#disabled actor

[fatherfigurefusion]

We've got a brand-new disabled (and queer) Ricky Potts actor entering the roster!

Located at the Kingborough Performing Arts Center in Tasmania!

(The show is double-casted, and Relic is specifically in the Fate Case.)

[officialrapunzelfitzherbert]

happy disability pride month i made this for insta but posting times dont matter here so yall get it first 😷💕 i sooo rarely see anyone talk abt covid safety in theatre which is wild bc long covid actually makes singing and dancing very hard u would think we'd be doing everything we can to avoid spreading that to everyone!! i hope we start a bigger conversation about accessibility and masks in theatre spaces. disabled performers i love u and u belong here and everywhere

update: here's some free printables of this zine!! option to pay what u want

newlevant's covid zine | mask blocs | how to negotiate covid protections in theatre

[newhologram]

Weird that casting for disabled roles rarely want someone like me because to them I’m not physically disabled, not “the look.” But here I am on a years-long hiatus because of how disabled I am. Not disabled enough to get cast as Disabled Talent but literally too disabled to work at all anymore?🤔

[actual-real-vampire]

Gus the theatre cat preformed by me in our cats non replica

[thestars-in-her-eyes]

teen girl sees 50yr old English man ONCE and becomes obsessed

[tuttle-did-it]

struggles for disabled people during the WGA/SAF-AFTRA strike

“We’re Not Invisible”: Disabled SAG-AFTRA and WGA Members on Accessibility Challenges — and Solutions — at the Picket Lines

From record-breaking temperatures to environmental hazards, performers and writers with disabilities discuss what they're facing on the line

[wheelzoffun]

Question

Should disabled actors and actresses be allowed to play roles that were not written as disabled characters? Let's say, for example, an actor or actress that uses a wheelchair plays a character that was written as a fully able-bodied person. Is that acceptable?

[whoops-im-obsessed]

UK'sies Crutchie (and why I love him)

In comparison to previous productions, London Newsies took some positive steps in diverse casting. One of these steps was casting a disabled actor to play Crutchie! I love seeing how different people interpret characters and I know a lot of fansies won't be able to see UK'sies so I thought I'd chat a bit about Matthew Duckett's wonderful job of playing Crutchie. *spoilers under the cut*

In 92'sies, Broadway and even tour casts, Crutchie has always been a bit of a lighter character. A brother figure to Jack, his role is to show Jack's caring side as well as to show the consequences of his actions. Pretty well liked, sometimes portrayed as childish (is it only me that remembers #letcrutchiesayfuck?).

In 92'sies he comes across as bumbling comic relief, AKB builds a more sunny, easily lovable, almost cartoonish character, and Andy Richardson's Crutchie is innocent and youthful.

In contrast, Matthew Duckett brings a realness to the character that I'm not sure we've seen before. Duckett has cerebal palsy - and while its none of our business how his disability affects him offstage - on stage its my opinion that his lived experience, combined with the fact that he's on the taller side and seems to be a little older than some of the ensemble (please forgive me if I'm wrong about that 😅) give us this slightly more matured, starker Crutchie.

He isn't a poor cinnamon roll who needs to be helped all the time, he's a valued member of the team who they help when he wants it.

One of the choices I love is when the newsies first find out about the new price. Crutchie's reaction ('we got the right to starve, let's just get our papes and hit the streets while we still can!') Isn't a scared knee-jerk reaction, it's a thought out, sensible response to the situation and lots of newsies agree with him. He's taken more seriously than before, with a depth to his character we were missing.

Duckett also adds some fun backstory to Crutchie; on the rooftop when Jack mentions Santa Fe Crutchie visibly slumps at the realisation of 'you got folks there', before brightening and grinning privately to himself when Jack denies it. He has a rosary around his neck which he takes out on several occasions, when captured, after yelling for Jack he sobs and mumbles 'oh God please help!'

Finally, the physicality of Crutchie is on point and held until the final bows, even though he hops around occasionally, Crutchie carries himself confidently, and Duckett was so smooth in his movement. A lot of work was obviously put into Crutchie's physicality and it pays off.

Only seen it once so far but I'm planning to go back so this may get updated! Happy to answer any questions about the production to best of my ability x