Casting for Non-Binary

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/14/22 at 6:17pm

So, question. I've seen a few different shows exclusively looking for people who are non-binary. That's great. But isn't it a law that you don't have to disclose your sexuality in a job interview or audition? So how does this work? Like, if I'm non-binary but maybe I just look like a "standard man/woman" or how does one even indicate any of that? Just wanted to have a discussion about it because on the surface it seems great, but then it also feels sort of problematic? 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/14/22 at 7:22pm

Yes. They can "encourage" a specific group to apply, but all notices must be inclusive of everyone. Just ask Hamilton's casting agency. 

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 2/14/22 at 7:49pm

Non-binary is a gender identity, not a sexuality. 

[QueenTwinnied]

Posted: 2/14/22 at 8:03pm

Alexander Lamar said: "Non-binary is a gender identity, not a sexuality."

This. How are people still confusing the two 

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/14/22 at 11:45pm

"but maybe I just look like a "standard man/woman" or".... *slow blink* also, being non-binary has nothing at all to do with how "standard" one may or may not look.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/15/22 at 3:46am

Broadwayguy2, that's exactly my point. From a casting stand point they tend to cast by "type" so what does that "type" look like? That's kind of my point. How do you "identify" that type? Anyone and everyone can be non-binary, so what exactly are they looking for in a casting notice? 

[QueenTwinnied]

Posted: 2/15/22 at 5:30am

To authentically cast people who identify as non-binary? Especially after the JLP debacle I’m not sure what’s so surprising about this. 

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 2/15/22 at 7:23am

Like has been said above, non-binary is not a sexuality. In any case, I don’t see the problem - casting notices are always put up for roles exclusively seeking men or exclusively seeking women (you don’t see men getting called in for Glinda or women called in for The Phantom), so why is this different?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/15/22 at 7:53am

So instead of aiding in a discussion, you want to know question the need for the question?  Wanting to be better informed is never a bad thing.   

 

I think the OPs question is an interesting....can't just about anyone SAY they are non binary?  ESP since that looks like just about ANYTHING?

 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 2/15/22 at 8:24am

I don't have an answer to the OP's question, but if people have general questions about non-binary, this is a good resource article:

https://transequality.org/issues/resources/understanding-non-binary-people-how-to-be-respectful-and-supportive

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/15/22 at 9:14am

Not really sure I understand the question. Is this about non-binary people looking androgynous when they walk into an audition room, or is it about a male presenting acting femme and vice versa?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/15/22 at 9:44am

The OP seemed to be asking the question in good faith, with the intent of learning more about the topic. So I think the post warrants good-faith replies. 

As others have said, being non-binary isn't a sexuality; the situation you're describing it's a closer equivalent to putting up a "women only" or "men only" audition notice. 

I see what you're asking regarding "type" - and I think for that reason, you'll sometimes see casting notices for non-binary people with a little more specificity. For example, some might use language like "masc," "femme" or "androgynous" if it's important for the role. Or in some cases, they might specify that a non-binary character is AMAB or AFAB (Assigned Male/Female At Birth)

Or for a musical, they might say that a role is a "tenor" or "soprano" simply to clarify the abilities needed to play the role - although even this might be seen as controversial, because some have pointed out that this might be used as an industry-wide excuse not to cast trans people, when in fact they could simply change the keys for the actors. I saw someone online recently point out "if they can lower the keys for Sutton Foster, they can lower the keys for a trans person" 

But I think many people are also just looking to cast shows more gender diversity. And sometimes a characters' gender assigned at birth, or specific gender presentation, aren't important to the character's story. It's just important that they're non-binary. And at that point, it basically just becomes like a normal audition process; who's talented? Who has the energy/abilities you're looking for in the role? Who seems good to work with? Who can convey the personality traits of the character most believably? 

And for the record, @dramamama, I don't think it's worth being concerned about people lying about being trans or non-binary. This isn't really a thing that happens. I'm sure there are some A-holes who have done it, but buy-and-large it's not a problem that's widespread enough to use it as an excuse to cast doubt on people who say they're non-binary. This is the kind of mindset that got JK Rowling in trouble. 

Updated On: 2/15/22 at 09:44 AM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/15/22 at 3:23pm

Yeah, not trying to be controversial. And thanks for clarifying about the sexuality thing. 

I just question it because a new musical recently posted looking for Non-Binary ensemble members. And, to me, I'm like can't anyone declare non-binary? Like I'm a gay male that doesn't feel pulled to one or the other, but I've never like "declared" myself non-binary. I feel like non-binary in Hollywood always has like a man with wild colored hair and nail polish, etc. Like there is a certain "look" that they want. So just curious how they would go about casting since it's such a broad term.

