Colorblind casting in musicals

[gertiecummings]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 3:29pm

What are some roles that were colorblind casted on Broadway with African Americans (i.e. Audram MacDonald in Carousel and Brian Stokes Mitchell in Kiss Me Kate)?

Also if anyone knows when Broadway first stated colorblind casting, that would be awesome.

[Jon]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 7:56pm

First of all, there is no such word as "casted". The past tense of "cast" is "cast".

In the 1960's the original Broadway production of MAN OF LA MANCHA had a black actress as a replacement Aldonza, and a Japanese actor as a replacement Don Quixote.

[theatrejock310]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 2:00am

Toni Braxton, was the first African American Belle for BATB on Broadway.
And I believe that Vanessa Williams played the Witch in Into The Woods at one time.

As for the history thing, I believe that Porgy & Bess was the first musical/ opera for colorblind casting. Although the cast was PREDOMINANTLY Black, I read another man of another ethnicity originally wanted the role of Porgy.
I think this was the first show that got things goin though...

I strongly recommend reading "Broadway: The American Musical". Its usually in libraries and was published to celebrate 100 years of Broadway by PBS. Its pretty much amazing, and had tons of info. on the subject. And cool pictures too!

Hope I could help!

[Jon]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 7:22pm

Porgy and Bess was not the first all black musical on Broadway. The first was "Shuffle Along" in the 1920's.

Long before Vanessa Williams played ther Witch in ITW, Phylicia Rashad played it in the original production (as a replacement). At one point in the original, one of the stepsisters was also played by a black actress (as was the case int he revival).

Colorblind casting has existed in opera and classical theatre for many decades.

[theatrejock310]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 8:52am

I didn't say that Porgy and Bess was the first all black musical, I said it was one of the first to implement colorblind casting-seeing that a white man intentionally wanted the role of Porgy, but it was given to a black man (who was the better actor of the two).

[LostLeander]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 5:49pm

There is absolutely no way that a white man could play Porgy.

I'm sure the man may have wanted to sing the role, but I'm sure NO one thought that it was a good idea, especially at that time.

And Gertie, Carousel with Audra was color blind casting - she had a white husband, and children of different nationalities.

Kiss Me, Kate, was not color blind casting. It was non-traditional casting, as Brian Stokes Mitchell is not white, which is what we are used to seeing. And seeing as race has nothing to do with Kate, there was nothing to be color blind about.

[theatrejock310]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 10:33pm

In the 20's Al Jolson, who wanted the role of Porgy did "blackface" acting. Which is basically painting yourself like an African American. Apparently Gershwin didn't think it was a good idea either...

[Jon]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 12:42pm

Re: Kiss Me Kate - I refuse to include Brian Stokes Mitchell in any discussion of color blind casting. He is so pale, he can pass for anything. Many theatregoers who were unfamiliar with his work and saw him in Kiss Me Kate had absolutely no idea he was black. In Kiss of the Spiderwoman, he played a South American. In Man of La Mancha, he played a Spaniard. Beleive me, no one was saying "Wow - it took a lot of guts to cast a black actor in that role!"

[TheHumanTorch]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 5:46pm

most of the characters in Rent would count...