Did anyone read the thread on ATC... — Page 2

Telsey does frequently do open calls for non-Equity actors.

And, unfortunately, the situation in non-Equity houses across the country is not much better.

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Updated On: 1/1/07 at 05:51 PM

You all can keep defending him and the remark, but it was racist, no matter how you slice it.

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The comment is only racist in the sense that it is aimed at (or is about) a specific race. People say racism is everywhere, and they're right--because we acknowledge and talk about race all the time.

What the comment is not, I believe, is racially insensitive or offensive. I agree with those who say he was using "talent" as another term for "actors and actresses" and speaking about quantity rather than quality. Would a prominent casting director who has and does cast hundreds of minority actors really say that an entire race is lacking in talent in an interview with Playbill.com? Though I agree that his sentence may have been dubiously worded and can easily be interpreted any number of ways, there's nothing offensive in his actual words when you consider what he very likely meant to say.

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Well than he should have said "pool".
Playbill is read mostly by people not in the industry and the remark as written smacks of racism.
I'm sure he didn't mean it to, but it does.
Read tha actual statement as quoted.

So he should have been clearer, yes. But it just goes to show that the comment wasn't irrefutably racist, as some have said. Just that he should be more articulate and aware of the audience who would be reading the interview.

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"The minority talent pool is considerably smaller, but that only means that in order to do justice a casting director has to work harder."

Which is exactly what his quotation said!

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And I think most of the people who actually read Playbill.com are theatre fans who understand the meaning of "talent pool."

When I first read it, I was shocked too, but I understand what he's saying.

He's just saying that there are proportionately less African American actors out there. The rest of the article explains that he finds it hard to ANY talent. Thus, it would be harder to find suitable African American talent.

Could it have been worded better? Sure, but he's a busy man, I'm sure.

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That's just it, I'm sure he's not deliberately making a rascist statement, the "jaw dropping" is because someone should have realized how the sentence would *read*. While people on BWW and ATC get the "lingo", you can't expect laymen to. Bad editing at the least.

Updated On: 1/1/07 at 06:48 PM

i do a lot of diversity training with students in college.. been doing it for 10 years... and personally.... some people think WAAAAY too much about it... i read the comment and immediately was "what's the big fuss".... yes racism exists out there... but this is just one of those examples where, and i know this may offend people, but it's an example of where people WANT racism to exist... how sad... numerous people have explained what it meant, but why do you WANT it to be racism... why??? it's NOT unless the guy flats out says in the next interview, "i'm racist and black people suck, sorry if you misinterpreted my previous statment and it was too hard to understand"

ok, im willing to admit that his use of the word "talent" was misleading but not necessarily racist.

However, we should look at why casting directors have so much trouble finding talented African American performers.

Maybe one of the reasons is that the theater community isn't very welcome to African Americans (outside of Black Theater and Black casts of white shows, etc)

And its obvious from boards like this one and especially ATC which both have theater professionals on them, that the theater community is woefully behind when it comes to racial equality.

Maybe that's something we need to sit down and think about.

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I agree with tiff and Michael Bennet in that the comment wasn't racist.

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Mr. Telsey should have been more careful with semantics but RACIST? C'MON!

A local theatre group in my area is having a freaking HELL of a time trying to find black singer/actors and actresses to cast RAGTIME. They are just not coming to auditions! The theatre has posted notices at colleges, churches, local papers..... They have been BEGGING everyone to spread the word!

As you all know - in order to tell this story you need a talented DIVERSE cast! What can casting directors do if the type of actors/actresses they need just are not showing up?
If the numbers are low THAT IS A FACT. YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THAT! And if the number to BEGIN with is low, then you have to expect that the amount of talent in that number is bound to be lower too.

He didn't mean to be racist. THAT is clear.

The word racist is an ugly term that is used to describe a horrible and unjust discrimination. It should NOT be thrown around casually to describe someone you are offended by. That is hasty, harsh, judgmental, irresponsible and dispicable!

There are many INDISPUTABLE, cruel acts of racism that exist on every corner. Focus on and expose them - not a casting director seeking black actors and actresses to cast in the amazing productions that exist on Broadway. I mean really.... Do you REALLY think he would want to offend or hurt a community of people he is trying to employ?

Watch how you throw that word around.