Profile for MR11

_(•_&bull_/ said: "MR11 said: "There is a production of In The Heights happening in Pittsburgh that just started rehearsals. They've cast nonPOC as lead roles. What do you all think, in your opinion is the best course of action?Do we as a theatre community....boycott the production? Alert the media? Speak to the nonPOC actors? Members of the latinxcommunity have already reached out to the company to express their concerns but no response. Again, twisting my words. I was asking a question...as...

_(•_&bull_/ said: "You want to shut down a community performance because theres two cast members who are white. Even though white latinos exist, you still felt the need to think that only darker skinned lations can be in in the heights.You failed to get outraged when african- americans took on the lead roles on broadway, even though they have no mexican descent. By accepting one race but having a public boycott over another pushes us a LARGE step backwards.The fact is in the heights can have ...

_(•_&bull_/ said: "This whole thread is just wow.You are WHITE.Again, this is NOT your battle. Thank YOU for letting me know. I really appreciate you trolling me all afternoon when you could have been constructive. Help me understand that as a white person I'm not allowed to advocate for others in the theatre community? Why are you so against that? Why do you choose to be negative?"

bk said: "MR11 said: "_(•_&bull_/ said: "You should also be VERY careful, some of us latinos pass as white.Calm down, take a breather, and find a new audition. Youre acting like its the end of the world. Its not.Dont support it, why are you going to ruin a fun time for actors, dressers, stage managers, musicians, lights, props, ushers, box office staff all because two actors are white.Grow up."I didn't audition because I'm WHITE, and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to tell this story.I'm sa...

_(•_&bull_/ said: "Everytime this topic comes up, its the white person who is more offended then the actual latinos.The truth is you dont know if they are white. They could be white passing.If they are white passing, I feel absolutely terrible for them. They want to perform their culture and here you are a (white person) trying to take that away from them.This isnt your battle." I literally know both actors and know that they are not Latinx at all. So I'm not assuming they are "white passing"...

Fosse76 said: "MR11 said: "fashionguru_23 said: "Is it bad that I looked at the Twitter photo earlier up in the thread, and saw no one who I had an issue with. Its not like Andrew Keenan Bolger is playing Benny"This mindset is dangerous and part of the problem. Just because someone "looks" a certain way doesn't hold up anymore in the arts and in shows that are specifically about a culture of people. In addition, the authors expressed that they want the roles cast appropriately."I'm pretty sur...

_(•_&bull_/ said: "Again, white people can be latino. Just because they have softer skin doesnt make them any less of a latino then someone with darker skin. "Again, one of the actors used the hashtag #italiangirl in their Instagram announcing their role. Pretty sure that means she isn't latinx.

darquegk said: "Pittsburgh Hispanic weighing in- as someone who looks way more Charlie Sheen than George Lopez, I must second the response above that lots of Hispanic people look "white." And this isn't an all-Equity cast by far: PMT hands out a small parcel of three or four Equity contracts per production, and uses local non-union pro and semi-pro talent for everything else. But doing ITH in Pittsburgh always seemed like a more odd than offensive choice: the professional theatre scene out he...

_(•_&bull_/ said: "Why is it that white people are always telling us minorities what is and what isn't racist. If it was SUCH a problem with that theatre group, all the other latinos in the cast would have made it an issue.You are white. You dont get to say what is againt cultural representation and what isnt.Jordan sparks, corbin blu were both African americans and joined the broadway cast.Guess what, white people were in the broadway cast.Guess what, WHITE PEOPLE CAN BE MEXICAN!!!This isnt ...

_(•_&bull_/ said: "If youre white this shouldnt affect you.Go get your woke points somewhere else."I'm just confused as to why you are so triggered by people caring about representation? That makes no sense to me.....

_(•_&bull_/ said: "You should also be VERY careful, some of us latinos pass as white.Calm down, take a breather, and find a new audition. Youre acting like its the end of the world. Its not.Dont support it, why are you going to ruin a fun time for actors, dressers, stage managers, musicians, lights, props, ushers, box office staff all because two actors are white.Grow up." I didn't audition because I'm WHITE, and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to tell this story. I'm sad to see that you do...

fashionguru_23 said: "Is it bad that I looked at the Twitter photo earlier up in the thread, and saw no one who I had an issue with. Its not like Andrew Keenan Bolger is playing Benny"This mindset is dangerous and part of the problem. Just because someone "looks" a certain way doesn't hold up anymore in the arts and in shows that are specifically about a culture of people. In addition, the authors expressed that they want the roles cast appropriately. American Theatre Magazine called it a “wh...

jpbran said: "I'm still confused by the marketing images... makes it looks like audiences will see LMM in the lead role."Hamilton is playing in Pittsburgh at the moment so I think its safe to assume they are riding on the coattails of that with the show and marketing?

henrikegerman said: "haterobics said: "Isn't this just community theater? Only doing like 7 shows, and based on their instagram, it isn't easy to tell who is playing who, but not just a bunch of white people:https://www.instagram.com/p/BsWcRH_BUIV/"I'm taking the question seriously.But haterobics is right about the picture of the cast not being all white people.I never said it was "all white people." But there are several lead roles being played by white people including Kevin and Camilla. In...

haterobics said: "MR11 said: "We actually had a citywidediversity in theater open forum a few years ago and over 150 people showed up....little good it did, unfortunately. Just can't stop trying I suppose."Seems like the time to get on top of this is when they announced they were going to do the production in September. That seems like the better time to put them on notice that you are watching to make sure it reflects the diversity, etc., etc.Not once it is in rehearsals already and opening ...

dramamama611 said: "I'll give you a serious answer:You get others involved....community and theater leaders. Start a letter writing campaign. Ask to be heard and to have them address your concerns. If you are unsatisfied with the outcome, boycott.You really have no other options." Thanks, Dramamama611. We actually had a citywide diversity in theater open forum a few years ago and over 150 people showed up....little good it did, unfortunately. Just can't stop trying I suppose.

BrodyFosse123 said: "My Korean neighbors daughter was just cast as Usnavi in her high school production of IN THE HEIGHTS and her male drama teacher is playing Daniela as a transgender. Should I stop this?"Again, I'm guessing you are a white person who this doesn't matter to because you are white. Keep making jokes, so sad and you are literally THE problem. I just hope you aren't in a position of power in the arts, because that would be SAD.Troll away.

I'm guessing it's not "very serious" to you because you aren't a POC fighting for representation and roles and instead they are being given to white actors? Very sad.

This is an Equity, professional company with a two-week run. Also, does it really matter? I came to this board for advice and it's too bad that everyone is just going to make a joke out of it. I'm not an actor and I didn't audition. I'm a theatre artist trying to fight for what is right and just and it seems that no one wants to take seriously on this message board. We all can do better.

I agree, but how do we take action? Our community is pretty small and no one seems to want to ruffle any feathers because they want to work for them in the future. Shouldn't this issue be more important than the possibility of you performing on their stage in the future? Why would you even want to after this blatant disregard?