Intersectionality and Diversity in "Julie’s Greenroom"

The show Julie’s Greenroom follows Julie Andrews as she directs the Wellspring Center for the Performing Arts, and teaches the “greenies,” (the puppets) who attend the program, to learn about the performing arts. In Season 1 Episode 1, “The Show Must Go On,” diversity is represented through characters, dialogue, and symbols.

The characters are different races, ethnicities, genders, and each paired with a talent. For instance, Hank uses a wheelchair and plays piano, while Riley is gender-neutral and enjoys technology. Overlapping identity markers such as race, gender identity, and disability, addresses what intersectionality is about. Each character represents often misrepresented or unrepresented voices in mainstream media. The intersection of these traits highlights the complexities of various identities that can exist in one person, and how each difference comes together to affect that person specifically.

The dialogue plays a part in teaching the importance of diversity as well as contributing to the conversation of intersectionality. Lines such as, “Many parts make up the arts...We can tell a story...Put it all together we can do anything,” reinforces the importance of differences within life and the benefits that come with discussing these differences. Additionally, “Many parts…” can be seen as a reference to intersectionality, and how one needs to consider the ways various social differences work together in one person’s daily life.

Symbols throughout the episode also represent diversity. For instance, when the production of The Wizard of Oz falls through, they find various items to create a new show and Peri states, “A trombone, a crown. Those things don’t go together. They’re from different shows.” This statement reinforces the idea of symbols within our society, and how many people associate an image or idea with a certain word, or even certain groups of people, and have a difficult time breaking the connection they’ve made in their head. But the group responds with the idea to create, “Mash-Up: The Musical.” This interaction breaks the connections Perri made in her mind while highlighting the importance of not being constrained to the preconceptions society has formed over time.