Can I be in Broadway/off Broadway productions with food allergies?

[Amascar1207]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 5:06pm

I asked this in a Quora forum and got a lot of backlash that I shouldn’t bother being an actress with severe allergies. My only issue is that if I have to kiss someone in a role, I need to ask them if they could refrain from eating nuts or shellfish, just on the days of rehearsals that involve the kiss or close contact and the performances. Is that selfish or rude of me to ask? Should I expect to not get cast in roles because of my allergies holding me back? I’ve done theater since I was young, I am now 22. I usually always get a main or supporting role, but I’ve never had to do an actual kiss because it’s been pretty easy to get around it where I’ve done performances (black out during what appears to be a kiss or just cheek/forehead kiss). I know for those who don’t have food allergies, this is hard to understand but I also don’t want to sell myself short and not seek lead roles or avoid auditions all together because of something I was born with. I’ve been basically told to just give up by these people on Quora who do claim to be actors and directors. I am just trying to see if there really is no hope left for me or if anyone in the theater has these allergies too.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 5:17pm

It won't matter, and your employer can't discriminate against you for an allergy. There are enough workarounds for prop food and kissing. I know there must be plenty of actors with heavy allergies, plus things like gluten free and vegan and whatnot.

Your level of talent will be much more important...

Updated On: 8/24/21 at 05:17 PM

[thedrybandit]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 5:28pm

You absolutely can. I've had to prep food props for actors with allergies, and we keep those allergies/restrictions in mind when designing props for any other actors that come into contact with the allergic person. For example, if Lead 1 is allergic to dairy, we would use a coconut whipped topping in place of whipped cream for Lead 2's dessert, so that when they kiss later on, Lead 1 is still safe. It's very, very easy to work around, and just takes a few extra minutes of prop design time.

Obviously the actors you'll be working with can't be controlled outside of the theater, but the vast majority of actors I've worked with would be happy to assist you in any way they could, and asking them not to eat nuts or shellfish is a small accommodation that wouldn't be at all selfish or rude to ask for. Your health comes first.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 5:34pm

Just to supplement what's already been said:

I was once in a show where I had to kiss someone with a nut allergy. She requested that I don't eat any nuts before the show, and of course I was more than happy to make that accommodation. Safety first! 

[bway0]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 5:45pm

Absolutely ! My friend is gluten free (celiac) and dairy free (I forget if lactose intolerance or dairy allergy). She’s worked in theatre since she was very young. Her sister has been in a few off Broadway shows and is also gluten free from celiac disease as well and from what I’ve heard from my friend is that every production is accommodating !

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 5:55pm

I know that Broadway actress Jessica Vosk has a nut allergy as well as several other foods and she's spoken about her career, including Wicked specifically. Stage management had an Epi-Pen offstage during her scenes where she was in close contact with others (I'd imagine As Long as You're Mine, at the very least) just in case.

https://www.allergicliving.com/2018/12/07/jessica-vosk-broadways-wicked-star-lives-her-dream-while-navigating-multiple-food-allergies/

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 6:38pm

Sounds like the people in that Quora forum had literally no idea what they were talking about!

[Dolly80]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 6:45pm

Believe me, being an actor basically means you have to have at least one allergy. Make those props and stage management teams really earn their money.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/24/21 at 7:15pm

Well. This taught us something...the people on Quora are idiots.

There is nothing about having allergies that should be seen as an issue, nor would it be a problem for your fellow actors.

Heck, I had a student write her college essay about this very thing: kissing another actor with a peanut allergy when she was Marion in Music Man in 8th grade. (There was more to it, but still....,)

Updated On: 8/25/21 at 07:15 PM

[Dolly80]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 12:44am

Also the people on that forum sound like absolute idiots. Ignore. They won’t be actors or directors if they are saying that.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 2:40am

I got a job working for Universal as an actor and they asked about food allergies for all the catered meals. It’s a thing and people know it! No biggie!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 8:48am

I’m an Art Director and Producer and on all my projects everyone hired is asked about dietary and allergies to make proper accommodations. Never ONCE have I not hired anyone due to their dietary needs or allergies. Even airlines ask this if you’re flying First Class or Business Class.

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 11:31am

I wouldn't mention it until after you get cast.  

[SharksVsJets]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 12:04pm

Good luck in your career. Just watch out for a shady character named Ellis.

[morosco]

Posted: 8/25/21 at 3:22pm

Stage Managers and folks in the prop department are used to accommodating food allergies and such. It probably happens more often than one would think. I think one of the most common accommodations is for actors who are vegetarians and have to eat something onstage that's not normally in their diet. There are also people with diabetes. And there are plenty of singers that avoid certain foods or drinks that could negatively affect their singing voices.

Years ago I did a show where and actress needed to eat a fried chicken leg but she was a vegetarian. The props department created ceramic "bones" onto which they wrapped and shaped Pillsbury biscuits to look like meat. Then they would bake them until they were nice and browned and from the audience they were believable as meaty fried chicken legs.    

[A Director]

Posted: 8/26/21 at 12:23am

Impeach2017 said: "I wouldn't mention it until after you get cast."

Always helping, aren't you Impeach2017!

 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/26/21 at 12:33am

In Mary Martin's autobiography, she wrote about Robert Preston's fondness for shrimp scampi when they were in I DO! I DO! She said whenever he had some before a performance he'd bring a small portion to her dressing room. Once she had just a taste of it she couldn't smell the garlic on his breath during there love scenes.

This isn't about allergies but it shows how considerate actors can be

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 8/26/21 at 4:16am

A Director said: "Impeach2017 said: "I wouldn't mention it until after you get cast."

Always helping, aren't you Impeach2017!

"

thank you