Black Glinda? — Page 9

Well, cuz Taye is Idina's husband, and it worked well. Besides, wasn't Norbert's understudy black?

Replacement casting is different than what understudies do. Norbert was out for a month. Taye stepped in for a month. When Fitzgerald took a vacation, Randy Harrison (not an understudy) replaced him. Joel Grey, on the other hand was a different story. He was sick, and everyone was unaware as to when he was going to get better - which is why McCourt did it, till they replaced him with Hearn.
Espinoza and Bean were Stand-by's - which is why they replaced Idina when she went on vacation.

Have I cleared it all up for ya?

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In regards to the whole CAROUSEL thing, so what if the kids were all white?? It's ACTING! If the audience is too stupid and ignorant to accept the fact that everyone on stage is acting and not actually related, then that is a shame. Why can't you look past the color of their skin and understand that it's acting? Does the color of their skin REALLY matter THAT MUCH??

I told myself that I wouldn't say this, but I am a bit offended by some people's comments. The reason why race is such an issue is because people refuse to look past it and pay attention to the IMPORTANT things. I just am disappointed in myself for having some hope that people on this board would be more accepting.

I'm sure some folks on this board would be in an UPROAR if someone said something like, barring gay people from performing in straight roles. But when it comes to another trivial characteristic, such as race, it's just not acceptable.

That's very true.

And to mikeonbroadway: Your comment made absolutely no sense. Putting a black woman in a blonde wig to play Glinda is an entirely different issue than having a white woman play Caroline in blackface. Blackface is one, very illegal and very offensive for obvious reasons, and that's why it is illegal. We're not in 1918. Having a white woman in the role in blackface would be very insulting to many many people. Having a black woman in a blonde wig would be insulting to no one.

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Regardless, it's the same type of idea. Sure, it's more obvious that I am not the same color as, say, John Tartaglia, but that shouldn't be an issue when it comes to casting a character with an unspecified race/nationality/ethnicity.

wow, this thread gained 50 more posts since i last read it. the one thing i have to comment on is about the "make believe" factor of Oz and comparing it to the movie. yes, *we* do think about this as a fantasy world, however, most theatregoers who are seeing wicked are seeing it because it is one of the most popular (excuse the pun) right now, and *they* won't think about it this way. this show is a prequel to the wizard of oz, and EVERYTHING IS AUTOMATICALLY COMPARED TO THE ORIGINAL MOVIE/BOOK. some of the scenery and costumes were specifically created so that they didn't make people instantly create corollations (ie - the wizard's head), however, we do it anyway. it is human nature to compare the NEW to the ORIGINAL. so, most people see glinda as white. the story of the wizard of oz does keep changing, but there is only so far that it can deviate from the original.


again, i do think a black glinda could work, AS LONG AS SHE HAS BLONDE HAIR to prove the script to be true. but this ^^ should also be considered.

black people can have all different types of hair color and eyecolors. we have all different hair types, skintones, whatever. i think the idea of having a black Glinda would be great. it shows diversity. it shows that people's attitudes are different and that(its been said a million times on this thread) RACE DOESNT MATTER.

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munk, I think it may be illegal to walk the streets with blackface, but not illegal to use it within the realm of theater.
interesting read on blackface

Put my vote in the no way column. What an absurd idea for a black woman to play Glinda. Madame Morrible would be much more believable.

I don't think it's illegal anywhere. In the past few years there have been instances of people wearing blackface (most recent was someone who wanted to do a performance in it on MLK day this year in NY, and people were protesting it) and they weren't arrested (one was a judge somewhere, and there was an uproar, but nothing happened to him legally).

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I know. And it's THOSE few that I'm talking about, because if there are a few, that means there are more.

I love it how white people try to downplay racism like it's not a big of a deal as it really is. But then again, they usually don't have to live through a life where EVERY DAY some judges you and patronizes you because of your skin color.

Sure, I'm making this dramatic, but that's because when you live it, IT IS that dramatic.

"I love it how white people try to downplay racism like it's not a big of a deal as it really is. But then again, they usually don't have to live through a life where EVERY DAY some judges you and patronizes you because of your skin color."

I understand. It sucks. I mean it REALLY sucks. I hope this doesn't seem like I am down playing it (it is NOT my intention) but it is similiar to being a woman, or being gay, a non catholic religion, or any other group where you are in the minority and/or faced prejudices. Men can have a hard time understanding why women feel like they aren't being represented in the work force, in higher level jobs. If 53% of the population are women why are only 3% of CEOs female? Just things like that. I know it isn't the same thing. But it is still on the premise that you cannot understand unless you have to deal with the problems a particular group faces on a day to day basis.

That being said, that is something this society faces - a society unique to our world (aka not Oz). I think it is sad to say "Well, they won't be able to see past the fact that this actress is black." Aren't you not giving the audiences a chance to accept it? I think it is an insult to not only the performers but also the audiences. Just writing them off saying "Oh they can't see through color" is quite offensive.

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Well said, TGIF.

Joshua: You're still looking at it as white vs. black and like all the whites are at fault. I'm not saying there aren't really ****ty and really nasty racist people in this world, I just haven't encountered any yet. But it's a two way street, and I've experienced a great deal of racism from your end. That is what I will never understand. Perhaps it's because I don't have one racist cell in my body, where you have admitted that you do.

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Thanks for clearing that up - let me go put some on.

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