[ENF] Naked in a Play

[madalu21]

This isn't really an advice forum, but since you're asking for advice...

I don't believe that there is any objective right/wrong when it comes to nudity, so it is entirely up to you and your daughter to decide what is right for you. Some families would see any naked appearance on stage as the work of the devil to be avoided at all costs. Other families are accustomed to nudity at home and would think nothing of a naked (or near-naked) stage role.

The director has fairly explicitly stated that he wants to make money off of your daughter's body. If she doesn't like that she has a right to say so, and you might be able to find a clause in some agreement somewhere that prohibits that sort of thing - but of course the director always has the option to find someone else for the part, which would leave your daughter out of a role (but maybe feeling better about herself). On the other hand, if she is OK doing it, she might be able to negotiate some extra pay (i.e. tell the director that wearing sheer underwear makes her a bit uncomfortable, and since the move is designed to bring in money for the company she ought to see some of that money).

As for your concern about seeing your daughter naked, get over it already. Although many churches will disagree, there is nothing morally wrong with seeing another person naked in a non-sexual situation, family member or not. Unless you find yourself having sexual urges, there is nothing to worry about.

[alicefreid]

Well, the dress rehearsal for Lend Me a Tenor was last night and my wife and I attended, along with friends and relatives of the cast. As you know, I had mixed feelings about seeing this show. It's a good clean sexual farce about a case of mistaken identity, but it does require two actrresses to run around in a state of undress, and one of the actresses is my daughter. I wanted to see the other actress--Dana--run around in her underwear, but doing so I would also see my daughter similarly exposed. Anyhow, without going into the theatrical details, the scene finally happened. Mandy and Dana are on-stage with the "tenor". Both girls were wearing lace bra and panties, garters, and a lace negligee. Virtually nothing was left to the imagination and the audience got great views of my daughter and Dana. Dana, a beautiful blonde around 25, was wearing a teal colored bra and panty set. Her bra was virtually see-through and her nipples were visible through the thin fabric. Her panties were also lace and it was clear she shaved her mound. Mandy was wearing a black sheer bra, leaving her breasts all-but exposed. Her light pink nipples were visible even in the dim light. She was wearing relatively modest black lacd panties. Not particularly low-cut but definitely sheer. As we were sitting in the 2nd row, it was obvious that she too is completely shaved. Seeing Dana was a turn-on, but knowing that the audience--friends of ours and other invited guests--were seeing Mandy's charms was disconcerting. Mandy is now a student teacher of elementary school kids, and she mentioned that some of the parents would be coming to the show. I'm sure the dads must have gotten a thrill seeing the cute new student teacher parade around in her sheer underwear, her full body on display.

[mcnugget]

I enjoyed a very nice experience while stage managing a theatre production run for the sound of music. A good friend of mine was lucky to enough to get a part in the production playing a nun. We were both in our mid 20's and she was very fit and attractive. She & I joked earlier on during rehearsals about the fact she had to be all good and proper playing a nun. On opening night as she was about to enter stage, she came up to me with a smile and said "So I have to be good and proper hey?" then lifted up her gown showing me the very sexy, lacy g string hidden she was wearing under the outfit. With a cheeky grin she left for the stage. Amazingly this became a ritual for every show. As she entered the stage every night, she'd lift up the gown to show me what different sexy underwear she was wearing. By the second week, I would get exited on show time, hardly containing myself as she would come up with a smile and show the goods. On the last night, just as I was preparing myself for my last peek, she came running up, big beaming smile on her gorgeous face and whispered in my ear "Ive saved the best for last!". She then pulled up the gown and holy shit, she was going commando. Absolutely nothing on. What seemed like forever, I just stared at her full natural dark blonde bush. And with a cheeky smile she turned and started her performance. Her and I still see each other occasionally (we are now both married to our respective partners) and we'll share a cheeky grin about our little secret.

[apeyboy]

Great thread. TY to all contributors, esp. the OP!

[dandylion]

Excellent topic!

[piecenick]

I was in a production of Aida, I'm not an opera singer, they needed supers (extras) to be litter carriers for the stars. There were 6 big guys like me dressed in loin cloths and body painted to look like Egyptians. They only had a big area backstage curtained off for a dressing room that we were to share with the ballet troupe of 18, the plan was the girls would do their changes, then the guys and back and forth, 3 for each of us. O f course even at the calm dress rehearsal this didn't work because was all had limited time to change and get back ready to go on. The guys just had to go from one type of loin cloth to another, but you would be surprised how long that takes when there are a bunch of dancers topless changing tutus all around you.

[JennMN]

I found this post online when searching for people in similar situations, so I thought I’d add my thoughts, since I know someone going through the same thing. My friend and I are both freshman drama students in college, and she got cast as the lead in this musical called The Robber Bridegroom. It’s kinda like a folk musical and comedy, like Lil Abner. She got the lead roll, which is a really big deal for a freshman. Although she’s a great actress and has a great voice, I’m so worried she got the part for the wrong reasons, and I’m really worried about her. Her character loses her clothes in one scene, but usually the play is done with the actress in a body suit or some sort of scenery in front of her. It’s a comedy, so it’s played for laughs and the nudity isn’t really necessary. But the director spoke to my friend after casting the show and said he had decided to play the scene as realistically as possible, which will involve full nudity for about 5-10 minutes on stage. She will be the only actor naked on stage, and I just think it’s so inappropriate. She was originally going to tell the director she wouldn’t do it, but she eventually said yes. I think she’s being naive and not realizing the director is taking advantage of her because she’s cute and has a very large chest. I just hate to think of her getting embarrassed and having people talk about her. What is the protocol for a situation like this for a college play?

[mnkid1]

Originally Posted by JennMN

What is the protocol for a situation like this for a college play?

When I was in college a neighbor of mine played Puck in a role that was traditionally nude, she played it in a skin colored bodysuit. Since this part was advertised as using a bodysuit your friend has every reason to not go through with it. The director was deceitful and may have intended to play this on whoever got the part, big chest or not. Obviously it's not just Hollywood casting agents that are scum.

[edcindy]

When this play was originally done on Braodway the female lead (broadway legend Patti Lapone) was in fact actually naked (but covered by a long wig). The other way the show has been done in professional productions has been to have the actress nude, but behind strategically placed props a la Austin Powers. Bodysuits are used more often in amateur productions. So I would say the director is not necessarily out of line, depending on how he is staging it.

Show your friend this, it may make her feel better

[island101]

I think there was an episode of Eight is Enough when one of the daughters had to be nude in a play she was in. If I remember correctly, the father either couldn't or wouldn't go to see it.