Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
#1Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 9:17am
The 1776 cast includes the following performers who identify as female, non-binary, and trans: Gisela Adisa (she/her) as Robert Livingston, delegate from New York, Nancy Anderson (she/her) as George Read, delegate from Delaware, Becca Ayers (she/they) as Col. Thomas McKean, delegate from Delaware, Tiffani Barbour (she/her) as the custodian, Andrew McNair, Allison Briner Dardenne (she/her) as Stephen Hopkins, delegate from Rhode Island, Allyson Kaye Daniel (she/her) as Abigail Adams / Rev. Jonathan Witherspoon, delegate from New Jersey, Elizabeth A. Davis (she/her) as Thomas Jefferson, delegate from Virginia, Mehry Eslaminia (she/her) as the secretary, Charles Thomson, Joanna Glushak (she/her) as John Dickinson, delegate from Pennsylvania, Shawna Hamic (she/her) as Richard Henry Lee, delegate from Virginia, Eryn LeCroy (she/her) as Martha Jefferson / Dr. Lyman Hall, delegate from Georgia, Crystal Lucas-Perry (she/her) as John Adams, delegate from Massachusetts, Liz Mikel (she/her) as John Hancock, President of the Second Continental Congress, Patrena Murray (she/her) as Benjamin Franklin, delegate from Pennsylvania, Oneika Phillips (she/her) as Joseph Hewes, delegate from North Carolina, Lulu Picart (she/her) as Samuel Chase, delegate from Maryland, Sara Porkalob (she/they) as Edward Rutledge, delegate from South Carolina, Sushma Saha (pronoun inclusive) as Judge James Wilson, delegate from Pennsylvania, Brooke Simpson (she/her) as Roger Sherman, delegate from Connecticut, Salome Smith (she/her) as the Courier, Sav Souza (they/them) as Dr. Josiah Bartlett, delegate from New Hampshire, Grace Stockdale (she/her) as a Standby, Jill Vallery (she/her) as Caesar Rodney, delegate from Delaware, Imani Pearl Williams (she/her) as a Standby
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Casting-Announced-for-Broadway-Bound-1776-at-American-Repertory-Theatre-20220408
David walked into the valley
With a stone clutched in his hand
He was only a boy
But he knew someone must take a stand
There will always be a valley
Always mountains one must scale
There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail
-Into the Fire
Scarlet Pimpernel
Updated On: 4/8/22 at 09:17 AM
#2Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 9:24am
A great cast, though I must confess my feeling that this concept, which sounded fresh pre-Covid, feels a lot more derivative now.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#3Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 9:35am
I've never been sure how I felt about this concept, but my son and I absolutely LOVE this and he's never seen a live production, only the film. We're just thrilled that we'll be able to finally see it in about a months time. (Going during their short preview time.) Now I "only" have to worry about a covid hit/cancellation.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
willep
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/08
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#5Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 10:39am
An intriguing concept and could be great, though I was kind of hoping for a more interesting-on-paper cast.
#6Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 10:57am
This 1776 is a favorite but despite an attempt at being "radical" this feels so pro forma. I'm going to see it regardless so I hope it's great!
Jesus saves. I spend.
Sutton Ross
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#7Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 11:39am
QueenAlice said: "A great cast, though I must confess my feeling that this concept, which sounded fresh pre-Covid, feels a lot more derivative now."
100%
Tag
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
#8Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 11:59am
QueenAlice said: "A great cast, though I must confess my feeling that this concept, which sounded fresh pre-Covid, feels a lot more derivative now."
It's like the fad of actors playing instruments onstage. Got old quick.
#9Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 12:04pm
Tag said: "QueenAlice said: "A great cast, though I must confess my feeling that this concept, which sounded fresh pre-Covid, feels a lot more derivative now."
It's like the fad of actors playing instruments onstage. Got old quick."
it does get old quick.
but it also gives an opportunity for actors to play roles they would otherwise not get to play via traditional casting practices.
"Opinions are very interesting because we all have different ones. You are entitled to your opinion, but that does not mean you should always give it to others, especially when your opinion is not necessarily grounded in truth, but in what you believe or want to believe."
#10Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 12:15pm
Interesting that when it was in development in 2019/2020 it was "all female." Now it's "all female, non-binary, and trans." Nothing wrong with that, but it does sort of point out how this production is essentially trying to be the "woke" version of a very white and male musical from the 1960's, which feels - to me anyway - a little gimmicky. Three years ago, in the middle of the Hamilton craze and Trumpism, this production seemed like a cool, radical idea that gave a middle finger to the status quo. Now that this sort of casting is the status quo to a certain degree, the production strikes me as a bit tired and virtue signaling. I sense that the "moment" for this version has passed, but I wish them all the best.