[darquegk]

Posted: 2/15/22 at 4:10pm

I'm doing a showcase for the musical I wrote next month, and other than the two main leads, everyone plays an ensemble track. One of my supporting leads is a nonbinary performer, but their main role is male and they're playing a male-identified track (Man 4, Woman 1, etc.). For ease of application and overall sensitivity I changed notes in the script and score from "all men" to "all S/A or "all T/B" when dealing with ensemble things, because this performer is solidly a tenor and slots well into that track without misgendering.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/15/22 at 4:36pm

RippedMan said: "Yeah, not trying to be controversial. And thanks for clarifying about the sexuality thing.

I just question it because a new musical recently posted looking for Non-Binary ensemble members. And, to me, I'm like can't anyone declare non-binary? Like I'm a gay male that doesn't feel pulled to one or the other, but I've never like "declared" myself non-binary. I feel like non-binary in Hollywood always has like a man with wild colored hair and nail polish, etc. Like there is a certain "look" that they want. So just curious how they would go about casting since it's such a broad term."

 

I don't think there's a specific "look" they're going for - I think it's just that they want an ensemble featuring gender-diversity. It may come with a variety of gender-conforming "looks" or it may not, but either way they want to invite non-binary people to audition. It can be difficult for trans and non-binary people to find gigs in the entertainment industry, because many non-binary people don't fit into prescribed casting "box types." e.g the male ensemble in suits and the female ensemble in dresses and heels. So it sounds like these employers want to make it clear that these boxes won't be placed on people of any gender trying to audition. 

And yes, anyone can "declare" non-binary if they feel that represents their own gender identity. and they don't have to dress or look a certain way to reflect that, if they don't choose to. And sure, if a non-binary person chooses to present in a way that more closely aligns with traditional gender-norms, it might be slightly easier for them to get work compared to people who present more androgynous. So in that sense, yes it's possible that employers want to make room for people who have gender non-conforming "looks," but I don't think it would be limited in that way.

Again, it's just a method of inviting gender diversity, and making space for non-binary people - not necessarily a strict thing they'll be keeping track of and categorizing person by person. 

Updated On: 2/15/22 at 04:36 PM

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 2/16/22 at 10:24am

non-binary people are not a third, single gender with uniform presentation, and I think that's important to note here. I am a non-binary woman and I use she/they pronouns, but that's just me and how I feel most comfortable identifying. I present as pretty femme, and so am often assumed to be cis. some other people close to me are also non-binary, but we all look completely different and identify differently. gender is fluid, just like sexuality. 

[OhBoy17]

Posted: 2/16/22 at 10:57am

I just want to thank the OP for starting this conversation and asking a question that, in the context of an internet chat board, is probably very difficult to phrase "the right way". Sometimes our good intentions and very deliberate attempts to get it right can be misconstrued as offensive or ignorant - we are learning as we go and never intend to do additional harm.

And thank you to everyone who is responding kindly with helpful information and resources. Thank you for your vulnerability, also, and willingness to help us learn.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/16/22 at 11:15am

I suggest looking up Project Am I Right started by Lauren Villegas a few years back. She has rightfully pointed out and started a movement to get actors to be better at self-identifying for the projects that they are right for and stop using the excuse that it's not their fault that producers, directors, casting, etc are not doing better at casting people who actually represent the roles they are playing. 

Project Am I Right and the Woman Who Started It, Lauren Villegas

https://www.projectamiright.org

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/16/22 at 12:15pm

Thanks for all the thoughtful responses. My main point was to bring up the fact that most casting is done in a "type." Fieyro's all look a certain way, Glinda's look a certain way, Aladdin's, etc. So if they're casting off type what would be the Non-Binary type? And as we're learning there is no "type," so I wonder how this will effect casting from now on. I'm ALL for breaking type, I think it's a lazy way to cast, but sadly musical theater is pretty much 100% based on type. You're a romantic lead or a character actor and if you're somewhere in between you probably aren't going to work that often. That's how it's been. So happy to see a shift in the tides. 

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 2/16/22 at 11:04pm

RippedMan said: "Thanks for all the thoughtful responses. My main point was to bring up the fact that most casting is done in a "type." Fieyro's all look a certain way, Glinda's look a certain way, Aladdin's, etc. So if they're casting off type what would be the Non-Binary type? And as we're learning there is no "type," so I wonder how this will effect casting from now on. I'm ALL for breaking type, I think it's a lazy way to cast, but sadly musical theater is pretty much 100% based on type. You're a romantic lead or a character actor and if you're somewhere in between you probably aren't going to work that often. That's how it's been. So happy to see a shift in the tides."

This is what always irked me about the JLP controversy. Non-binary doesn't look like anything in particular. There are femme and masc presenting nonbinary folks who "pass" for cis and cis people are are strongly gender nonconforming. Casting someone who is just "non-binary" is even more generic than asking for  latine or asian folks when those words encompass different nationalities and cultures. In the case of JLP, a femme "passing" nonbinary person would not make sense for a role whose conflict has to do with being butch/masc. Sometimes what matters more than whether someone's Instagram says "she/her" or "they/them" is how they present and how that has caused discrimination for them.