WSJ.com: In New York state, stage actors under the age of 16 are required by law to have an onsite guardian during rehearsals, performances and public appearances. For the Broadway revival of "Annie," that role belongs to Jill Valentine.
"I like to say it's part stage manager, part cool aunt," Ms. Valentine said. "We try to be everything we can be for the children, so that they can be professional, and so that they can be kids."
2 comments:
I learned a lot from this article. It certainly makes sense, but I never thought about child actors having to always have a guardian present, but it is interesting that that guardian can be someone completely unrelated to them and can be the same person for so many kids. I thought I had heard some where that often there is a "child wrangler" backstage and that person doubled as a teacher for shows that traveled, but this sounds like a different job. It is good to know that they have finally joined the ranks of those who are unionized and somewhat protected, they certainly deserve it, that seems like a pretty taxing job.
I can definitely relate directly to this article, although from the opposite perspective. I was a "child actress" in "The Nutcracker" when I was seven, and we had to have an adult guardian for the show. They were exactly what this Jill Valentine says they were - half stage manager and half cool aunt. We even had the same problem of keeping our overwhelming energy and excitement quiet while in the wings and the dressing room. The onsite guardian was invaluable to us; she would herd us to makeup and wardrobe at the right time, made she we were in the wings but well out of the way when we needed to be, and took care of our little needs, making sure we were well taken care of throughout the show. I can only imagine that Jill Valentine is just as invaluable to the production of "Annie," and I'm glad onsite guardians are gaining recognition for their important roles.
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