#11Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 12:23pm
I really fail to see how this casting is the status quo now. We have the gender swapped Company, sure. And we have Amber Gray playing a gender swapped Banquo in Macbeth. Everything else on Broadway is pretty much "traditional casting" in terms of gender.
I'm excited to see how these performers take on roles they normally wouldn't have the chance to play and see how their interpretation differs (or not) from the standard presentation of the material.
BritCrit
Leading Actor Joined: 5/15/18
#12Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 12:34pm
MayAudraBlessYou2 said: "I really fail to see how this casting is the status quo now. We have the gender swapped Company, sure. And we have Amber Gray playing a gender swapped Banquo in Macbeth. Everything else on Broadway is pretty much "traditional casting" in terms of gender.
I'm excited to see how these performers take on roles they normally wouldn't have the chance to play and see how their interpretation differs (or not) from the standard presentation of the material."
I agree, although I think the sceptics may be referring to "color-blind" casting, which is pretty much the norm now. Having an all-female (inc. trans women and non-binary performers) is definitely a big move though...
However, the passage of time is affecting the production in other ways - Can it avoid the BLM related wave of criticism that affected Hamilton in Summer 2020? Although 1776 had a sharper critique of the compromises that led to slavery being preserved, it can still be seem as promoting a mythologized view of Founding Fathers who many millennial theatregoers regard with increased hostility..
#13Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 12:50pm
BritCrit said: "However, the passage of time is affecting the production in other ways - Can it avoid the BLM related wave of criticism that affected Hamilton in Summer 2020? Although 1776 had a sharper critique of the compromises that led to slavery being preserved, it can still be seem as promoting a mythologized view of Founding Fathers who many millennial theatregoers regard with increased hostility.."
I think 1776 is far more critical of flaws of these people, and I also think this casting will humanize the "characters" instead of mythologizing them which is exactly what will make this play feel accessible and fresh to today's audience. I am watching it in Cambridge in May, can't wait!
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
#14Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 1:11pm
MayAudraBlessYou2 said: "I really fail to see how this casting is the status quo now. We have the gender swapped Company, sure. And we have Amber Gray playing a gender swapped Banquo in Macbeth. Everything else on Broadway is pretty much "traditional casting" in terms of gender.
True, Broadway tends to be more "traditional" in its casting, even in 2022. However, out here "in the regions," many theatres are scrambling to cast as many trans and BIPOC performers as possible and then proudly tout their inclusivity in their press releases. I mean, yes, ultimately its a good thing, I'm all for inclusivity, but there are times when it comes across (to me anyway) as being a bit performative. At least in non-commercial theatre, based on what has been happening since theatre "came back" from COVID, what they are doing with this production of 1776 is very much in line with what regional theatres are doing right now.
Square Peg2
Understudy Joined: 10/27/13
#15Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 2:28pm
Interesting that a casting decision has been described as both "gimmicky" and "status quo" in the same thread. I think because these kinds of casting decisions make headlines, we forget that (a) they are still not the norm at all and (b) they're still a relatively new phenomenon. All of the inequities that led to these decisions are still very much in force throughout the theatre industry, and these kinds of productions are only helping to move those inequities forward. We're past the point of it being novel, but not yet at the point where women and GNC people have access to the same opportunities as others, so surely we can still find space to support these productions.
Updated On: 4/8/22 at 02:28 PM
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#16Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 4:05pm
But I mean it is a gimmick, no? I'm not saying it's bad, but the casting/idea is to shine a light on the inequalities in our country. Which is what Hamilton has done?
#17Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 5:44pm
Square Peg2 -
If I lived in NYC and could afford tickets to a Broadway show right now, I would totally see it. I've loved this show since seeing the 1998 revival...oh my God, almost twenty-four years ago. I'm just saying that as someone who is old enough to have been around then, I'm making the observation that casting across the theatre industry has become very progressive in comparison to how it once was, and gender-conscious/color-conscious casting has been common practice for at least a decade.
During the COVID "pause" there was a lot of calling out for theatre to "do better," and it is - which is great. I think it is also worth observing that this production is "cashing in" on current race and gender politics in the same way that say Dear Evan Hansen is cashing in on the teen mental health crisis created by social media. I'm just kinda like, "Well played, producers. Well played."
Tag
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
#18Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/8/22 at 6:13pm
RippedMan said: "But I mean it is a gimmick, no? I'm not saying it's bad, but the casting/idea is to shine a light on the inequalities in our country. Which is what Hamilton has done?"
