5 minute read
Theater For All?
Casting call raises questions on racism in theatre
Written by Rebecca Aizin / Designed by Emma Ruck
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On April 28, the Wirtz to do with casting directors having or “caucasian” people. Center for the Perform- to “ration” people of color because “As someone who wants to ing Arts sent out a cast- there are so few of them. make it into the industry, it feels ing call for an outside “I can understand how a White like opportunities are already not production to their email list. The student who has never had prob- great for people of color at Northcall listed 15 available roles, but lems getting roles might think we western, but a little better than the only one, at the very bottom, was are overreacting, and there’s a silent real world,” Mack said. “It seems for a woman of color — who the sentiment of ‘Well, you’re just not like what they are communicating call noted had to be “sensual.” good enough,’” Hernández said. to us as a school is the industry is
This casting call is neither atyp- “But there is a reality that not accepting of us, so it’s like the ical for the theatre industry as a whole, nor at Northwestern. The Wirtz Center sends out casting calls for both theatrical and outside films there are simply less roles doors are already closing before we get into the real world.” Al Heartley, the managing director at I feel like I’m just a body that’s fulfilling the role, body that’s fulfilling the role, “ or projects nearly every other week. instead of doing a show that Wirtz, said the theatre attempts to put on shows the When Communication senior I think would actually help industry may not offer as often, including those that feature a Alessandra Hernández me and fulfill me. large number of people of color. However, he said Wirtz still has received the April 28 call, — Kandace Mack a long way to go. “We have places we need to push and we need to continue our drive she said she toward racially- and gender-incluscanned the email for a for non- sive productions,” Heartley said. role she could fill when she saw White actors, “I’ve always come from a philosothe listing for any woman of color and even then, phy to produce and make work that who is “fiery.” For Hernández, the we are grouped in perhaps the industry casting call suggested Wirtz didn’t all the time with each other.” wouldn’t be able care whether she was Black or Latinx, because they just needed their Closed doors to offer otherwise — that’s the “token person of color.”. Communication junior Kandace purpose of higher
Hernández, who is Puerto Rican Mack has had similar experiences education.” and Mexican, has received call- to Hernández in the theatre world backs for Middle Eastern and Black at NU. The casting calls rarely work roles, despite not holding those out for her, Mack said, since many identities. She said this might have are specifi- cally for “male”
Addressing the root of the problem
Despite efforts Wirtz has made, Mack said the issue may lie in the very beginning of the college student experience at NU: admissions.
Mack said there are students and administrators who want to put on plays that center people of color, but there are not enough students of color to ll the roles. at leads the very few actors of color on campus to be pigeonholed, she said.
“If I auditioned for multiple shows, I have to get cast in the show that is designated for a Black character, because there simply aren’t enough Black people,” Mack said. “I feel like I’m just a body that’s ful lling the role, instead of doing a show that I think would actually help me and ful ll me.”
According to Hernández, the only way to improve these systemic issues is to make more e orts to diversify NU’s theatre program. at can be hard to do, however, when current students are unhappy and take to Twi er to vent their frustrations — which prospective students of color may see, she added.
“ e problem is people who come to tour see the same old White musicals and shows, like ‘Legally Blonde,’ and they see on Twi er none of us are happy, and they are like ‘Why even bother applying?’” Hernández said.
While Mack said NU is more inclusive than the theatre industry at large, the Wirtz audience still disproportionately consists of White Evanston residents. Many of the shows chosen that do have roles for Black people are o en about the Civil War or slavery, which she said makes White people “ feel “be er about themselves.”
Hernández and Mack both said they can’t envision that change, since Wirtz needs the money from the shows to survive. Heartley said he hopes Wirtz can continue to make strong strides in terms of play selection, doing the work to be better.
“Statements can only do so much. You actually have to take things back to, for instance, my sta and say, ‘How can we address this problem in a way that’s meaningful to our values, authentic to who we are and upli s diversity and inclusion in a way that we wish to see in the world?’” Heartley said.
Until real change occurs, students like Hernández and Mack will continue voicing their opinions on how the department and Wirtz could improve. At the end of the day, Hernández said, students of color are paying the same amount of money to receive less of an education, and that needs to change.
“The same rich, White students are getting the same roles over and over again and are getting exposure to the public and support from professors,” Hernández said. “But we get less education because there is less opportunity for us, and no one is sticking their neck out for us.” ◊
