Excessive Sweating on Stage

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 12:17am

I was watching some performance videos on YouTube and one had an actor sweating excessively. I always notice sweating because I have a physical condition called hyperhidrosis. I sweat for no reason from my forehead. Yes, I've tried everything! :) The best cure has been to just live with it, accept that it's who I am. 

Anyway, I have great empathy for all actors. Whether I like or dislike a performance or production, I am always rooting for the actors because I admire anyone brave enough to perform in front of an audience. But I especially appreciate actors who sweat. I notice when the action is off them and they pull a handkerchief out and subtly dab their foreheads. I'm not saying they have the same condition as me. Likely it's a combination of hot lights, makeup, heavy costumes, and nerves regardless of how confident an actor is. 

I don't know the point of this thread really. It may just be for actors who read this forum and who are anxious about their uncontrollable sweating, to know there is at least one patron in the audience -- me -- who empathizes and admires your courage. 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 12:33am

I've had to wear some incredibly hot and stuffy costumes over the years and the tech rehearsal period tends to involve me trying not to look like I'm melting.   I recently played Lady Macbeth (yes I am male) and I had tons of foam padding on my hips and chest and I had a large full lace wig and a large white fur coat that came down to my ankles.  Thankfully, my lovely makeup designer noticed that I was drowning in perspiration and gave me a lovely new makeup design.  She had me do a very pale, almost black and white, design with about 50 pounds of translucent powder to hold me together for 3 hours. 

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 5:32am

I always notice how much Ben Platt sweats during much of Dear Evan Hansen, and I admire it so much, because I see it as just one of many testaments to how much he puts into that role. Just one example, but I agree, it shows massive courage.

[Rainah]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 10:23am

The Hamilton cast sweats like the dickens. I especially noticed Oak, Groff, and Leslie sweating though. (Groff also spits a lot in his solos)

[newintown]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 10:28am

Groff is famous for spitting and sweating; Michael Arden also sweats as much as or more than Donna McKechnie, heretofore the most famous Broadway Perspirer.

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 10:57am

Taye Diggs used to sweat a lot in hedwig, he made jokes about "melting chocolate" and they needed to give him something to sweep it off his eyes. It was a mess

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 11:21am

They cut away to a long shot for a reason every time her arms go up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh9FqPL8Mps

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 6:24pm

Anyone who has ever set foot under theatrical lighting knows how bad it is. I'm surprised that it isn't MORE noticeable for more people frankly.

[ukpuppetboy]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 6:57pm

Lee Evans must have been under a hell of a lot of lights in The Producers (London) then.