Can someone tell me the reason why washington and burr and hamilton arent white? — Page 4

The problem with musicals like Hamilton and rent is that they get so popular and SO many people audition. But most of the people are white. So there has to be a way you enforce the diversity of the show. Which can be complicate process. Hiring no white actors for the main roles can almost be easier.

Hamilton seems to want most or all of the primary roles played by POC and I get it once you start making one or 2 of the main characters white questions will come up of why you made certain characters white and I think it's easier to just cast POC. I don't know if they a entirely Against the idea though because I know some of the under studies are white and they have gone on stage.



I also agree that king George always being played by a gay actor is problematic but I think it's just a coincidence .

Updated On: 4/1/16 at 03:53 PM

Brian d'Arcy James isn't gay. As for the other 3, I have no doubt it is a coincidence,

I think there is no doubt that Miranda, in consistently casting a white male actor who (regardless of their personal sexuality) is directed to play the role of an oppressive King as a flamboyant buffoon is certainly as much a statement as casting the protagonists of the piece specifically with POC.

I think tha characterization of the King is less about the character being gay and more being a silly foppish sort of character, which I think is how most British people are stereotypically seen, especially wealthy men. I guess you could argue that a portrayal like that is often coded as gay, but I don't think that's the intent behind it. Personally, I think it's hysterical and isn't problematic in the least.

Broadway Forever2 said: "The problem with musicals like Hamilton and rent is that they get so popular and SO many people audition. But most of the people are white. So there has to be a way you enforce the diversity of the show. "



Wanting diversity is something else than not wanting white.



Diversity is a healthy mix. So that is not what they want. Which is fine, it's their show. But they should be open about their agenda.

It doesn't invoke gay stereotypes to me, but invokes the stereotype of the male, English/American/European aristocrat....which was genteel and dainty. Even look at the dress of men at the time: lace, brocade, knickers, heeled shoes, puffy shirts. Men of wealth separated themselves from the brutish, masculine working class on purpose.

And yet, there ARE white peeps in the show.

There are (I believe) two white ensemble members. One of whom left the show recently, and was replaced by - I believe - another white ensemble member, which leads credence to my theory that, despite whatever they say they are looking for on the casting breakdown -- future replacements will be carbon copies of the ethnicity of the actor that created the role originally. I think they will find that is the only way that they can consistently maintain the 'diverse' cast ratio they are looking for.

Updated On: 4/2/16 at 10:21 AM

Hamilton is an anomaly because its casting is intended as commentary on the events of the era, and not specifically as a way to increase employment opportunities for POC. To me, the best ways to increase opportunities for POC on Broadway are 1) do more shows that feature stories about POC; and 2) acknowledge that "white face" (using the term loosely, to encompass, for example, straight-haired wigs) is VERY different from "black face," and cast POCs in roles that have traditionally been played by white people.

There is a controversy going right now about casting Zoe Saldana to play Nina Simone, because Nina Simone was discriminated against not only because she was African-American, but because she was very dark-skinned. Apparently, Zoe has to use prosthetics and makeup to look like her.

Not being a POC, I have no family stories about the beautiful mixed-race women who were chosen for performing roles while women with very dark skin were treated as ugly, even by other black people. I therefore only raise the question and do not provide any opinion on whether people of color who are light should wear makeup to play darker-skinned people, or even whether a light person should be cast for such a role at all. However, those questions are certainly looming at this moment.

Audrey

The Peggy/Mariah Reynolds track was originally workshopped as a white lead, before becoming a POC track after that. No official reason was given, but I suspect that with George being an antagonist played mostly for laughs, having the "femme fatale" be white as well would turn the show into too much of an "us against them" feel. The way it stands now, Hamilton has no particularly confrontational stance other than "yeah, we are race bending history for style amd to make a point about the immigrant experience."

It reminded me more than a little of Amadeus and the fop characters therein, albeit filtered through pop singer Mika.