Asians in the theatre — Page 2

I just feel wierd that she kills herself for Chris. Like we've seen so many different shows and movies where the Asian girl sacrifices herself in some way for her white lover (e.g. Madame Butterfly... actually they both have almost the same plot.)

MISS SAIGON is actually an adaptation of MADAME BUTTERFLY.

But turn the tables around with a white girl killing herself for an Asian dude, and I just don't really see that as beautiful. I dunno. Okay. Go. Discuss.

A similar scenario is discussed in Huang's "M. BUTTERFLY." I won't give away the ending, but there is a scene between the two central characters where they criticize MADAME BUTTERFLY and argue whether it'd be the same if a white girl killed herself for her man. Great play (and okay movie), you should check it out.

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As a Caucasian actor with Asian American actor friends, I find the situation extremely unfair for them. I would hate it if most roles I was offered required me to put on a foreign accent, and yet all too often Asians born and raised in this country are forced to play foreigners. It's insulting! Casting directors should take a great deal of the blame for not submitting Asian actors for non-race-specific roles. Occasionally it happens. Lauren Tom as Ross's girlfriend on Friends and Ming-Na in ER are two excellent but all too rare examples of color-blind casting on TV, and the movie Hitch features Jose Lllana in a supporting role. Asian actors in L.A. have their best opportunities to act in productions by East West Players, a theater company to which I subscribe. Their recent all-Asian production of Proof allowed Asian American actors to perform (excellently, by the way) in roles which most producers would never think of as anything but White, yet there was no reason for these roles not to be played by Asians. A father and two daughters and his student. It made total sense that they could be Asian American just as easily as White or Black or Hispanic. I support Asian American actors who speak out on this issue and demand to be seen in non-stereotypical roles. And Actors Equity should be doing more to support its Asian members and less of things like throwing Jennifer Paz out because a non-Union tour of Miss Saigon was the best way for her to make a living as an actress.

Bravo eslgr8! I really enjoyed that post, and I'm so happy you support East West Players. I hear they put on some very impressive work.

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Updated On: 3/31/05 at 02:57 AM

Does the National Asian-American Theater Company still exist? I know they put on a well-received production of FALSETTOLAND in 1998 (the review is archived on the New York Times website), starring our very own Ann Harada as Trina.

Coincidentally, the New York Times has published just an article a few minutes ago on racial issues in film and theatre. I've included the link below.

Thanks for all the info on East West Players, eslgr8!

When It Comes to Casting, Love Conquers Color

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Updated On: 3/31/05 at 03:54 AM

thanks for the links you guys. both were very interesting reads.

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Deborah Craig in Spelling Bee is Asian.

We were discussing this in an earlier thread re Flower Drum Song. Someone asked about Sandra Allen. This woman put on an absolutely INCREDIBLE performance in that show. Then she seemed to almost disappear. Someone posted that she was now performing at Disneyland. This is just heartbreaking.

I mentioned that I thought she would have made a wonderful Lois Lane in Kiss Me Kate. They had no problem casting a black man in the role of Fred, but can you see them casting this wonderful Asian woman as Lois?

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Thanks for that eslgr8, it was great to read your thoughts on the subject. And that theatre company sounds great. It reminded me of Lea Salonga because I know she starred in a production of Proof in the Philippines. Now see, she should be cast in more shows than just Miss Saigon and Flower Drum Song, she definitely has the chops to do much more. And Sandra Allen as Lois sounds like fantastic casting.

~Steven

Jon expresses Equity's point of view very well. According to the union, no one is at fault except Jennifer herself. I was trying to point out a larger issue, that if Jennifer were Caucasian (a Broadway leading lady with extensive regional theater experience), she might not have felt the need to compromise her union status by electing to STAR in a paying non-union tour because no other comparable opportunities presented themselves. Is she going to be cast as Laurie in Oklahoma, Maria in The Sound of Music, Annie in Annie Get Your Gun? I don't think so. The wide variety of parts for a Caucasian singing actress is not available to her, unless some producer or director is really thinking outside the box. I understand Equity's position, and yes, Jennifer "did it to herself," but that is not the whole story. And as to Sandra Allen, an actor I appeared with a few months ago knew her from Universal Studios, where she was appearing in a show there (not Disneyland). I was shocked that his friend "Sandy" was the same actress who stole every scene she was in in Flower Drum Song, and she was doing shows at Universal.

As an African-American performer, I have to say that I completely relate to the difficulties of Asian-Americans being cast in musical theatre. Although it is SLIGHTLY better, and I mean, SLIGHTLY better for us casting wise when it comes to diversity, it still is difficult, so please don't be disillusioned when you think it is easier for other minorities. Just like you, we fall into our own specific categories in casting, and have the same concerns as you do.

Although you might feel that you may only get cast in shows like "South Pacific", "Flower Drum Song", and "Miss Saigon", Blacks and Latinos have their own shows that they constantly have to rely on - that being "Ragtime", "Ain't Misbehavin'", and other shows like that, which either require specific casting requirements, or need a specific singing-voice (a BIG BLACK VOICE) type for the roles. And for Latinos, I am sure "West Side Story" is also a no-brainer...

I DO have to admit that diversity is getting better in more of the streamlined/traditional shows. I have been cast in a lot of roles that were not traditionally of any specific race, and I have seen quite a few Asian-Americans in large roles too....I can recall seeing an Asian-American "Domina" in "Forum", and an Asian-American "Frumah-Sarah" in Fiddler. In all honesty, I don't think your situation is all that bleak....you just need to find theatres that have directors and production staff that are willing to be more open artistically with casting.

In this day and time, I still do come across "bigots" who can't think outside of the box when casting, but then I move on, and keep auditioning, and eventually come across people who try different ways to cast roles, and it works. I do find that the more professional a production is, people are willing to take more consideration into color blind casting. And even then, it doesn't happen all the time. Color-blind casting can TOTALLY work, and I am a witness to it. So don't be so disheartened. You will be fine. Your talent, and determination will help you find the roles that you deserve, and the people who are willing to give you a chance.

Would you be seen as an "Audrey" in Little Shop? I can't completely say yes.....maybe someone with the vision would cast you that way. I personally always see Audrey as blonde, but then I cannot get the "Ellen Greene" visual out of my head for that role. There is absolutely no reason why it couldn't theoretically work.... Sometimes, it comes down to something like that when casting too, and it is nothing personal.....

But like I said, your talent can sometimes make people want to take a chance on you, and help them think outside of the box.

Just my 2 cents.

Cheers,
The Balladeer

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Those are great - thanks for posting them. It's sad that I had to look twice before I realized I wasn't seeing things.

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Wei Huang, who is Asian, was one of the three Mimis in Baz Luhrman's "La Boheme".

For some reason, opera has totally escaped the racial profiling that other genres have fallen victim to

But aren't people who see the Opera expected to suspend belief more so than musical theater? A very over weight tenor playing a Matador in Carmen would be more accepted than say a very over weight tenor playing the Phantom.

I agree that it's tough for minorities to be considered for parts that aren't necessarily ethnic roles. I understand if someone of a certain color isn't chosen to play a role because it'd be totally inaccurate with the time and setting, but minorities even have a tough time getting roles where race isn't a factor. Casting directors should be more color-blind in roles where race isn't a big factor.

As for Audrey, I think having her blonde is more important than having her white, but that's just because I have Ellen Greene's image stuck in my head.

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