Casting by Race

When I did a search to see if there was a thread about this already, nothing came up. So I apologize if this has already been discussed.
I was wondering how everyone felt about whether or not colorblind casting is a good idea. I mean, we've obviously seen it work in some cases (Cinderella) and not work in others (Debatably, Lennon). But what about those cases where they pass off a white girl as WSS's Maria? Is it better to cast a person because they embody the part or because they look the part?

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OK, I'm going to be brave...

I am all for colorblind casting when it is appropriate for the play. If it truly doesn't matter what race/ethnicity a character is, then cast someone of any heritage. But many times a specific race is required by the text (even if it is not stated directly) for reasons of historical accuracy or artistic necessity. Sometimes the ethnic requirements of a role are obvious (Maria in WSS is Puerto Rican, Othello is black, etc.), but other times the director needs to make a decision based on a mixture of aesthetics and logic. I don't want to point out the requirements of specific roles (let's keep this discussion simple), but generally speaking, unless you're doing Shakespeare (in which case, as it is commonly believed, anything goes), the director needs to be true to the play as it was written, as that is the duty of the director of any play.

Updated On: 11/28/05 at 01:07 AM

I agree that if it's in the script it should be followed, but otherwise I'm all for colorblind casting. Examples...

YAGMCB revival, Schroeder was black and Linus was Asian, and it was perfectly fine, I loved both of them.

My dad's friend saw Of Mice and Men a few years back with James Earl Jones as Lennie (Lenny?). Though he was amazing, in the show there is a character who is discriminated against because he is black, and it seemed to be a non-issue for Lennie, which some people in the audience thought was a little odd.

I think it works really well, even though some may see it as discrimination, to me it just helps certain roles seem more beliavable.

It works great in Lion King where the Main lions (simba, nala, mufassa), are black actors and Scar is a white guy.

It dosent work well in other shows, like current Les Miz in London has a Black Javert, doesnt seem likely for the period. And even though Robert Gulliamme had a great voice as Phantom, there it also doesnt go with the period, or the story line.

I guess when the show revolves around fantasy versus a period piece it can work well, (cats, Lion King, VS Phantom LesMiz)

I also thought it was cleverly done in Aida where the Egyptians were white and the Nubians were black.

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Lion King, Cinderella, Charlie Brown, Into the Woods, are essentially fantasies, so anything goes.

The 1990's revival of CAROUSEL had a black Carrie and a white Mr. Snow giving birth to a brood of black, white and Asian children. Again, it works becausew the show is a fantasy. If Billy can come down from heaven, then the Snows can have a rainbow coalition of kids.

I think the two cases that don't work with colorblind casting are plays about real people from history and plays that specifically deal with racial issues. It would be quite distracting to see a production of "1776" with a black actor as Thomas Jefferson. And it certainly would not work to cast SHOWBOAT with a black actress as Magnolia, when a main plot point is that her friend Julie is a black woman trying to pass as white.

I don't think it necessarily has to do with the show. The National Theatre in London has had great success with colorblind casting, in having black Hamlets, black Henry V's etc. Ultimately, it should boil down to talent.

There has been an Asian Eponine and a black Madame Thernardier in Les Miz on Broadway. While the work itself is a piece of fiction, it's based in historical background. And everyone seemed to be able to take that in stride...

My high school production of The Sound of Music had a black father and slew of white kids as the Von Trapps, and it got more laughter than anything else. Of course, we were a pretty immature audience!

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Ok, bu what about when they make a white actress look asian (just as an example). If they can make the person look the race they're supposed to be playing, that doesn't ruin anything. This is a very hot topic at my school right now. They just cast a white girl as Maria over some very talented hispanic girls. Now, they can pass this girl as Puerto Rican, but does it seem fair to take away from one of the (rather limited) pool of parts specifically written for a minority?

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Interesting story...

My college produced "A Streetcar Named Desire" years ago with a very talented black actor as Mitch, playing opposite a white Blanche.

The during the performances for the subscription audience, very little reaction or question was given to the color-blind casting of Mitch.

However, during the one performance which was given to the local high schools, and huge vocal reaction erupted at one point in the play.

Why?

Well, the subsciption audience knew the play and had probably seen the film. Because of their familiarity with the story, they knew that Mitch was a white character being played by an black actor.

The high school audiences had probably never seen "Streetcar" in any form and assumed that Mitch was a black character. Their only exposure to "Streetcar" was what they were seeing and hearing at that performance.

What was the moment which almost created a riot?

Blanche upon prompting Mitch how to present a floral bouquet to her, declares "Good Boy!"

Color-blind casting is wonderful. I cast an incredible black actress as Katherine (The Elizabeth Taylor Role) in "Suddenly Last Summer." It was dynamite.

However, if you are color-blind casting a role, please make that you understand all of the possible interpretations that could result.

Flahooley, interesting that you should mention having a black Eliza in My Fair Lady. I saw a production in Portland last year (it also played in Dallas) where a black actress, Sherry Boone, played Eliza. I remember there being some controversy and most of it, surprisingly, was from black actors. There was an article in the paper in which another black actress spoke about how she didn't like watching a white Doolittle sell and black Eliza to a white Higgins, among other things. Maybe I can dig that up somewhere, it was very interesting.

In general, the best person for the part should be chosen, but there are certain parts that require a certain race.

For example, a non-black Celie or anyone from The Color Purple would take away from the story given its cultural context. There are others of this nature, but you get the point.

Anyway, casting shouldn't be based on race, but in some cases, realistically, it has to be considered.

Opening another (but not unrelated) box of worms...

What about Gender-Blind Casting!?