Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now.
This is a very personal topic for me, but I feel like I am finally in a strong enough place to share.
Guys, let me just start by saying that body shaming has no place in theatre in this day and age. There is no room for it, period.
You never know what people have gone through. You don’t know their stories.
Below are a few examples of situations I have been through in the last few years regarding body image.
I sent in a full body shot pre-audition, and was then asked to drive 4 hours for a private audition during 2020. I sang what felt like a private concert on the stage (3 full songs and a monologue) and then was asked to come in to the directors office after I was finished. The casting director sat down with me, and after asking me other questions about my availability, he asked if I would be willing to lose 10-20 pounds to “fit their aesthetic.” Then he made a joke that we had all “gained weight during the pandemic”. This was for a singing role. No dancing, nothing physical.
I was once told that I needed to wear longer dresses, and spanx to cover up my body. I was told that because people in the cast were "different body types" that our costumes would “naturally just look different.”
I was once told that when I was "bloated" that I could cinch my corset looser and then the costumer proceeded to give the whole cast instructions on how to cinch the corset looser should that happen.
I have been told that I would have "weigh-ins" for a musical theatre revue show. (For a singing show with some movement and minimal dancing) It was not in the guys contracts, but it was in all the womens contracts.
I have listened to conversations about how a womans costume in a show wasn’t flattering on her body, and that it was probably due to the fact that she had "gained weight" after the costume had been made.
At a fitting for a show, I was trying on pre-purchased costumes from a department store - and when I didn’t fit into the largest size of pants, (none of the pants were sizes that I had previously sent in with my measurements) the director told me she was “shocked” because I didn’t “look that big. “
These are just a few examples of what I personally have gone through in my ten years of being in the industry. My body and weight has fluctuated all throughout my performing career, but I can honestly say I have never been “physically un-fit” to perform any show that I have done. I know that so many women go through this everyday. Body shaming has no place in our world, much less in our workplace. In my opinion, if you are in good enough health and fit to do whatever the show calls for without getting injured/sick/hurting yourself, then you are perfect for the role, no matter what you look like.This doesn’t have to be the narrative in our industry any longer. When enough of us stand up for what is right, we can make change happen.
For an amazing example of dancers of all shapes and sizes, check out the current cast of “A Beautiful Noise” on Broadway! More of this please!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG5Zeda8D6I
Remember, every body is beautiful.
Alyssa
No Sweat Rep Owner