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To You, And You, And You, You, And You!

There are a million things that come to my mind when I say the word “representation”. It’s a really strong word that has a lot behind it. But that’s a good thing, because it’s a really important word. So when we start talking about representation, especially when it comes to theatre, we’re getting into really serious and potentially dangerous waters. That’s why I think it’s an important thing to talk about.

Everybody wants to feel like they’re represented. And this is in all sorts of different ways. Some people want to see their race on stage. Some people want to see their gender identity on stage. Some people want to see their sexual orientation on stage. I could go on and on and on. The important part is that I feel, now more than ever, people actually getting representation. There are a lot of people out there who fall into minority groups, and for a long time, there wasn’t as much of that on stage as there is now.

Of course, this is a slightly problematic thing to say. There are plenty of plays where there’s representation. August Wilson was a prolific and groundbreaking playwright who wrote shows for Black people to shine in. I’m talking more about shows where you wouldn’t expect to see alternative representation. Sometimes it’s colorblind casting, like in the original cast of Spring Awakening where a main character was Black. Sometimes it’s entirely on purpose, like how Lin-Manuel Miranda chose to work Hamilton. Plays like The Laramie Project and Angels In America represent gay people. Sometimes it’s as simple as productions at local theatres, like how People’s Light chose to cast multi-racial couples and families in shows. No matter how you look at it, representation is a really big deal.

When I was growing up, I was pretty strange. I’m still pretty strange, but I think it’s a lot more accepted for an adult to be strange than for a young person to be strange. One of the reasons I loved being in theatre was because I could always find myself in shows I was reading or watching. I could read monologues about being bullied, and feel represented as a young girl who was bullied. I could watch The Laramie Project and feel represented as a queer person. And as I grew older, I found the shows where I felt more and more represented.

When People’s Light staged The Diary of Anne Frank and cast POC, there was a lot of backlash. A reporter even said they should have only cast Jewish actors. I think that’s ridiculous. As a Jew, I wasn’t watching the actress playing Anne thinking I wasn’t represented because she wasn’t Jewish. I felt represented because she, and the other actors, some who were white, some who were black, brought my story to life. We all have a shared experience. Things like this gives everyone a voice.

And the nice thing is that we do all have a voice. And if we don’t, someone can always give it to us. The Vagina Monologues is an important show for women. I think the reason it’s been going strong for almost thirty years is because it gives a voice to all sorts of women. Sex workers, abused women, loud women, quiet women…they all get that representation in that show. Femininity is a very hard thing for a lot of people to deal with, partially because of the society we live in (don’t get me started on that one). It’s all out there…I still identified as female when I was in a production of the show, and trust me, that group of women were badass. That’s the point of representation, right?

So obviously we all want to see ourselves onstage. Whether it’s a classic or a new piece, no one wants to see the same thing over and over. I think for the sake of theatre, it has to be tweaked some from performance to performance. And there’s not always a lot in the mainstream theatre world. For example, even in 2023, I don’t see a lot of trans/non-binary characters. We’re a rather unrepresented group in the mainstream. There’s plenty of progress when it comes to that, but maybe not as much as I would want. But we’re seeing more and more queer characters popping up. Shows like Angels In America paved the way for that sort of thing. And we keep moving.

Do you feel represented on stage? I think it’s an important question to ask. I know we see it all in movies and TV shows, but theatre is a completely different thing. Theatre is an ancient art form, and has changed the course of the world over the millennia’s it’s been a means of entertainment. That wouldn’t have happened if people weren’t seeing themselves on stage…and continuing to see themselves on stage. As the world evolves, so does theatre.

I enjoy that moment every time I see someone on stage and think, “Oh…that’s Zoe.” And that is representation at its finest.

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