Once the initial shock of observing colorblind casting is over (which, presumably, should be overcome by the talent of the actor) I am all for it. Unless the actor's ethnicity is actually referred to in the script, why should this matter? Yes, you may be presenting a historical piece such as Les Miz, but don't most of you wait at the stage door, hoping to grab the cast member's autographs, essentially ruining the illusion anyway? As long as someone is cast based on talent, race and gender should not matter in the least.
Look at the original engineer in Miss Saigon--a very asian part, yet the original actor was white. However, he was convincing, and in my opinion amazingly talented. The show was able to work because he kept the illusion up. The audience could forgive his race and was able to just absorb the show itself. The only time I have seen colorblind casting not work, was in a production of Side Show. Jake was cast white. This obvioulsy does not work in the context of the show, because a great plot twist DEPENDS on his race.
I like the fact that ethnic actors can have a chance to perform in a lead which is written specifically for their ethnicity, however, in my opinion this shoud never place someone less talented into a role over someone not of this ethnicity. You are simply PLANNING on presenting a show of lesser caliber than you could.
And Lea Salonga's performance, as an asian eponine, is my favorite of anyone who has ever played that role--hands down.
***It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.
-- William Shakespeare***
