don't wear wigs I stage. for example, no one in the cast of Come From Away wears a wig."

Q. Smith does."

Haha you're right! I forgot about her  (although don't tale her that)!

[thedrybandit]

Posted: 6/18/18 at 11:26pm

PThespian said: "I’m at School of Rock tonight. The kids aren’t wigged including those who play Tomeka and the other soloists. A lot of the adult female ensemble (ie Cassie Okenka) are also not wigged.

That’s just one quick example.

As was noted earlier the actresses in Come From Away aren’t mic’d.

That’s another quick example."

The actresses in CFA are all mic'd. I'm guessing you meant wigged, but just in case. Lord knows I've had my share of word slip ups on here.

https://www.mixonline.com/live-sound/come-away-430555

[Tag]

Posted: 6/18/18 at 11:27pm

For some reason, some of the female cast of the Toronto production of CFA wear wigs (and not necessarily to look like their Broadway counterparts).

ie: Beverly Bass in Toronto

Updated On: 6/18/18 at 11:27 PM

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 12:48am

I recall, famously, that Elaine Stritch made a point of using her own hair in A Little Night Music because, she claimed, that Equity rules required the production to pay her for a scarf to get to the theater if she did not use a wig, She made sure that each day, she'd get another free scarf from the producers.

(perhaps she kept them next to her free allotment of Bay's English Muffins)

Updated On: 6/19/18 at 12:48 AM

[StephieElise]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 5:03am

I know Eponine in Les Mis does not wear a wig. When the show was in Melbourne a couple of years ago I was at a concert on a Monday night and Kerrie Anne Greenland, who played Eponine, was there. Before the show I heard her talking to her friends about how she had been able to wash her hair that day as she was only allowed to wash it on a Monday.

Similarly, Carrie Hope Fletcher couldn’t cut her hair while she played the role on the West End. When she then was in the Dubai production she was originally going to have short hair but they then decided to give her extensions (but again not a wig).

[Dave28282]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 5:26am

ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "Where's a certain poster to come in and say blondes aren't allowed to play Nessarose because it'll mess with the whole story about the dynamics of privilege?."

You tell me, where are they?

Because according to most posters here this should be "brunette face".

Just like gay face and fat face were extensively defended in other discussions. It's notably quiet now, which is strange, as it's just another trait one can or can not have problems with personally.

I find the "Are blondes allowed to play Nessarose" title just as world alienated as many discussions in here.

What is this huge toxic desire to put people in a victim role and separate? We need to help people with this mindset.

Updated On: 6/19/18 at 05:26 AM

[Loopin’theloop]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 6:43am

Bell0708 said: "Nessa actually has more than a half an hour between her last scene in Act 1 before her first scene in Act 2. She should have plenty of time to get her hair in an updo I would guess."

Yes but that’s not going to be good for someone’s hair, eight shows a week. That’s one reason wife are worn.

Sonetimre a show will choose not to use wigs if there is a limited amount of choreography, mostly because it’s a big money saver without them but also because they simply might decide that the actors own hair is the look they are going for. I would lean more towards cheaper though. Any show in which there is a lot of choreography is going to be wigged, if your sweating directly into your hair whilst tap dancing, the style isn’t going to last two numbers. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 7:20am

Dave28282 said: "I find the "Are blondes allowed to play Nessarose" title just as world alienated as many discussions in here.

What is this huge toxic desire to put people in a victim role and separate? We need to help people with this mindset."

Except the OP meant NONE of that in her post.   She's naive and imagining herself that type, but she's a blonde - and never saw anyone else that was blonde PLAY that role.  Simple (but silly) question.   She wasn't playing a victim or separating anyone.

[meharper24601]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 8:25am

Blondes (examples: Jillian Butler and Kem Martin) are allowed to play Nessa and contrary to what most people are saying on here, Nessa does NOT wear a wig! The second national tour actually has a red-headed understudy Nessa right now and she performs with her natural hair! Just check out pictures of all of the different Nessas, it is certainly their own hair! The only time she does wear a wig is during No One Mourns the Wicked and other times she is in her ensemble/mob outfit.

[Loopin’theloop]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 10:27am

meharper24601 said: "Blondes (examples: Jillian Butler and Kem Martin) are allowed to play Nessa and contrary to what most people are saying on here, Nessa does NOT wear a wig! The second national tour actually has a red-headed understudy Nessa right now and she performs with her natural hair! Just check out pictures of allof the different Nessas,it iscertainly their own hair!The only time she doeswear a wig isduring No One Mourns the Wicked and other times she is in her ensemble/mob outfit."

If she wears a wig in ‘No One Mourns The Wicked’ then she wears a wig throughout. You can’t get all of the pin curls out of someone’s hair and style it for the Nessa look, before she makes her entrance. There simply isn’t enough time. Even if there was, that’s a lot of unnessary stress on an actors own hair, they wouldn’t.

