Auditioning for Nessarose: A Step Toward Disability Representation

Back in August 2022, I had the incredible opportunity to audition for the role of Nessarose in the WICKED movie. At that time, I was signed to an agency, and someone from the production team reached out to them to see if I could audition for the role. Honestly, this was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had because I knew Wicked was a huge deal. The fact that the casting directors were specifically interested in seeing me perform and possibly cast me was such an honor.

Preparing for the self-tape was a bit nerve-wracking since I hadn’t done many auditions before. Given the significance of this role and the iconic nature of the film, I had a lot of nerves. But at the same time, I was excited to give it my best shot. My mom was a huge help throughout the process. The casting director sent the details and the script to my agency, who then forwarded it to me. I used a tripod to set up my phone and filmed the audition myself. My mom helped by reading the other lines to make the exchange feel more natural.

Along with the lines, I was also given a song to sing, which, to be honest, was challenging. Since WICKED is a musical, the songs are quite complex, and while I have some singing skills, I wouldn’t say I’m at a Broadway level. I’ll admit, my performance wasn’t perfect, but I still gave it my all. I ended up recording three takes and picked the best one. For the song, they sent me an instrumental version, which my mom played on her phone while I sang along. Though I didn’t feel my singing was flawless, I aimed to deliver a solid performance.

The experience, despite my nerves, ended up being relatively smooth. Setting up the self-tape with my mom's help and using a tripod made everything more manageable. It also gave me a confidence boost for future auditions. I wasn’t sure if I’d get the role, especially knowing that the Wicked production would want to choose the best of the best, but the person who ultimately played Nessarose, Marissa Bode, did such an incredible job. She and Cynthia Erivo, who played Elphaba, really brought the sisterly dynamic to life. The relationship between Elphaba and Nessarose is complex, and I felt the casting was perfect for showing that contrast—how close they were, but also how different their feelings were, especially with Nessarose’s negative feeling towards Elphaba.

Reflecting on this experience, I’m really grateful for the opportunity, and I hope to have more auditions in the future to showcase my talent. I also feel there’s a real need for greater disability representation in media, not just as a focus on illness or death, but showcasing a range of experiences. As a wheelchair user, I think the more we can share diverse, authentic stories of disabled people, the more we can break down the misconceptions and biases that often surround us.