Dear Mr Brooks please bring Young Frankenstein to Australia- Page 2

[brettystar]

Posted: 10/4/08 at 8:59pm

'Also - ONE MO TIME, MISS SAIGON (both Black Americans and Asians) , a full company of PORGY AND BESS and of course THE LION KING'.

Happy to stand corrected. Good examples.

Rosscoe - I do think that Sunset Boulevard is a bit of a stretch.
Hairspray would require (including understudies) a bare minimum of 14 black actors. Were there really this many imports in SB?

But, like you and alterego have pointed out, it has been done before so who knows?

[brettystar]

Posted: 10/4/08 at 9:01pm

'Australia does not have a large Afro American population at all

Does anyone else find it as amusing as I do when political correctness runs rampant and ALL black people end up described as African Americans, whether they're from America or not?'

Excuse my ignorance Weez - are they not african americans?

[Weez]

Posted: 10/4/08 at 9:06pm

Well, no, not if they're not Americans. :P Let's say you're black. You were born and raised in Australia, but you have roots in Africa. Does that make you African American? Or African Australian? :P

[brettystar]

Posted: 10/4/08 at 9:12pm

Weez - in Australia our black people are Aboriginals and Islanders predominantly.

Both races have completely different singing styles to what is required for Hairspray.

Therefore the whole subject that we have been discussing is importing African American actors from America. I did not want to use the term 'black' for this reason.

[Square Peg2]

Posted: 10/4/08 at 11:52pm

Can I add Showboat to the list of shows that imported black casts to Australia? Ta.

Plus, for the record, I agree with Weez's comment about terminology. Australia imports numerous black actors for roles in shows because we have a predominantly white population, especially in the professional acting/singing community. Indigenous and Islander actors do often fill some of these slots, regardless of their "completely different singing styles" that you feel they automatically have due to their race. I would say black is a more accurate term than "Afro-American".

Not to nitpick or anything...!!

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 10/4/08 at 11:52pm

Hairspray has been rumoured for ages, will it come?

One of these days we will see a production of it, either sit down or arena/tent based.. I have faith!

[Urban]

Posted: 10/5/08 at 12:56am

Please don't tempt fate by saying tent/arena when it comes to 'Hairspray'. I loathe tent/arena shows in general and would be hard pressed going to 'Hairspray' if it was to be one.