Casting without Considering Appearance — Page 2

From a marketing standpoint, a white Deloris who is a big name would sell, but only for a short amount of time. People would pay to see the big name. If an unknown white Deloris was cast, the show would not succeed.

Another thing that comes to mind: MEMPHIS. This is probably the show where it matters most in terms of race of characters. You CAN NOT, and I mean CAN NOT, have a black Huey or white Felicia. No.

Yeah. If there was a musical about slavery, a white Harriet Tubman is ridiculous.

I'm gonna bring up BOOK OF MORMON. Do you guys think that the show would do well with a white Mafala, Nabalungi, General, and African Ensemble? I personally think it won't, just based on the fact that it is set in Africa.

I just remembered that, when Olivia Newton-John was cast as Sandy in the movie version of Grease, they changed her last name from Dumbrowski to Olsen. I think they also made her Australian instead of American. There it wasn't appearance as much as accent.

---

Updated On: 1/13/13 at 10:55 PM

Well there are actually lines in Sister Act that identify Deloris as a black woman.

As far as Guillaume in Phantom, I'm sure he was just playing a person neither black nor white. There are quite a few characters where the race doesn't truly matter. In Shakespeare for instance I've seen performances where African-American performers play up their race so they add some soul and other other nuances to the role, and it really works. I've also seen a wonderful production of Measure for Measure where Isabella was played by an African-American woman, but she was just playing Isabella she wasn't a black Isabella she was just Isabella.

Let me be clear that I'm not implying that there is a singular way for African-American people to act, but there is a difference between Deloris Van Cartier and Toni Braxton as Belle. Both roles are played by Black Women, but they're different. It's fascinating what you can do with race onstage.

I've always thought that it would be fascinating to have an African-American woman play Chris Hargenson in Carrie.

Also, in regards to Memphis, wasn't there an interracial cover for Felicia, but she never went on? Dan'yelle Williamson always went on, but around this time last year I feel that the second cover was very clearly mixed.

Updated On: 1/13/13 at 11:44 PM

Visceral, you're thinking of Ashley Blanchet (currently Star-to-Be in Annie). She actually went on as Felicia quite a few times and looked fine (and was excellent).

bwaylvsong, oh really? I never knew that. Cool.

I've seen a fat Jesus. It was interesting, to say the least.

Unfortunately, the tolerance is only coming from one side.

If a black actor plays a white role it's usually ok (Javert, Enjolras, Carlotta)

But if a white actor plays a black role, hell breaks loose.

Why is that?

I would have loved to see a white Rachel Marron in the Bodyguard, because I know a few actresses/singers that would be perfect for the role in terms of vocals and type. And we all know ethnicity does not matter in this story, it's about a whole different subject. Then why do I still think there would be a stampede rushing towards the producers office and the office would end up with broken windows and chicken wings with sauce on the wall?

Let's realize that for a moment and make the world a more tolerant place.

Updated On: 1/14/13 at 06:33 AM

Believe me, a lot of reactions to white people being cast in "black roles" were much more aggressive than my examples, which of course are only a metaphor, not to be taken too seriously.

And not only that, I have seen people wishing the producers/directors of Disney dead because they wanted to make Tiana in the Princess and the frog a "maid". Their opinion was that a black girl can't be a maid. Why is that?

Can't remember such stories about Cinderella and Snowwhite.

And then I'm not even mentioning each and every youtube video where a white girl sings a "black woman" song and the comments are extremely patronizing.

This whole "race thing" is getting extremely one sided. That needs to stop.

Let's cast someone because he or she is the best person for the role. If a black Carlotta is chosen because she was better than all the other candidates, perfect. Take her, you won't hear me. In fact, I completely support it. I also LOVE Lea Salonga as Eponine. I am quite colorblind for that matter.
But what if they hired a white Rachel Marron? Would that be perfectly fine too? No. And we need to pay attention to this....

You cannot insist that a nice girl (Rachel, a talented star) can only be portrayed by a black person and that a maid can only be portrayed by a white girl. That is the pinnacle of bigoted.

Updated On: 1/14/13 at 07:55 AM

This whole "race thing" is getting extremely one sided. That needs to stop.

So you're perpetuating the "idea" that African Americans or people of color have a more violent reaction than a Caucasian. I find that extremely " one sided"...well, I find that a whole lot of other things but let me just leave it at one sided.

CarlosAlberto,

My conclusion only comes from facts.
For example the fuzz about princess Tiana.
You decide from which side came more aggression.
I have actually never seen anyone else wishing the producers or directors dead.

And to show you the other side, I have not seen 1 single reaction of a person who had a problem with Tiana being black.

I also have not seen 1 single reaction of a person that said Javert couldn't be black. It is all fine.

I think it is actually quite racist to have a problem with a Rachel Marron being white.

I wish some people would be more colorblind too.

And I agree with Madbrian, if it is not in the story, it should be no problem whatsoever, from BOTH sides.

Updated On: 1/14/13 at 08:40 AM

Exactly.

And I also think it's ok for a straight actor to play a gay role as long as it's believable and a 35 year old actor playing a 19 year old as long as it's believable and fits the story well.

That's all that matters.

Saying black people MUST play good characters and CANNOT play a maid is just silly and dumb. And actually the last thing that should matter.

Updated On: 1/14/13 at 09:00 AM