Black Glinda?

How do you guys feel about a black woman as Glinda? I've never seen Wicked, but I know its a fantasy show, and it can obvioiusly be color-blind cast (Saycon). I know Glinda is supposed to be the classic cutesy blue-eyed blonde, and it kind of goes against the Billie Burke image; but it is 2005, and I think it could definetly work.

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I think it's totally acceptable. This show has no racial specifications, so ANYTHING could work and it's something I would definitely welcome.

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glinda's "look" definitely matters a lot more than elphaba. they can just slap on the green and they'd be all set. but glinda HAS to be blonde. What is This Feeling wouldn't work, and the blonde ditzy-ness would be lost. they make jlt wear a wig over her red hair...

Elphaba is no more suited for a black woman than any other female role in the show, that doesn't make much sense.

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>>but glinda HAS to be blonde

wig, dye-job, extensions

take your pick

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i think that glinda could be portrayed by an african american woman, and that it really doesn't matter what ethnicity she is...

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Yes. A black woman can wear a blonde wig. But I really don't think it would look very natural.

Now, I know some sick freaks on here, would like to twist up my words and insinuate that was racist comment. For the record, it wasn't.

I think that unless something in the script specifically requires a character to be of a certain race or nationality (such as in HAIRSPRAY), then it is completely acceptable for a character to be played by someone that isn't white. Broadway is truly living up to its nickname of the Great White Way these days... the ratio of white people to non-white people is staggering! I haven't seen WICKED so I don't know if something happens that requires the character to be blonde, but if not, go ahead and cast a black woman as Glinda! As long as she's talented enough to pull it off, cast her.

And there are MANY ways to make a girl look and seem ditzy WITHOUT having to wear a blonde wig. It's called acting.

See my post in the off-topic about the vh1 black in the 80's special.

BSO: You are wrong. Aida is a gender specific role that requires the actress to be African-American. She's a nubian slave. There wouldn't have been a white nubian slave, so she has to be black. The same way that a white woman couldn't have played Caroline in CAROLINE, OR CHANGE - the show is about race. WICKED is not about race, and Glinda is not specifically white or black or chinese, or anything. They are two TOTALLY different circumstances.

ljay: Don't worry, I didn't think you were racist. I've been rudely attacked many times on this board for being racist, when in fact I am not. I said I didn't think Jamie Foxx deserved to win an oscar, and I was assused of hating black people. Then when I said Tamyra Gray doesn't really work well in BOMBAY, I was also called racist. Sometimes you just can't win, but I totally knwo where you're coming from - no worries.

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casting a black woman as glinda is MUCH different than casting a white aida...aida is a nubian princess, so right there it gives direction for ethnicity & color...

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I guess it would work, but I mean, it'd be kinda odd to slap a blond wig on a black actress. I'm so happy they're doing this for Elphie though! I guess it could work though, you know, Keala Settle looks more black than white. She tried out for a dynamite in Hairspray, and ended up getting Tracy understudy!

o ok i see. im just concerned children would see it and be confused, but then again, it can teach them early about racism and how it really doesnt matter. I guess you guys are right, like i said i am not at all racist :) I cant really see it, but im for it