1776 Casting- Page 2

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 10:38am

Phyllis Rogers Stone said: "And before someone says, "What about a white Effie?" or whatever - if we got to the point where color-blind casting was the norm and actors of color were as represented as white actors, then fine, knock yourself out with a white Effie or whatever. "

 

Bears repeating. Thanks, Phyllis!

[Brick]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 10:40am

On one hand, it does feel like it's jump on the bandwagon.

But on the other, larger hand, this is an example of how HAMILTON is a game changer. After I saw it, I was saying to people one of the ways it changed the industry was it made it near impossible to cast a bunch of white guys as the Founding Fathers, and I'm sure the next 1776 would look very different. To not follow HAMILTON's lead would now look stale at best.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 10:44am

If they can get William Daniels to play Ben Franklin, then I don't care if they cast RuPaul as Rutledge, I'll still buy a ticket. 

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 10:45am

Brick said: "On one hand, it does feel like it's jump on the bandwagon.

 

But on the other, larger hand, this is an example of how HAMILTON is a game changer. After I saw it, I was saying to people one of the ways it changed the industry was it made it near impossible to cast a bunch of white guys as the Founding Fathers, and I'm sure the next 1776 would look very different. To not follow HAMILTON's lead would now look stale at best."

Not to mention the fact that Lin-Manuel Miranda explicitly called them out on it. It would be really stupid on Encores' part to ignore him. 

[Kad]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 10:46am

My first thought was Ruthie Ann Miles for Abigail.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 10:55am

I feel like such a white douche asking this question, but who are the actors of Native American descent that could find their way into this show?  

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 10:57am

How about casting the best talent available for the roles; ALL welcome to audition!

I would bet there'd be a place for Norm Lewis in there for sure!

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 10:58am

SonofRobbieJ said: "I feel like such a white douche asking this question, but who are the actors of Native American descent that could find their way into this show?"

 

I feel like it's indicative of the problem that I need to be reminded what actors of color would be appropriate for different roles in this show.

 

The casting call said that John Adams has already been cast. Does anyone have any clue as to who it is?

Updated On: 9/24/15 at 10:58 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 10:59am

givesmevoice said: Not to mention the fact that Lin-Manuel Miranda explicitly called them out on it. It would be really stupid on Encores' part to ignore him. "

 

Wow. Did he? Where?

EDIT: Aha! https://twitter.com/Lin_Manuel/status/597767186116149248

Updated On: 9/24/15 at 10:59 AM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 11:01am

https://twitter.com/lin_manuel/status/597767186116149248

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 11:07am

Really. What is the big deal? I consider people who object to color-blind casting to be big babies, like the college kids who whine about "trigger warnings."

 

In 1972, James Earl Jones and Colleen Dewhurst were Claudius and Gertrude in the Hamlet in Central Park that starred Stacy Keach. The three of them were brilliant.

 

BRILLIANT. The play was directed by Gerald Freedman, with music by John Morris, a set by Ming Cho Lee, costumes by Theoni Aldredge and lighting by Marty Aronstein.

 

 

 

None one cared that James Eal Jones was black. No one. It was simply riveting, unforgettable theater.

 

 

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 11:16am

Well...I don't agree that this is the same as a Shakespeare production.  One of the central conflicts is over slavery in the Colonies.  So, I don't know how color 'blind' it will be.  A decision will have to be made over what kind of message to send with Molasses to Rum to Slaves.  There should be thought given to that decision.  

 

A friend was cast as Young Joe in a college production of DAMN YANKEES.  Old Joe was cast with a black actor.  I know that it was done in a 'color blind' way, but then you're left with the possible implication that this old black man has to become a virile white man to succeed...in baseball.  Which is just a bizarre thing to add.  Had they reversed it (old white man becomes virile young black man), it made have made a much different, much more interesting statement about race in baseball and, in turn, America.  It will be very interesting to see what casting decisions are made and how that might play out with the text.  I, for one, am very excited for it!

[Kad]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 11:19am

I don't know, I think seeing a black Thomas Jefferson striking out the anti-slavery passage in the Declaration has the potential to be extremely poignant, for many reasons.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 11:28am

I don't disagree at all.  I think any kind of casting can work for this.  I just think it needs to be more 'thoughtful' than 'blind,' is what I guess I'm saying.  

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 11:28am

 

I'm perfectly capable of watching a group of good actors sing about "Molasses to Rum to Slaves" and know exactly what each one thinks by his (or her) acting. I don't need their skin color to be all matchy-matchy to their words.

And neither, I think, do you.

 

[BIG BALONEY]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 11:35am

I want some Chinese  actors in this show.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 11:39am

Um.  No.  I don't.  But thanks for telling me how I feel.

As an audience member, I don't give a SH*T.  But as we're sitting here, talking about casting this show, I start to think about the choices I would personally make and how I would try to be mindful that any casting choices wouldn't send a message I wasn't intending (like the situation I described with Damn Yankees).  As a cis, white man, I'd want to put thought into it were I involved on the creative side.  As a cis, white audience member, I don't care.  

[TweetyPie2]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 11:46am

adamgreer said: "If they can get William Daniels to play Ben Franklin, then I don't care if they cast RuPaul as Rutledge, I'll still buy a ticket. 

I'll buy a ticket regardless. I would never pass up a chance to see "1776." I wonder if Daniels is in good health.

 

Updated On: 9/24/15 at 11:46 AM

[newintown]

Posted: 9/24/15 at 12:18pm

"But thanks for telling me how I feel."

 

Right. Thanks from all of us, Joey, for condescending from your Peak of Righteousness to dictate everyone's feelings to them. Very magnanimous of you.

[HamFam77]

Posted: 10/8/15 at 9:48pm

I haven't seen anyone mention this yet, but this is being performed the same week that Shuffle Along is dark; they haven't said why they're not performing that week, but it seems like an awfully big coincidence.  I'm very hopeful that means someone from that cast is going to be in 1776.  Brian Stokes Mitchell??  Audra McDonald??  (I had originally hoped to see Shuffle Along while in NYC this spring, but now I'm even more excited about seeing 1776!)  

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 10/8/15 at 10:57pm

I would be for this,  if it weren't for my favorite song in the show. Molasses to Rum comes from an argument about slavery, which makes racial issues integral to the plot. I love color blind casting, but when issues of race play a large part in the plot, I think it should be avoided. 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 10/8/15 at 11:36pm

I think this is an unusual case, because as you say race relations do play a large role in those final scenes, but it isn't the race of the actual characters being discussed. Granted if they weren't all white these conversations take on subtexts but I don't think it's outright as much a problem as other shows.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 10/9/15 at 12:44am

Lest we forget, Thomas Jefferson is present in another Broadway musical right now, and he is being played by Daveed Diggs. Who is black. And while Hamilton was conceived as a show that would feature a multi-ethnic cast from the jump, I see no reason why 1776 can't be cast the same way. 

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 10/9/15 at 1:29am

wonderfulwizard11 said: "It's clearly trying to capitalize on the buzz from Hamilton, but I think it will work fine. I did pause for a second, given how slavery figures into the plot significantly at the end, but mentions of slavery haven't made Hamilton not work, so I don't see why it would be an issue here. As long as they cast the right people for the roles, especially Adams, I think it'll be a great night. 

Whites aren't the only ones who owned slaves. That includes in the US. So it works. 

"

 

[Starship]

Posted: 10/9/15 at 3:39am

TO THE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT 1776 JUMPING ON HAMILTON'S BANDWAGON: Yes, let's continue to complain over more diversity in theater. Please, go on.