Courtesy of Theatermania

For decades, it has been typical to see people in their mid-to-late 20s portraying teenagers on both stage and screen. The roles that Rapp and Feldman are currently playing were originated by Broadway legends well out of their teen years. Young actors rising to the top of the industry before even hitting 20 was almost unheard of until recently. Maybe this trend of teens leading Broadway’s hit shows is the beginning of a new normal and will open doors for other young actors, too.

Fans of Robert Horn’s book and its movie adaptation are delighted as “Tootsie,” a humorous tale, finds its new home on the Broadway stage. The show opened on April 23, 2019 at the Marquis Theatre and has already made a name for itself, taking stage at the most recent Tony Awards with 11 nominations and two wins. Leading actor Santino Fontana, known for his performance in “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” came home from the award show with one of the top titles: A Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.

“Tootsie” tells the story of a 40-year-old actor, Michael Dorsey, who can’t seem to keep a job because of his unwarranted opinions and conflicting interests with the director. One day, as he’s rehearsing lines with his ex-girlfriend Sandy Lester (played by Sarah Stiles), he realizes he is a good actor. At least, he’s a good actor when he’s playing a woman. Overcome with this new revelation, he decides to become Dorothy Michaels, a phenomenal middle-aged woman with no experience, an exceptional talent with innovative ideas. With a dress, a wig and some make-up, he’s got the part.

However, things stop looking so bright when Michael falls for the lead actress, Julie Nichols (played by Lilli Cooper). He is conflicted with what his heart is telling him and all the success he is gaining by being Dorothy Michaels. When everything falls apart around Michael, he might just find everything he was looking for.

All the actors and actresses do an incredible job of incorporating the humor into their very relatable characters. Santino Fontana is a phenomenal Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels. He sings and acts both parts well, constantly having to switch between the lower and upper registers of his voice. Cooper, who plays Michael’s love interest, is well known for her role in “Spring Awakening” and lives up to all expectations in her performance of the determined and compassionate Julie Nichols. 

Although the sets, lighting and cast are all stunning, what really makes this show brilliant is the storyline and the underlying themes. Underneath the humor and lights, this musical is centered around gender equality. At one point, Michael’s roommate, Jeff Slater (played by Andy Grotelueschen), asks him if he is okay with being paid less and treated as less just to get the job. In fact, when Michael, or “Dorothy,” goes to work, he is immediately criticized by the misogynistic director (played by Reg Rogers) for not being the “ideal woman.” However, Michael’s ideas for the play are welcomed more as a woman than they ever were as a man.

 Michael learns a lot from being a woman. “Look, you don’t know me from Adam, but I was a better man with you as a woman than I ever was with a woman as a man. Know what I mean?” Michael says to Julie.

This musical is a phenomenal success and is sure to run for a long time. It kept the audience laughing and entertained while warming their hearts with the conflict resolution that these quirky characters were able to find. It hit upon major gender equality struggles this generation is dealing with, blowing all traditional gender roles and stereotypes out of the water. Say goodbye to the old ideals of musicals and welcome a new era where productions like “Tootsie” tell the world exactly what it needs to hear.