Bullets Over Broadway - Whites Only

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 9:46am

I'm wondering if this article is designed to point out non-diversity on Broadway or if it's a hit piece on Woody Allen or if it's just a hit piece on Bullets Over Broadway as a musical.

"A source tells Confidenti@l that’s because Allen specifically requested there be no black gangsters in his musical, though it isn’t clear why Allen chose that route."


Link

[newintown]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 9:54am

Seeing this in a few days, but - is there a scene in the Cotton Club? I don't remember one in the film.

[LucyEth]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 9:57am

I can (almost) understand about the gangsters, but I was really taken aback when there wasn't a single black chorine in the Cotton Club number. It seemed kind of shocking in this day and age. I'm surprised there hasn't been more of an uproar.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 10:04am

I commented to my friend that there weren't any black performers in the show. Can't imagine why.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 10:05am

"We’ve confirmed several times that even though Allen himself said director Susan Stroman was 95% in charge, he’s been pulling the strings."

Confirmed with whom, I wonder.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 10:11am

That article is clearly a hit job.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 10:12am

Shocking, I say shocking that this garbage rag posts this unsubstantiated story (other than an unnamed "source") on the day Bullets opens. You don't think they might be trying to garner more views by doing that, do you?

Does anyone really believe that ANYONE was told "One man wasn’t asked back and then was told it was Woody who didn’t want any black gangsters.”

[LucyEth]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 10:20am

Well, someone made a conscious decision not to hire any African Americans, and you know it wasn't Susan Stroman or Tara Rubin.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 10:25am

"Hello, is this the Daily News...?"

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 10:30am

It could not be good old lovable Woody

He has a perpetual get out of jail card free in his wallet. I remember years ago there was a big flap over The Will Rogers Follies having no black chorus girls in addition to complaining about the skimpy costumes.

Well it is obvious there are not any so the question is why? Seems like we need to get Columbo on the case to figure it out.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 10:31am

Yeah, black gangsters are a terrible idea. Just ask Boardwalk Empire…oh wait.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 10:33am

Let's hear it for Chalky White who is one of the better characters in the show.

You do not mess with that dude.

[LucyEth]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 10:34am

Hilarious, Joey, thanks for that.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 10:45am

I posted yesterday on the other major theater board about my surprise at seeing no African-American dancers in what was supposed to be the Cotton Club. Huh?! Aside from the historical inaccuracy, I think we're all so used to seeing diverse casts now that the absence of black or Asian performers seems odd, almost jarring.

Updated On: 4/10/14 at 10:45 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 10:51am

Woody basically states that other than this type of music, he has no use at all for other music thereby dismissing everything else but. Seems to be a bit narrow minded.

Seems old age is turning him into a human version of Grumpy cat. Cannot see Stro making this decision as she would have not made this decision. Was it made for her? Who did it? Maybe it is Professor Plum with the candlestick in the library. Enquiring minds want to know

Updated On: 4/10/14 at 10:51 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 10:51am

See above This was a duplicate post

Updated On: 4/10/14 at 10:51 AM

[tazber]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 10:54am

I was wondering what Ronan would do to help his desperate ratings.

[leefowler]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 11:16am

There isn't actually a scene that takes place in the Cotton Club. At one point, we see Julian Marx talking on the phone to David, and Marx states he's at the Cotton Club, while two dancers sort of undulate behind him. There are a number of scenes and numbers that take place in Nick's club, which I guess people are thinking (wrongly) is supposed to be the Cotton Club.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 11:32am

Woody Allen is disgusting. In his vision of New York there are no blacks, latinos, gays or poor people. Just rich people and the occasional black hooker.

I hope his show flops and he goes back to the rock he crawled out from under.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 11:34am

^ an opinion that would change if Wendy Williams was cast, however

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 11:35am

Yes, one only needs to research this as far as the Playbill to see none of the musical numbers are set in the Cotton Club, aside from the one interstitial scene leefowler mentioned where someone makes a call on the stage's second level from the Cotton Club with two dancers behind him. I also think Cheech(?) at one point says he's going to the Cotton Club that night, but the dance numbers are all at Nick's Club.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 11:35am

I want it to succeed in spite of Woody. We do not need more out of work actors etc and it is entertaining.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 11:45am

Even given that, as we've been reminded, none of the musical numbers takes place in the Cotton Club, Nick does say he's taking her to the club in Harlem. So one would expect at least some African-American chorines, given the geographic area.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 11:48am

I was a little taken aback that the 2 chorus girls in that Cotton Club "moment" were white. Did they think no one would notice? They could have lit it differently or just cut the girls. There are many Woody haters out there (some with good reason), so I wouldn't be surprised if an enemy started this rumor, cause the lack of diverse casting in this show is blatant.

[leefowler]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 11:57am

Actually, one of the chorus girls in that moment is black, but they both have their backs to the audience, so you can't tell.