It’s more likely she simply wears a hat to disguise her during the opening.

Updated On: 6/19/18 at 10:27 AM

Posted: 6/19/18 at 10:32am

Kitsune said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "FYI: due to mics and logistics, ALL actresses on Broadway in musicals wear wigs, even Bernadette Peters. Even if their real hair is exactly like the hair as their character, it is easier to maintain a wig 8 performances a week as well as handle the logistics of their mics.

Kristin Chenoweth, though a natural blonde in real life, wore wigs in WICKED. Many brunettes have also played Glinda in WICKED. No one has ever bleached their hair for the role.

Patti LuPone was still a brunette when she played Eva Perón in EVITA back in 1979. She never bleached her hair blonde nor has any actress who ever played the role. They wore lace-front wigs."

I had no idea - thank you, I find this kind of thing fascinating! (It does make sense when you talk about hair upkeep and mic logistics)"

This just is false. If someone wears their own hair like women in “in the heights” and karen Olivio in the revival of “west side story” they are paid a hair stipend. In cases like “Hamilton”, yes, the women are made wigs to look like they’re real hair but this is not a requirement this is false information

 

krsitin Martin wears her own hair. As do most Nessa’s. 

 

Don’t speak for which you don’t know. 

Updated On: 6/19/18 at 10:32 AM

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 11:18am

Dave28282 said: "What is this huge toxic desire to put people in a victim role and separate? We need to help people with this mindset."

Yes, the first step is wondering why you have that desire and mindset.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 1:36pm

Wigs are extremely common on Broadway, particularly for women. That is not a controversial statement. Even performers that seem to have very basic or common hairstyles, or styles very close to what they have offstage, are often wearing wigs.

This NYTimes feature from 2014 shows the variety used:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/theater/big-wigs-of-broadway-interactive.html

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 2:24pm

meharper24601 said: "Blondes (examples: Jillian Butler and Kem Martin) are allowed to play Nessa and contrary to what most people are saying on here, Nessa does NOT wear a wig! The second national tour actually has a red-headed understudy Nessa right now and she performs with her natural hair! Just check out pictures of allof the different Nessas,it iscertainly their own hair!The only time she doeswear a wig isduring No One Mourns the Wicked and other times she is in her ensemble/mob outfit."

Actually Beka(the redhead you are referring to) does not wear a wig at the beginning when she is playing Nessa. Her hair in pulled up and tucked under her hat. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 3:32pm

The problem with wigs is having to wear the matching merkin. Without it, I just can't get into character...

[Tag]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 3:43pm

FYI there is no additional fee or stipend (as someone mentioned) if an actor uses their own hair.  Except in these circumstances:


Hairstyle and Hair Color

(1) The Actor may not be required to change the color of Actor's hair unless Actor agrees in writing at the time of signing the contract to such a change. The Producer shall pay for the original expense of such change, its upkeep during the run of the engagement and its restoration to the original color when the Actor leaves the production.

(2) The Actor may not be required to cut or change the style of Actor's hair in any way or to shave Actor's head unless Actor agrees in writing at the time of signing the contract. The Producer shall pay the original expenses of such change and the expense of the upkeep of said hair or hairstyle during the run of the production. When the Actor leaves the production, the Producer agrees to restore the length and shape/style of hair when an Actor has been asked to grow Actor’s hair out for a role.

[Dave28282]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 6:32pm

dramamama611 said: "Dave28282 said: "I find the "Are blondes allowed to play Nessarose" title just as world alienated as many discussions in here.

What is this huge toxic desire to put people in a victim role and separate? We need to help people with this mindset."

Except the OP meant NONE of that in her post. She's naive and imagining herself that type, but she's a blonde - and never saw anyone else that was blonde PLAY that role. Simple (but silly) question. She wasn't playing a victim or separating anyone."

Well she's assuming that there are people who think it's not allowed, or at least taking the possibility serious that it wouldn't be allowed.

It's "giving in" to the "separators" that is the problem.

Color counters, gay face screamers, fat face shamers, blonde complainers, all black cast demanders, are all separators.

Updated On: 6/19/18 at 06:32 PM

[Fosse76]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 6:36pm

Tag said: "For some reason, some of the female cast of the Toronto production of CFA wear wigs (and not necessarily to look like their Broadway counterparts).

ie: Beverly Bass in Toronto

"

What makes you think that's a wig?

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 7:30pm

It is stated in tons of Broadway.com vlogs that Nessa is the only character that does not wear a wig. Besides the opening number.

[Tag]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 7:38pm

Tag said: "For some reason, some of the female cast of the Toronto production of CFA wear wigs (and not necessarily to look like their Broadway counterparts).

ie: Beverly Bass in Toronto

"

What makes you think that's a wig?

Actress in real life has curly hair.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 8:17pm

Behold, blonde Kristine Reese in her Nessarose wig.