Exactly. Hamilton did it.
#19Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/9/22 at 12:48am
I’m looking forward to see how this goes. Will I pay to see it? Hell No
veronicamae
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/13/09
#20Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/9/22 at 11:25am
I can't help but wonder how many people commenting that this is boring or unnecessary casting are white cis men. Intentionally carving out space for what qualifies as "non-traditional" casting by giving the roles of old white men to women/trans/nb and POC is important and necessary, and eventually, such things won't be considered non-traditional and instead be considered normal. Hamilton doing it did cause a stir, and I hope that this causes even more of one. Nothing pisses off the right than perceiving this particular group of people as "taking" something from entitled white men.
I wanted to see this revival when it was announced, and with this announcement, I'm even more excited about it.
VintageSnarker
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
#21Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/9/22 at 1:12pm
For me it's more that Diane Paulus is directing and after hearing about the breakdowns at Witness Uganda and Jagged Little Pill, I'm concerned about how people are going to be treated backstage. That's the part that feels performative if mishandled again.
#22Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/9/22 at 1:21pm
i’m all for inclusivity and representation.
i think it’s important that moving forward that if given the chance and the piece allows it casting like this continues in one form or another.
i completely take back my unfortunate “it gets old quick” response.
"Opinions are very interesting because we all have different ones. You are entitled to your opinion, but that does not mean you should always give it to others, especially when your opinion is not necessarily grounded in truth, but in what you believe or want to believe."
Updated On: 4/9/22 at 01:21 PM
#23Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/9/22 at 1:43pm
veronicamae said: "I can't help but wonder how many people commenting that this is boring or unnecessary casting are white cis men.”
I’m surprised it took a full 24 hours for someone to play that card. Yes, I am a cis white man. And no, I did not say it was “boring and unnecessary.” Please read what I wrote.
Actually, I was planning on directing a race/gender-conscious 1776 myself at my school but it got cancelled by COVID. As I said, it would’ve been a cool thing to do two years ago. Now it’s cool, just…not as revolutionary as it would have been had their initial production not also been cancelled by COVID. So yeah…I actually had this same idea at the same time Diane Paulus did… And it’s not even an original idea. Google around and you will find plenty of all female or gender and race-conscious 1776 productions. So yes, the gimmick was old even before radically inclusive casting became the new normal.
#24Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/9/22 at 2:20pm
I think correcting the inequity of racial/ethnic representation on Broadway stages makes sense, and trans/nonbinary people as well. But has the Broadway stage historically really excluded cis-women? I can't go back an quantify the actual representation, but it's always seemed to me that the Broadway musical has centered female characters and performers more so than men. 1776 is obviously an exception, but I think women have outshone men for much of Broadway history. We remember Ethyl Merman, Mary Martin, Angela Lansbury, Barbra Streisand, etc. far more than their male counterparts, especially in the Golden Era like Alfred Drake, Ezio Pinza, et al. And modern Broadway is pretty much female dominated in terms of star power (Lupone, McDonald, Menzel, O'Hara, et al.). There aren't really that many cis-male actors that command the same level of attention, unless they're movie stars dropping in for a limited run.
I do think there is, however, a good case to be made for more female representation in the writing, composing, and producing of Broadway shows.
veronicamae
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/13/09
#25Casting Announced for Broadway-Bound 1776 at A.R.T.
Posted: 4/9/22 at 3:25pm
The Distinctive Baritone said: "veronicamae said: "I can't help but wonder how many people commenting that this is boring or unnecessary casting are white cis men.”
I’m surprised it took a full 24 hours for someone to play that card. Yes, I am a cis white man. And no, I did not say it was “boring and unnecessary.” Please read what I wrote.
Actually, I was planning on directing a race/gender-conscious 1776 myself at my school but it got cancelled by COVID. As I said, it would’ve been a cool thing to do two years ago. Now it’s cool, just…not as revolutionary as it would have been had their initial production not also been cancelled by COVID. So yeah…I actually had this same idea at the same time Diane Paulus did… And it’s not even an original idea. Google around and you will find plenty of all female or gender and race-conscious 1776 productions. So yes, the gimmick was old even before radically inclusive casting became the new normal."
Thank you for proving my point.
I'm not sure why it needs to be considered revolutionary or even original (congrats on thinking of doing it and then deciding not to give minorities their time in the spotlight in your production because you now think it's unoriginal) to do something. Why does it have to be the first time for it to make a difference in a very white male-driven industry?
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