All Black Kiss Me Kate

[DAME]

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

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

[ShakinBaconGirl]

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

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

[DAME]

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.

[SNAFU]

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

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

[Sutton Ross]

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

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

[dramamama611]

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

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

[TheGingerBreadMan]

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.

[darquegk]

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

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

[mjohnson2]

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.

[DAME]

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.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

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.

[sabrelady]

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")

[RippedMan]

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.

[IllegallyBlonde]

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.

[DAME]

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

"No one complains about all white casts."


And no one is complaining now.

[GavestonPS]

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

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

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.

[NewSynchopation]

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.

[Mister Matt]

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

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

[SonofRobbieJ]

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.

[PalJoey]

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.

[NewSynchopation]

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

Oh my goodness thank you so much for that PalJoey.

[DAME]

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.

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

[LindaSmyth]

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

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

[newintown]

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."