"Big musicals" that could be done with a small cast — Page 2

No instamce of "doubling" in hairspray could fundamentally change the show.
The doibling of the Authority Figures is, in my opinion, perfect as is and as conceived by the original director and I love the statement made with that doubling, but splitting them upmor changingbthe doubling does not fundamentally change the show and authors made their opinion to that effect known quite a long time ago.

Personally, I do not agree with a color blind Hairspray, but if you go to the MTI site and read the letter, you will see that the idea comes from the knowledge that some amateur groups do not have the proper racial make up as dictated by the script, but they still view the show as a valuable tool to open a line of dialogue. This allowance is intended for THOSE amateur groups. To be fair, I think a c
Ever director could make it work with the idea of seeing the world through Tracy's eyes, where she notes no difference between race, and therefore REALLY alienating the race-specific outlook that Velma has toward the world.

If specific doubling is critical to the show, it will be painfully obvious in the writing.

To note another instance of race specific casting being changed, All shook Up relies heavily on race, but the authors include, in the published libretto, alternate dialogue that removes the issues of race and makes it instead about class, allowing for a white Sylvia and Lorraine.

Our school did a production of All Shook Up with an entire white cast

No instamce of "doubling" in hairspray could fundamentally change the show....

That's a very broad statement, broadwayguy, but I don't have time to examine the libretto to prove you wrong. I'd argue that almost any show could be radically altered through some doubling choices.

I understand the rationale of the HAIRSPRAY authors, but I disagree. If I didn't know their work in other contexts, I'd suspect them of crass commercialism.

But given who they are, I'll assume they mean what they say. Nonetheless, I think we'd all be better off if amateur groups were encouraged to reach out to African-American actors rather than letting white actors play roles where "blackness" is essential to the character.

Light in the Piazza
Chess

Updated On: 6/30/14 at 04:19 AM