It's Time for 'Hairspray' Creators to Prohibit All-White Productions
Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder
Last year, I wrote a piece that highlighted the fact that there were all-white productions of Hairspray being performed. I thought this idea was preposterous.
For a show that addresses civil rights and racism towards black people, I found it unconscionable that there would be all-white productions. I also felt the same for any other races portraying the roles of Seaweed or Motormouth Maybelle. Given the dialogue, character arc, songs, it would be in poor taste for anyone except for black people to play those roles.
I thought any school or theatre that would think otherwise would be insane to cast the show that way. Until I saw that it’s something that’s endorsed by the show’s creators.
According to the show’s licensing materials, if a theatre casts a non-black performer in any of the roles written as black characters, they are required to post the following letter in their programs:
Dear Audience Members,
When we, the creators of HAIRSPRAY, first started licensing the show to high-schools and community theatres, we were asked by some about using make-up in order for non-African Americans to portray the black characters in the show.
Although we comprehend that not every community around the globe has the perfectly balanced make-up (pardon the pun) of ethnicity to cast HAIRSPRAY as written, we had to, of course, forbid any use of the coloring of anyone's face (even if done respectfully and subtly) for it is still, at the end of the day, a form of blackface, which is a chapter in the story of race in America that our show is obviously against.
Yet, we also realized, to deny an actor the chance to play a role due to the color of his or her skin would be its own form of racism, albeit a "politically correct" one.
And so, if the production of HAIRSPRAY you are about to see tonight features folks whose skin color doesn't match the characters (not unlike how Edna has been traditionally played by a man), we ask that you use the timeless theatrical concept of "suspension of disbelief" and allow yourself to witness the story and not the racial background (or gender) of the actors. Our show is, after all, about not judging books by their covers! If the direction and the actors are good (and they had better be!) you will still get the message loud and clear. And hopefully have a great time receiving it!
Thank You,
Marc, Scott, Mark, Tom & John
Those who signed the letter are Marc Shaiman, Scott Whitman, Mark O’Donnell, Thomas Meehan, and John Waters.
While I understand the intentions of what these white men are saying and I agree that the use of “blackface” should be prohibited, their claim that it would be racist to deny a non-black performer to portray these roles is incredibly tone-deaf.
Asking a black audience member to suspend their disbelief while a white woman sings “I Know Where I’ve Been” is a disrespectful step way too far. I could also get into the “white savior” trope in this show but that’s another column for another day.
I know why the creators of this show put statements in like these, money. It’s always about money. They wanted Hairspray to be performed in Ireland or Japan or Mexico or New Zealand(see picture above) and by requiring that the show be cast correctly, that would cut off potential licensing revenue.
But the show is 18-years-old right now. They’ve made their money. It’s time to correct this statement because it sets a terrible precedent and allows for productions to cast non-black performers in roles intended for black people.
Sadly, Mr. Meehan and Mr. O’Donnell have passed away. But to my knowledge, that doesn’t prevent Mr. Shaiman, Mr. Whitman, or Mr. Waters from reversing this stance. Given what’s happened lately, I hope they do. I have a feeling that when schools and local theatres resume operations, Hairspray will be at the top of many of their lists.
Let’s make sure that the show is being cast correctly and that the right voices are heard.