Asians in the theatre- Page 2

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 2:14am

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.

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 2:22am

Don't forget the two features Asian male roles in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. And Darren Lee was one of the non-lead sailors in 'On The Town'. One actor who seems to cross-over between 'Asian' and 'non-Asian' roles is Jose Llana. He was in FDS and K&I but also in 'Street Corner Symphony' (the best thing in that show, IMHO), 'Rent' and, currently, ,'Spelling Bee'. But then he has one of those terrific you-can-hear-him-in-the-second-balcony voices so (luckily for those of us who fancy him) talent seems to be more important than ethnicity in some cases.

[eslgr8]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 2:49am

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.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 2:56am

Exactly Eslgr8. I've probably already said everything I could possibly say on this matter without repeating myself over and over but I completely agree. It's something I want to try to help change in the future. So what if I look a little different? That's not going to stop me from trying out for roles like Audrey from LSoH. And who knows, maybe one day I might break that stereotype and get the role. I'm glad to see that I am not the only one who feels this way on this issue because I think asain actors out there could really make a difference someday and break that barrier.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 2:57am

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.

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

[eslgr8]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 3:15am

Hey BlueWizard, I know you're up in Canada (lucky you, at least for the moment, cause you get Wicked before us), but yes, East West is one of the best theater companies in L.A. They have put on excellent productions of most of the Sondheim musicals (Passion, Forum, Follies, Sweeny, Into the Woods...) which I've loved. Their Little Shop of Horrors was my favorite production of that show to date and Samuel Chen (who has since been reduced to ensemble work in regional musicals) is my all time favorite Seymore. They mostly do plays about the Asian American experience, and many have been outstanding. Proof was the first time I can recall their doing a mainstream straight play. Usually it's the musicals which they adapt to an Asian setting, but upcoming is their first original musical Imelda (you can guess the title character), so that's probably why they did Proof. I hope they'll do more of the mainstream shows, because it would be a great chance for Asian actors to play Arthur Miller or Edward Albee roles, for example. (Maybe the royalties are too expensive?) East West is in Little Tokyo, a really nice proscenium theater, and the sets/costumes/lighting are always first rate. In any case, if you visit L.A., come see a play at East West Players! You're welcome to visit us at any time.
Imelda at East West Players

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 3:54am

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

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

[mollyllom]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:01am

Great timing with this thread! I just got back from seeing a new musical called MAKING TRACKS.

http://www.sanjoserep.com/plays/play_view.php?id=s5

This was a musical about one Asian American family's history. It focuses on the events in Asian American history: building the Transcontinental Railroad, Japanese internment camps, Angel Island, and more. It was an AMAZING show. Anyone in the SJ/SF area has got to go check this out, especially if you're Asian American too.

I hope this play gets really big so all of these amazing, talented Asian American performers can be just as respected and well known as the white ones of today.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:38am

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

[ken8631]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 7:46am

I think there is an asian in "All Shook Up". Seems like a nicely integrated cast.

[jesseeinstein]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 9:47am

Deborah Craig in Spelling Bee is Asian.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 10:28am

Whoever said that The Lion King casts many ethnicities is dead wrong. If you're not black, you can't be in the Lion King. That's the way it goes.

[Mamie]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 10:50am

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?

[Jon]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 11:18am

Jennifer Paz "did that" to herself. She went on leave from the union becuase she said there was not enough Equity work for Asians. Then, when she actually got cast in an Equity production, she petitioned the union for re-admittance... but she still wanted to continue doing her non-union tour, which still had several weeks left. In other words, she wanted to be Equity when she had an Equity part, and non-equity when she had a non-equity part.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 11:21am

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

[cathyhyatt]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 12:39pm

trp...thats not true about the lion king i know someone who got a call back for young nala...and shes asian...

[eslgr8]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 12:58pm

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.

[Madame X]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 1:19pm

For folks mentioning one-off characters in shows or one-off Asian casting, that is precisely the problem. Shows are casting token Asian actors, as opposed to color-blind casting where numerous characters could be cast as Asians and they just choose not to (For example, Asian Audrey as mentioned above). How often do we see more than one Asian cast in a show when it's not an "Asian Show" (Saigon, P Overtures, etc). And do we even see Asians cast in the mainstream plays (Arthur, Albee, Williams, etc)?

Very elegant posts eslgr8. I agree completely. I would've loved to see that East West production of Proof w/ the Asian family. Was an Asian cast as Hal as well?

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 1:28pm

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

[eslgr8]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 1:32pm

Yes, Hal was Asian. Kimiko Gelman played Catherine, David J. Lee was Hal, Joanne Takahashi was the sister, and Dom Magwili was the father.

Updated On: 3/31/05 at 01:32 PM

[Madame X]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 3:59pm

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

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:26pm

Yes, thanks for posting the pics. It's refreshing to see.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:29pm

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

[Madame X]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:43pm

For some reason, opera has totally escaped the racial profiling that other genres have fallen victim to (at least according to my South Asian/Indian opera student friend; I know zilch about opera). That is part of the reason she studies opera as opposed to any other kind of voice...she knows she can play any voice-appropriate female role out there as opposed to being pidgeon-holed into playing the foreigner w/ the accent. I wonder how that came to be.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 5:01pm

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.