Keanu Reeves’ Broadway debut in the “Waiting for Godot” revival at the end of September sparked fresh conversation about the growing trend of celebrity stunt casting — the practice of casting Hollywood stars in theatrical productions to boost publicity and ticket sales. Reeves was cast alongside his “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” costar Alex Winter in an obvious attempt to sell more tickets. However, the consistency of celebrity casting strips opportunities from talented and deserving performers and, in some cases, diminishes the quality of shows.
Acting behind the silver screen is no doubt vastly different from acting on a stage. Film actors have the flexibility of multiple takes and breaks between scenes. But in live theater, audiences see the performance unfold right in front of them. Stage actors don’t have the wiggle room of screen actors, which can make it difficult for actors to transition between the two. Actor and former Vine star Cameron Dallas was notably shamed for his lackluster portrayal of Aaron Samuels in “Mean Girls” in 2020, as was Denzel Washington for his shallow performance in “Othello” last spring.
In late July, actor Billy Porter, known for his roles in “Cinderella” and “Pose,” was criticized by audience members across social media for his ghost-like rendition of the song “If You Could See Her Through My Eyes” as the Emcee in “Cabaret.” Throughout Porter’s roughly seven weeks in the production, he broke the fourth wall by adding in his own comments and flubbed lines several times. Although Porter possesses musical talent and a history of performing on Broadway and as the Emcee in London, his vocals and failure to stick to the script made him unfit for the role. However, the entertainment and quality of “Cabaret,” along with the talents and potential of other hard-working performers, were sacrificed for the sake of a celebrity name.
Former Disney star and Jonas Brothers singer Nick Jonas’ role as Marius in the 25th Anniversary cast of “Les Misérables” in 2010 was parodied as weak compared to other musical theater performers in the show. While Jonas grew up doing musical theater, his pop-style voice did not have the strength to blend with voices such as musical icons Alfie Boe and Norm Lewis.
Stunt casting not only portrays unfit celebrities in certain roles, it also allows for untrained celebrities to pursue roles. TikTok star Charli D’Amelio, while having an extensive background in competitive dance that prepared her for her dance-heavy ensemble role, did not have formal theater training before her Broadway debut in “& Juliet.” Likewise, Pamela Anderson starred as Roxie Hart in “Chicago”in 2022 despite having no prior formal singing or dancing training.
Performers usually need stacked resumes, hours of practice and extensive singing and dancing training to even be considered for a role on Broadway. Leslie Odom Jr. struggled financially for years despite his intensive Carnegie Mellon University acting education before his big break in “Hamilton” in 2015. After years of work, he’s reached Broadway fame, filling up the Richard Rodgers Theatre for his limited-engagement return to “Hamilton” for its 10th anniversary.
While many work endlessly to bring their talents to the stage, celebrities acquire roles simply based on name recognition. These big names bring audiences back to the theater and sell more tickets — ultimately supporting the industry financially. Sacrificing these ticket sales to give opportunities to up-and-coming performers does come at a cost, but is worth it to give new actors an equal chance in the spotlight.
Theater is already a highly competitive workforce, and stunt casting has the potential to snipe talented performers from deserved roles. Broadway carries some of the best talents in the world, and to settle for less for the sake of a celebrity name takes away from the magnificence and art of the theater.
Contact Charlotte Boren at [email protected].