#26
Posted: 7/15/12 at 9:54am
Phyllis. Your white People jifs have made my night!
Color Blind casting — Page 2
#27
Posted: 7/15/12 at 10:34am
I think a case by case basis here is totally legitimate. A new musical set in China that employs less than a quarter of an Asian cast is pretty ridiculous, but I don't think that should bar someone like Michael Cerveris, say, from playing the King.
#29
Posted: 7/15/12 at 10:55am
What bothers me most so far about this is that they apparently have, in workshops, performed it with an all-Asian cast. And then decided, "Nah." Citing vague reasons for the change.
I honestly believe that many people would feel an all-Asian cast makes something have only niche appeal- to largely Asian audiences. Kaufman, Sheik, and Slater want a commercial hit.
Now, it's hard to judge it because I haven't seen it. As I mentioned before, they may want to do some Brechtian stuff with the piece. A play like Brecht's The Good Person of Szechuan, for example, would benefit from having a colorblind cast, given the nature of Brecht's works and ideas. But I just don't see that as truly being the case.
They could've had an opportunity to create a high-profile vehicle for Asian actors, something that hasn't come around since... Miss Saigon, I suppose?
I honestly believe that many people would feel an all-Asian cast makes something have only niche appeal- to largely Asian audiences. Kaufman, Sheik, and Slater want a commercial hit.
Now, it's hard to judge it because I haven't seen it. As I mentioned before, they may want to do some Brechtian stuff with the piece. A play like Brecht's The Good Person of Szechuan, for example, would benefit from having a colorblind cast, given the nature of Brecht's works and ideas. But I just don't see that as truly being the case.
They could've had an opportunity to create a high-profile vehicle for Asian actors, something that hasn't come around since... Miss Saigon, I suppose?
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#30
Posted: 7/15/12 at 1:17pm
People seem to be all for color-blind casting until a caucasian assumes the disputed role. Then it's called bigotry.
#31
Posted: 7/15/12 at 1:32pm
Oh, please.
Because there's a shortage of roles devised for white actors.
Because there's a shortage of pieces devised with white actors in mind.
Because the industry as a whole isn't biased toward white actors.
When you cast a white actor in a role devised for an actor of color, you are saying to all actors of color, "Go **** yourselves. We know you exist and are talented, but we're taking this uncommon chance from you. Go find an all-Asian/Black/Latino/Etc. theatre company if you want to work."
Because there's a shortage of roles devised for white actors.
Because there's a shortage of pieces devised with white actors in mind.
Because the industry as a whole isn't biased toward white actors.
When you cast a white actor in a role devised for an actor of color, you are saying to all actors of color, "Go **** yourselves. We know you exist and are talented, but we're taking this uncommon chance from you. Go find an all-Asian/Black/Latino/Etc. theatre company if you want to work."
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#32
Posted: 7/15/12 at 6:02pm
I think that for the vast majority of shows, color blind casting works just fine. But, I feel that the exception is shows in which racial relations is a main theme. (i.e. Memphis, or Hairspray). I actually saw a color blind production of Hairspray. The acting and singing was (for the most part) great. However, because of the color blind casting, people who had never seen the show before probably got confused at various points in the show.
"Brevity is the soul of wit"--Hamlet
#33
Posted: 7/15/12 at 8:33pm
One would hope they at least tried to find Asian actors for roles in this show. You don't see many Asian actors on stage period, and when a show comes along that's a natural fit, well, give the Asian man (and woman) a chance, please.
One would also hope that the China-set show is not the only one that employs color-blind casting. Is La Jolla also color-blind casting their other shows, or just the one requiring Asians? Are there Asians (or other people of color) in the cast of their upcoming Glengarry Glen Ross? Hands on a Hardbody?
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As an Asian-Canadian myself I frequently play the "spot the Asian" game when I attend the theatre. I see if I can find more Asian people in the audience than I have fingers on my hands. Often I need only one hand to count. Having recently seen Once and Dogfight in NYC and The Normal Heart in DC, I can say that the Asian turnout is disappointingly low. I saw less than 5 Asian people in the audience in all 3 of those shows. (Granted, I can't claim to have seen everybody in the audience, but I did actively look before and after the show and during intermission.) Where are my Asian peeps?!
Do theatre producers think that, since Asians make up so small a percentage of their audience that there is no need to cast them? Wouldn't Asian actors encourage attendance by Asian theatregoers? For example, you do see more Asian people in the audience for shows like Miss Saigon.
Or do they feel that the white/Jewish theatre audience is not keen on seeing shows with too many Asian actors?
Or are there just not enough Asian actors of quality to cast in these shows?
It will be interesting to see how the upcoming musical Allegiance (http://www.allegiancemusical.com/) does on Broadway (if it eventually does make it), with its diverse cast of Japanese/Filipino/Chinese-Americans.
One would also hope that the China-set show is not the only one that employs color-blind casting. Is La Jolla also color-blind casting their other shows, or just the one requiring Asians? Are there Asians (or other people of color) in the cast of their upcoming Glengarry Glen Ross? Hands on a Hardbody?
----------
As an Asian-Canadian myself I frequently play the "spot the Asian" game when I attend the theatre. I see if I can find more Asian people in the audience than I have fingers on my hands. Often I need only one hand to count. Having recently seen Once and Dogfight in NYC and The Normal Heart in DC, I can say that the Asian turnout is disappointingly low. I saw less than 5 Asian people in the audience in all 3 of those shows. (Granted, I can't claim to have seen everybody in the audience, but I did actively look before and after the show and during intermission.) Where are my Asian peeps?!
Do theatre producers think that, since Asians make up so small a percentage of their audience that there is no need to cast them? Wouldn't Asian actors encourage attendance by Asian theatregoers? For example, you do see more Asian people in the audience for shows like Miss Saigon.
Or do they feel that the white/Jewish theatre audience is not keen on seeing shows with too many Asian actors?
Or are there just not enough Asian actors of quality to cast in these shows?
It will be interesting to see how the upcoming musical Allegiance (http://www.allegiancemusical.com/) does on Broadway (if it eventually does make it), with its diverse cast of Japanese/Filipino/Chinese-Americans.
Coach Bob knew it all along: you've got to get obsessed and stay obsessed. You have to keep passing the open windows. (John Irving, The Hotel New Hampshire)
Updated On: 7/15/12 at 08:33 PM
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