Being a Woman at the Theater

Growing up a generation after the feminist movement, I never really worried too much about the glass ceiling or equal pay for equal work when I joined the workforce. And since my parents raised me to be self-confident and self-sufficient, I never imagined I would be the target for sexual harassment. However, after a year at the Landestheater, my eyes have been opened and I now realize that a woman's fight for equality isn't quite done.

The rehearsal period for Kiss me Kate specifically has been very interesting, and not always in a good way. Personally, I had my backside "brushed," and had been given hugs and squeezes by our director during various rehearsals. It is common knowledge that this director is an alcoholic and a little wacky to boot, and I was not necessarily threatened by these actions because 1) it's not the first time this has happened at the theater, 2) the director squeezed and grabbed almost as many men as women, and 3) he always did it in the presence of other people. Although my career as a performer lends itself towards more physical contact with my colleagues than other jobs, I have to wonder if greeting a singer for a rehearsal with a hug or a caress on the cheek is really necessary.

In another scene in Kiss me Kate, the chorus and ensemble dance to a number called "Too Darn Hot." It has very risque lyrics with lots of sexual references. At one point in an instrumental interlude, two of my female colleagues have to strip down to their bras and put on a little tease for the men. The scene lasts less than 10 seconds onstage and then the focus of the crowd is centered elsewhere. After one of our dress rehearsals, our (male) director commented to one of the women that she "took her clothes off really well," and then went on his way. My colleague was dumbfounded, but joked saying that it wasn't the first time she's had to whore herself out onstage in Coburg. Very nice.

Finally, singing in Kiss me Kate entitled me to an extra solo wage in addition to my chorus salary because I had extra things to learn and went to extra rehearsals, often when the choir had time off. The choir leader (a female) pulled me aside at one point and said that the female choristers who also sang occasional solos were often paid less than their male colleagues. So we agreed with another male chorister who is also singing a solo role that we should be paid the same wage because our roles are the same size. And after going in to talk to the Intendant last week, his secretary said that would be fine since our roles are the same, and she would clear it with him when he was back in the office. However, I was called into the Intendant's office today when he was back in town and he said that I should be paid 100 Euros less per performance than my male colleague because my role isn't as big. So I had to disagree and explained to him the fact that I have my own solo number and also dance in several other scenes where the chorus is not there, meaning that my role is just as big as my male colleague, and we should be paid the same. In the end the Intendant agreed to keep my wage the same as my male colleague.

I know I'm a strong woman and can take care of myself. I have no problem standing up to my boss and asking to be paid what I rightfully deserve. It's just sad that these things are still happening in 2007, and will probably continue long into the future.

One Year Later

A year ago today I accepted the position in the choir at the Landestheater. I never thought that a mere 364 days later I would have been singing my first premiere as a soloist--and in a musical, no less!

For the premiere of a show, it is common to give out premiere gifts to wish your fellow performers luck. I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and wrapped them in pretty clear wrap and attatched a note for the other soloists.















And from the other performers, I received cute notes, candies, postcards, and even a really beautiful advent calendar from one of my choir colleagues! It was a really fun and unexpected treat to be so spoiled before the premiere.















My favorite premiere gift came from my friend Verena, who managed to find this enormous spool of thread for me! From one dresser to another, you know? Right, and this is my costume for Kiss me Kate. It is so darn comfortable that sometimes I need to be reminded to change into my street clothes after a performance!



















So, I think last night's premiere went pretty well. I must admit that I was nervous at the beginning, mainly because I'm kind of the lead-off hitter in the show, singing the first big song and dance number of the night. But all in all I'm happy with how it went and think it will only get better every performance after this.

What I'm not entirely happy about is the fact that our intendant (the big boss at the theater), called me by the wrong name right to my face during his speech at the premiere party. I know I'm a sensitive type and tend to over-react about things like this, and I was probably just tired and overwrought at the end of a very stressful rehearsal period. But I have to say that after all of my hard work and extra rehearsals as a soloist, it was really tough to hear my boss call me Felicitas and not Teresa. However, it may have been a hidden compliment, because Felicitas is the name of a dancer we had here last season, and if he mistook me for a professional dancer, then maybe it's not so bad.

Either way, sometimes you just have to accept things like this and move on. And it also helps that there are lots of other people at the theater who DO know my name, and congratulated me last night, and have been a great source of support to me over the last several months. I even was asked for my autograph last night by a little girl who was collecting signatures of all the soloists. And really, in my eyes that recognition is more of a reason to be happy about a performance than being mentioned by name (correctly) by my boss.