Food Allergies on Broadway?

[Amascar1207]

Curious if anyone knows if food allergies are taken seriously when cast in a broadway or off broadway show? In my local theater shows if I have to kiss an actor, I have to constantly remind them not to eat any nuts or shellfish because even a stage kiss can kill me if they eat anything like that. Its always been very embarrassing and I hate bringing it up. If anyone has the same experiences or knows how that all works on broadway Id love to hear about it! I feel like nuts especially are such a common snack for people so Its really scared me for years.

[CATSNYrevival]

I don’t see any reason to be embarrassed informing a cast member you have to kiss of a life threatening food allergy. Peanut allergies seem to be very common. It’s your health and well being. What specifically do you find embarrassing?

[blaxx]

Amascar1207 said: "Curious if anyone knows if food allergies are taken seriously when cast in a broadway or off broadway show? In my local theater shows if I have to kiss an actor, I have to constantly remind them not to eat any nuts or shellfish because even a stage kiss can kill me if they eat anything like that. Its always been very embarrassing and I hate bringing it up. If anyone has the same experiences or knows how that all works on broadway Id love to hear about it! I feel like nuts especially are such a common snack for people so Its really scared me for years."

Yes, it is very common to ask those in the rehearsal room to abstain from bringing certain foods or items that may trigger allergies. Perfumes, pets, etc. are in that list too. Basic etiquette in a rehearsal room to be aware of this.

[msmp]

Amascar1207 said: "Curious if anyone knows if food allergies are taken seriously when cast in a broadway or off broadway show? In my local theater shows if I have to kiss an actor, I have to constantly remind them not to eat any nuts or shellfish because even a stage kiss can kill me if they eat anything like that. Its always been very embarrassing and I hate bringing it up. If anyone has the same experiences or knows how that all works on broadway Id love to hear about it! I feel like nuts especially are such a common snack for people so Its really scared me for years."

As others have said, there's usually rules about this. Just be open and upfront about why and there shouldn't be an issue!

[Amascar1207]

I think I’m embarrassed because i usually have to approach someone who is mostly a stranger at that point about it. There’s never a perfect time to bring it up so I just come out and say it but my nerves always freak me out. Some people are so clueless about allergies as if they’ve never heard of it before and can be rude about it. I’ve has these allergies my whole life and there are times where people think I’m lying, they don’t take it seriously, think I’m joking, or even worse..constantly forget and then almost cost me a trip to the emergency room lol it’s also scary asking someone to completely refrain from eating the food knowing they have to kiss me..so I usually have to ask them what they ate for breakfast that day before rehearsal.

[Amascar1207]

I think I’m embarrassed because i usually have to approach someone who is mostly a stranger at that point about it. There’s never a perfect time to bring it up so I just come out and say it but my nerves always freak me out. Some people are so clueless about allergies as if they’ve never heard of it before and can be rude about it. I’ve has these allergies my whole life and there are times where people think I’m lying, they don’t take it seriously, think I’m joking, or even worse..constantly forget and then almost cost me a trip to the emergency room lol it’s also scary asking someone to completely refrain from eating the food knowing they have to kiss me..so I usually have to ask them what they ate for breakfast that day before rehearsal.

[blaxx]

Amascar1207 said: "I think I’m embarrassed because i usually have to approach someone who is mostly a stranger at that point about it. There’s never a perfect time to bring it up so I just come out and say it but my nerves always freak me out. Some people are so clueless about allergies as if they’ve never heard of it before and can be rude about it. I’ve has these allergies my whole life and there are times where people think I’m lying, they don’t take it seriously, think I’m joking, or even worse..constantly forget and then almost cost me a trip to the emergency room lol it’s also scary asking someone to completely refrain from eating the food knowing they have to kiss me..so I usually have to ask them what they ate for breakfast that day before rehearsal."

You wouldn't have to approach anyone. There is Equity and production Stage Managers involved for this. It's a safety issue, not something you'd have to deal with on your own.

[A Director]

If your local theatre is not Equity, talk to the Director or Stage Manager or the person in charge.

