I think Ken is right that the most important thing is - if your cast/community are suggesting you rethink your original plan, you should listen to them. Full stop.
I would definitely not use "make-up" to achieve the effect you are going for. I can easily see how using make-up on it could make some people uncomfortable. Yes, it is a prop and not a real person, but the act itself could bring to mind unpleasant memories for some, or even set an unintended example for people who don't understand the history of minstrelry etc.
That being said, perhaps engage in a discussion with your cast/community about what they think would be a good solution. Allow them to suggest alternatives. Not only are they given a voice, but also the opportunity to see the many challenges we are faced with as directors/producers and will have some ownership / a stake in whatever method you ultimately decide upon. If procuring a mannequin with a different skin tone isn't possible, you might be able use paint/permanent artistry to alter the mannequin head to make it look truly accurate and life-like - not something that might be seen as an offensive caricature. There are surely many different possibilities, and there's nothing wrong with coming up with some options on your own, but I would encourage you to start by listening, and let it come from them if at all possible.
Have a blast, and break many legs!! :-)
Cheers,
Guy
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Guy Barbato
Theatre Teacher/Director
Leonardtown MD
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-12-2020 05:33
From: Linda Urban
Subject: Mannequin skin color
We are using a caucasian mannequin head to create the beheaded soldier in Pippin. Our actor is African American. We were going to use make-up and a wig to make the head look like our actor. It was brought to my attention that that would be inappropriate and that we should get a darker mannequin. Any comments or thoughts on that?
Linda Urban
Music Teacher
Whittier Technical High School
115 Amesbury Line Rd
Haverhill MA 01830
978-373-4101 *297
Please visit us at https://whittiertech.org