Again, a hearing (and in this case, seeing) actor has been cast in a high-profile role, this time on Broadway. The role is that of the young Helen Keller in a remake of the Miracle Worker. The producer said he had to hire a well-known star (Abigail Breslin) because he needed the power of a star name to attract investment. He said there were no well-known young stars who are deaf and blind.
He is correct about one thing - that there are no well-known young deaf and blind stars. The deaf acting community is small, and even most "stars" of that community do not have the power of being household names. Deanne Bray? Shoshannah Stern? How many hearing people are aware that they exist as actors? The only deaf actor whose name is fairly recognizable by many hearing people is Marlee Matlin, and she is too old for the role of the young Helen Keller.
Earlier, there were similar objections to a hearing actor playing Singer in a production of The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. In that case, the actor who got the role had already played the role in an earlier production of the play. In this case, the role of Helen Keller is a new role.
My feelings about this? It is clearly becoming a trend to NOT hire deaf or blind people for "disability roles." While I understand the producer's concerns (are investors really that intolerant of a non-star?), I personally think that the producer is making a mistake here. Deafness (and blindness) are not something you can fake. Deafness is not something that you can just know about, it is something that you LIVE with on a daily basis. Can a hearing child actor really project the frustrations of what it is like to be deaf? Can the hearing child actor really make the audience FEEL what it is like to be deaf?
Surprise me! I read it and unfair. for not hire deaf actress. I think Broadway doesn’t need to hire deaf or deaf-Blind and deal with kind of discrimination?
I saw the lady in DeafVideo was about these today, Under Barb13. http://www.deafvideo.tv/62507
I give credit to Jamie for twice using the word “invest” as a true “Broadway” play costs millions of dollars to produce… And in many cases, simply flops, with the investment getting wiped out when a show closes after opening night.
In fact, a few years ago Morley Safer on “60 Minutes” documented this, as it followed the saga of a musical called “Smile” — It closed after one show, losing several million dollars for a Texas investor.
One of the most famous cases of a wealthy man was the owner of the Boston Red Sox losing his shirt on a Broadway play in 1920; and as a result had to seel Babe Ruth to the hated New York Yankees… And we all know how that story ended, too.
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Marlee Matlin is a 5-sigma outlier as a deaf actor; and (sadly) she gives false hope to many hearing impaired tween & teen girls that, they too can be like Marlee. The entertainment business is bad enough as it is for even the most talented musicians, singers & actors.
Adding in deafness for “novelty roles” like in “Children of a Lesser G-d,” “Miracle Worker,” and the occasional “Heroes” episode only makes the “cattle call” that much more heart-wrenching for the actors turned away.
That is, if they even get the casting contractor to contact them back when they sign up on the Web (as we saw with “Heroes;” much to the consternation of three well qualified women).
Jamie
KUDOS for your article and the expressions you felt. I too feel the same. Maybe we should write to the funders and express our outrage at this slight? How do others feel about non disabled actors portraying us on Broadway. We can use our pocketbooks if that possible and our networking to get others on our side. How about it Deaf Actors? Lets stand Strong!
Do you think the show will have captions and audio descriptors?
My only feelings is that it is a play and casr how the director wants it. I Went deaf 3 years ago and am a lighting designer. I was going to Hawaii University on a grad ship to become a teacher. After going deaf, losing my job and granship ending up homeless in Hawaii, i FEEL MORE DEAF PEOPLE SHOULD BE CAST FOR PARTS. bUT WHAT ABOUT DESIGNING . There should be help for designers that are deaf. I have bilateral cochlear implants but could never design with my implants, I would have to do it deaf. One day I will teach other deaf people to desighn lights and sets. Peace bripple
Hello everyone. I feel that to be denied anything being deaf or blind is wrong. On the other hand to demand something for the same reasons is aslo unfair.
directors look for certain things in actors. Do they have to hire an excon to play a prisoner or a doctor to play a doctor. Its called acting and the reason we watch these to see the quality of the performance givin. If they don’t do well then you can say what u will. Many actors are horrible and that adds credit to your claims injustice. To say a deaf blind person can to a better job then a hearing seeing is just as wrong as saying the oppisite. Jobs of anykind can be filled at the employers discretion.