[thedrybandit]

I've done Props in NY theater for a while now. Any time our actors have had a food allergy, all they have to do is tell the stage managers. If props involve food, stage management will make sure whoever is creating the food props are aware of the allergies and to make the food prop without those ingredients. They can also let the proper people backstage know if it's an allergy that flares up when in the same proximity as someone that's eaten the food recently, so that everyone is safe and healthy. Don't be embarrassed to tell the person in charge, it's their job to protect you.

[Dollypop]

In the original production of HELLO, DOLLY! the dumplings Carol Channing devoured on stage were made of spun sugar (cotton candy). As she was downing roughly 100 a week, this was affecting her blood glucose levels and she was starting to feel light headed and fatigued. In actuality, she was becoming prediabetic. The props department came up with dumplings made of tissue paper which she kept in her mouth until she could spit them into a napkin when she got up from the table.

The Bette Midler production made their dumplings out of easily digested rice paper.

[starcatchers]

Jessie Mueller had to ask for them to switch to gluten free flour during Waitress, as she discovered during the run that she had an allergy. And Jessica Vosk has been very open about a severe peanut allergy.

[Tag]

thedrybandit said: "I've done Props in NY theater for a while now. Any time our actors have had a food allergy, all they have to do is tell the stage managers. If props involve food, stage management will make sure whoever is creating the food props are aware of the allergies and to make the food prop without those ingredients. They can also let the proper people backstage know if it's an allergy that flares up when in the same proximity as someone that's eaten the food recently, so that everyone is safe and healthy. Don't be embarrassed to tell the person in charge, it's their job to protect you."

I think many stage managers would not want the onus on them.  Sure they can announce in rehearsal and post in common areas about allergies, but it is not their job to enforce this.  They are not medical professionals and certainly aren't liable if something happens.

[thedrybandit]

Tag said: "thedrybandit said: "I've done Props in NY theater for a while now. Any time our actors have had a food allergy, all they have to do is tell the stage managers. If props involve food, stage management will make sure whoever is creating the food props are aware of the allergies and to make the food prop without those ingredients. They can also let the proper people backstage know if it's an allergy that flares up when in the same proximity as someone that's eaten the food recently, so that everyone is safe and healthy. Don't be embarrassed to tell the person in charge, it's their job to protect you."

I think many stage managers would not want the onus on them. Sure they can announce in rehearsal and post in common areas about allergies, but it is not their job to enforce this. They are not medical professionals and certainly aren't liable if something happens."

It's how every union theater I've worked in has dealt with these things. If it's about a food prop, they just have a discussion with both the prop designer, the prop crew head, and whichever crew member will be responsible for the prop moving forward so everyone's aware, and if it's about an actor's allergy in general, foods not to have backstage and the like, it's usually stated in a company letter that there's a food allergy backstage. If there's kissing involved or super close contact with another actor, they just let the actors involved know who the allergy relates to and that way everyone is on the same level. It's not about the stage managers being the medical professionals, it's just about creating the safest environment possible, and they've always been the department to coordinate that. Unless they were neglectful, I don't believe they would be held liable for anything, or at least it's never once been indicated to me that they would be the ones liable, providing they've disseminated the proper information.

[Tag]

Yes this usually falls on stage management, but as far as an actual union policy, there are no clauses regarding this in an Equity agreement.  Like I said SMs announce, post (or yes speak to crew), but they are certainly not technically responsible for this.  I guess my qualm is that if something were to go wrong and a cast member had an allergic reaction, are you staying stage management is to blame?  You said their job is "to protect you", which is dangerous wording here.

[thedrybandit]

Fair question, just poor wording on my part. It's more like they're always the ones to ensure all the protections go smoothly, and the ones people go to with concerns, but no, I wouldn't blame stage management if something went wrong, because they're just one layer of protection for the actor. If I'm preparing the food props, I also double check the ingredients that the prop designer has given me to use, so there are at least three layers of protection before the food ever gets to the actors. It's a team effort, sorry for the wording that made it seem like myself or others would blame stage management!