Being A Minority in the Performing Arts

Introducing Jaiden

We had the pleasure of speaking with Jaiden Casey, a local performing arts student. As a junior in high school, Jaiden is an active member of the theatre, show choir, chorus, and beauty shop quartet at Godwin High School in Henrico County. On top of these endeavors, she has also been a part of over 20 musicals with local theatre companies. Being that we are performing arts students as well, we were excited to interview Jaiden on her experience and perspective as a minority in the performing arts.

Jaiden was 6 years old when she was first exposed to the world of performing arts through a theatre camp. She then went on to do her first show, Mulan Jr., at the age of 8 years old. Throughout her 11 years and 20+ musical performances, Jaiden says, “I have found a great community of people and found a place that I consider home. No performer does it for the money but for how much they love it, and that makes the people involved that much greater.” From a young age, she knew that she not only enjoyed being onstage, but she also has what she refers to as

a “director’s brain.” In some capacity, she has always wanted to make the performing arts a career for herself, but the recent circumstances of the performing arts world with respect to COVID-19 have made her reflect on this choice. She says that “My time away from musical theatre has made me realize how much I truly love and miss it.”

Facing the Issues

During our interview, we asked Jaiden to speak on her experience being a minority in the performing arts. Jaiden told us that she has seen a shift in the casting and judgment in theatre from a young age. She says that “although ‘color blind casting’ is something attempted more often, type casting is still a struggle that minorities face.” To exemplify, she told us that she has only ever been given bigger roles of characters that are of Asian descent. In regards to our question about diversity in the companies she is involved with, she says that there is definitely not a “sea of color” onstage like she would hope to see. She then introduced us to a Broadway term called a “token performer.” Jaiden has not only seen this terminology put into action as an audience member, but she has also considered herself to be one of these performers. She best explained this concept as a “check the box situation” where casting directors will look for at least one or a few performer(s) of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds to consider their imaginary diversity quota to be fulfilled.

She said that feeling like this “token performer” has oftentimes not discouraged her because it instead makes her distinguishable from the rest of the performers. In her experience, the arts has not necessarily been a discriminatory place; however, there is definitely some level of exclusivity. Jaiden says that she sometimes feels this lack of inclusivity in casting and callbacks when she gets the feeling that “they want to see me, but they know they aren’t going to cast me.” She expressed a personal struggle she deals with, one that other minorities in the arts often deal with as well. It is the struggle in thinking that “this show or role isn't for me and was not written to represent me.”

Looking Up

After discussing the issues facing minorities in the arts, we then posed Jaiden with the question of how minorities could be better represented in the arts. She started by saying that more people and directors need to be comfortable with the fact that things are not the way they were 30+ years ago-- “the ways of the world are changing, so theatre needs to too.” And not only should this be the case, but more opportunities should be presented and made for people of color. This could include more storylines featuring people of color, truly color blind casting, or characters made to represent different communities. Jaiden then said, “what is traditional anyways?”; she refers to the theatre standards as something that is and should be evolving along with the rest of the world. Rather than even singling out actors for their specific look, casting should be based on the embodiment of the character and the best fit talent for that particular role. She said that “it is refreshing when people of color are not put in the stereotypical roles that they would normally be type casted for.”

Following this discussion, we asked Jaiden if there was anything she has learned or gained from being a person of color in the performing arts. Immediately she referred to her toughened skin because of the industry. Unfortunately, she expressed that she has been conditioned over the years to expect less out of the performing arts world. However, this growing feeling has allowed her an experience that has given her other important lessons and qualities. For one, she said, “I have learned that I need to embrace the way that I look.” She now looks to the advantages of looking different rather than their degrading desire based on the way that she looks. Second, Jaiden says that she has definitely been given tougher skin and learned a lot about resilience. She feels that every rejection or underlying feeling that she has, whether it comes from the theatre process in general or is heightened by being a minority, allows her to become stronger and more determined to hone her craft and improve herself. She reflected on a quote from one of her favorite theatre podcasts, The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales, that rings especially true for minority experiences in the performing arts: “You are needed in a craft that doesn’t want you.” This, often true, reality is why Jaiden believes that knowing your personal worth will get you farther than any certain opportunity. She believes that anyone can succeed eventually if they stay kind, flexible, and understand their value.

Finally, we asked Jaiden if she has any particularly proud or positive moments related to being a person of color in the arts. She then went on to tell us about her proudest moment as a performer. In the summer of 2017, Jaiden played the role of Mulan. She said that this was a very full circle moment for her because the first show she was a part of was as a young ensemble member in Mulan Jr. all those years ago. She felt that the hard work had finally paid off, and she was finally able to play her dream role. She felt humbled and proud that she was able to represent the Asian community and pull off such an iconic and powerful role. Specifically, she remembers going out into the lobby after the show and having an Asian little girl run up and hug her tight. She had an overwhelming feeling of “this is important” while reflecting on what this moment meant to that little girl. Similar to what that little girl was feeling, Jaiden told us another very happy moment as an Asian in musical theatre. In 2019, Jaiden saw Roger and

Hamerstein’s Cinderella at Virginia Repertory Theatre. She was elated to see an Asian woman playing the role of Cinderella. It meant so much to her to see that she was being represented in a stereotypically white character. After the show, Jaiden got to meet the actress playing Cinderella, telling her “thank you for representing me.” The actress responded saying, “thank you, but also thank you to the casting team.” Jaiden said she felt a sense of excitement knowing that this was the direction that even regional theatres are going.

"I am excited that people are starting to/get to look up to the media and theatre and see their representation -- it gives me and others hope for the future." - Jaiden Casey