All Black Kiss Me Kate

#1

All Black Kiss Me Kate

Posted: 8/20/14 at 9:48pm

Interesting. But it stars Wayne Brady whom I loathe.

"The Pasadena Playhouse production will view the work through a new lens, using the wonderful material of this celebrated production to showcase the trailblazing African-American actors and entertainers of the early 20th century."



Pasadena Playhouse

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Updated On: 8/20/14 at 09:48 PM

#2

All Black

Posted: 8/20/14 at 9:51pm

Does seeing a show with just African Americans really make people want to see this relic?

#3

All Black

Posted: 8/20/14 at 9:58pm

KMK is a wonderful show with a beautiful score. I would love to see a new production of it as would probably many other people. Just not with Wayne Brady. YUCK.

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#4

All Black

Posted: 8/20/14 at 9:59pm

I'd only see it if directed by Tyler Perry with him as Kate!

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#5

All Black

Posted: 8/20/14 at 10:06pm

Love this show, Wayne Brady is a great performer, hope this is really popular.

#6

All Black

Posted: 8/20/14 at 10:06pm

A relic? KMK is an amazing show through and through.

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#7

All Black

Posted: 8/20/14 at 10:16pm

I happen to love Wayne Brady. He's funny and a great singer. I would love to see this production.

#8

All Black

Posted: 8/20/14 at 10:21pm

Yeah... why is it that Wayne Brady perpetually gets hated on any time he comes up anywhere?

#9

All Black

Posted: 8/20/14 at 10:44pm

There is nothing wrong with colorblind casting for shows, but it sometimes irritates me to star an entire cast of the same race just because you can. Not only that, but you have to make a huge deal. Either way, KISS ME, KATE is a lovely show and it is always great when a show like this gets produced because more people get to see it.

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#10

All Black

Posted: 8/20/14 at 11:01pm

He just rubs me the wrong way. And I find his singing voice to be thin and flat.

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#11

All Black

Posted: 8/20/14 at 11:11pm

To be fair, lots of times casts are all white "just because they can." And no one ever makes a huge deal about that.

#12

All Black

Posted: 8/20/14 at 11:19pm

"I'd only see it if directed by Tyler Perry with him as Kate"


OOO I'd prefer as Lois Lane- think of him collapsing after some of those dance sequences!

("any Tom Dick or Harry, any Tom Hairy O'Dick")

#13

All Black

Posted: 8/21/14 at 1:07am

I kind of feel the same way. Why not a multi-racial cast instead of just a blanketed cast? And even if it does turn out "all white" it's not like it's promoted as such for a marketing ploy.

#14

All Black

Posted: 8/21/14 at 1:54am

No one complains about all white casts. All black casts gives opportunity to black actors and creates an opportunity to challenge the piece and get the story from a different perspective. Making the characters black can have a huge effect on how they are played. I think of the scene with Fred and Lily discussing their rise to fame and their experiences as struggling actors. Being a black person in the business is a different experience, dealing with racism, less opportunities, stereotypical characters, ect. An all black cast can add a whole layer of depth to these characters and this story.

#15

All Black

Posted: 8/21/14 at 3:48am

"No one complains about all white casts."


And no one is complaining now.

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#16

All Black

Posted: 8/21/14 at 5:57am

I see nothing wrong with an all-black or a mixed-race cast.

But if I wanted "to showcase the trailblazing African-American actors and entertainers of the early 20th century", my first impulse wouldn't be to reach for Cole Porter. Not that he was a bigot. I honestly don't know. I just wonder why they aren't also celebrating "trailblazing" black writers.

OK, I'm lying. I do know why. It was a poor choice of wording by the marketing department. Why does an all-black cast need any explanation at all?

Updated On: 8/21/14 at 05:57 AM

#17

All Black

Posted: 8/21/14 at 8:13am

Well, judging by the responses of some people in this thread, apparently vast parts of the world feel it does need some sort of explanation, though I can't imagine why.

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#18

All Black

Posted: 8/21/14 at 9:53am

Gaveston, Cole Porter was certainly a racist, and it was evidenced my this "lovely" lyric from ANYTHING GOES

When ladies fair who seek affection
Prefer coons of dark complexion
As Romeos,
Anything goes.

#19

All Black

Posted: 8/21/14 at 10:28am

Many people wanted to see this "relic" when it starred Marin Mazzie and Brian Stokes Mitchell.

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#20

All Black

Posted: 8/21/14 at 11:02am

'No one complains about all white casts.'

Then you missed the many posts about BULLETS OVER BROADWAY. It was absurd to see a group of white men sing 'Taint Nobody's Business without the slightest hint of irony.

#21

All Black

Posted: 8/21/14 at 11:07am

Gaveston, Cole Porter was certainly a racist, and it was evidenced my this "lovely" lyric from ANYTHING GOES

That was NOT Cole Porter being racist. That was Cole Porter being autobiographical.

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#22

All Black

Posted: 8/21/14 at 11:15am

Oh my goodness thank you so much for that PalJoey.

#23

All Black Kiss Me Kate

Posted: 8/21/14 at 12:25pm

Well put PJ. . I would have rather them cast Norm Lewis or bring back Brian Stokes Mitchell. The way their press release reads comes off as a marketing ploy. Plus the casting Of Wayne Brady comes off as cheap television D name stunt casting.

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Updated On: 8/21/14 at 12:25 PM

#24

All Black Kiss Me Kate

Posted: 8/21/14 at 12:29pm

I'd love to see Audra McDonald as Kate/Lilli Vanessi!

#25

All Black Kiss Me Kate

Posted: 8/21/14 at 12:44pm

As Dave Chappelle famously said, "White people love Wayne Brady because he makes Bryant Gumbel look like Malcolm X."