Cassie Fifield rehearses her role as Susan, a blind woman who must outwit dangerous criminals in Stage 754's production of “Wait Until Dark.” The thriller runs Oct. 16 through Nov. 1 at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts in Yuba City. Photo courtesy of Tanda Phelps

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - As Stage 754 prepares to open “Wait Until Dark” on Oct. 16, a debate over disability representation has raised a question extending beyond one local production: When is portraying someone else's experience the essence of acting, and when does casting become exclusionary?

The 1966 Broadway thriller follows Susan, a blind woman who must outwit criminals intent on deceiving and threatening her. Local actress Cassie Fifield plays the lead in the production at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts, directed by Tanda Phelps. For Phelps, the choice was initially about Halloween entertainment.

“We just wanted something spooky for the holiday season,” she said. “We thought it'd be fun to do, like, a suspenseful thriller show.”

The debate intensified around Dinner in the Dark, an Oct. 24 fundraising event tied to the production. Although similar dining experiences are held across the country, some critics questioned the appropriateness of connecting the event to a play featuring a blind character. Concerns were further fueled by a promotional video that briefly showed blindfolded performers struggling to feed one another, which critics felt made light of blindness.

Phelps said the event was inspired by the play's climactic use of darkness and was not intended to mock people with visual disabilities.

“I think they felt like we were making fun of them, and that wasn't it at all,” she said.

Stage 754 canceled the dinner and announced refunds for ticket buyers. But the online discussion also focused on casting a sighted actress as Susan.

Who Gets to Portray Whom?

The online discussion raised broader questions about representation in theater, with some critics arguing that casting nondisabled performers in disabled roles is inherently ableist, drawing comparisons to casting actors outside a character's racial or gender identity. Others emphasized the importance of actively recruiting disabled performers and consulting with people whose lived experiences are being portrayed.

Similar questions have surfaced in local theater before. Phelps recalled criticism surrounding the casting of Crutchie, a character with a physical disability, in Center Stage Productions' 2024 staging of “Newsies” at the Sutter Theater. Center Stage's recent production of “Aladdin Jr.” also arose during the interview as an example of broader questions about cultural representation. In response, Phelps defended actors' ability to portray lives unlike their own.

“They call it acting for a reason,” she said, pointing to Audrey Hepburn's portrayal of a blind woman in the 1967 film adaptation of “Wait Until Dark.” “I say do the shows, and do them with the care that you would hope to see.”

Phelps also emphasized the challenges of casting particular roles from small community theater acting pools.

“Are we always going to have somebody that is blind that auditions? No. Are we always going to have somebody that is deaf that auditions? No. But we can still do those characters justice by approaching them with care and compassion and consideration,” she said.

In a separate promotional Facebook video, Fifield, who also serves as co-director, said portraying Susan has challenged her to consider experiences outside her own. She described researching how a blind person might navigate a familiar room, counting steps and attending to sounds.

“One of the things that was really important to me, as well as to our director Tanda, was to make it as authentic as possible,” Fifield said.

She also expressed hope that the production would bring greater awareness to the blind community.

“One of the things that we really want to do with this is to bring attention to what that community goes through so that they have the extra support and awareness that they need,” she said.

Unexpected Lessons

Although Phelps said disability awareness was not part of the original intention behind selecting “Wait Until Dark,” the controversy has prompted conversations about accessibility that she considers valuable. She said several individuals with visual disabilities contacted Stage 754 privately to offer suggestions, while the company also reached out to Sierra Services for the Blind in Nevada City to learn more about community resources.

Since then, Phelps said an accessibility professional advised the theater on making its website and social media more inclusive. She learned that font choices can affect readers with dyslexia, while color combinations can create barriers for people with color vision deficiencies. Stage 754 intends to apply that guidance to future online communications.

“We can't do better unless we learn better,” Phelps said. “And, you know, we're all learning.”

Phelps hopes audiences will see Susan's resourcefulness at the center of the story rather than only the debate surrounding its casting.

“That's kind of what we've leaned into, this character is strong and resilient and courageous,” she said.

“Wait Until Dark,” Stage 754's third production, runs Oct. 16 through Nov. 1 at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts, 754 Plumas St., Yuba City. Evening shows are at 7 p.m. Oct. 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31. Matinees are at 2 p.m. Oct. 18, 25 and Nov. 1. Tickets cost $20 at http://yubasutterarts.org.