Thanks for the posts. I'll show my friend that article. But I do agree with the person who said the director was kind of misleading. Plus this is college and my friend is just a freshman. I think the nudity will upstage the humor and end up embarrassing my friend. She already gets teased for her looks a lot, and I'm sure it'll get worse after the show.

Eight Is Enough
 

I remember that episode. The daughter didn't tell the father, who showed up on opening night with some friends (or the rest of the family). But he did show up, and he was shocked!

When is the show? Are you going to watch your friend on stage? Please let us know how it was

I agree. College freshman is too young to be appearing nude on stage. The director is being irresponsible and exploitative.

DR

I thought about complaining to the administration, but I assume the director has told them his decision and everyone is fine with it, so I'm kinda fighting a losing battle. I don't want to ruffle too many feathers. I just feel sorry for my friend.

For the person who asked if I would be seeing my friend perform, um, yeah, I don't have a choice since I'm in the show too. Just a chorus part, but I'll at least be there to support my friend if she needs me. I do also have to say I saw the costumes being and a couple of those, particularly my friend's, are kinda skimpy if you ask me. But maybe I just need to relax.

Are your friend going to be completley naked or is it just the skimpy costume?

I think we need some pics of said friend, Jenn ;)

Not a good assumption. You should feel comfortable raising your concerns with the dean of students, or a faculty member you feel comfortable with.

quoted for truth!

The director should have informed people at tryouts that the role required nudity, but afaik it's not that uncommon. Besides that, I don't see the problem. Actors and actresses get cast for physical traits all the time, I don't see how this is any different as long as there's more to the performance (and there obviously is here). That's not exploiting, that's just how performance arts work.

Your friend needs to decided if potential embarassment and "people talking about her" are worth taking the part. She seems to have decided that it is worth it without any coercsion. To me that is plenty good enough. College freshman can make their own decisions.

Lastly I think JennyNM is blowing the potential problems of embarrassment and "people talking about her" way out of proportion. Many people, especially people with beautiful bodies as your friend seems to have, find that being naked in a socially acceptable situation is rather liberating. She obviously has no reason to be embarrassed, although if she does feel that way it is understandable. But only she can decide that. As for people talking about her, this would be a good point 40 years ago, but society has changed a lot. Almost nobody I know would think of less of someone for taking a nude part in a play, and the few prudes I do know that might feel this way aren't worth caring about.