Diversity on Broadway- Page 6

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 10:27pm

Sounds like quotas to me, man. Eff the PC Police!

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 10:31pm

thanks Jay.

 

I"m so sick of everything becoming about racism constantly on the minds of lots of BWW members. YOU are the ones who can't get race off your minds. It's like you feel so guilty because you are racist that you have to overcompensate. 

 

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 10:33pm

FindingNamo I'd say you're correct. I loved "Georgia McBride" and "The Christians" because they had interracial relationships that were never brought up or spoken about or even a part of the plot. That's a nice bit of casting. I know we're debating race, but I'd love to see an overweight actress/actor playing a leading role that wasn't about weight. 

HeyMrMusic: I totally understand your point Re: The Martian, but, and I don't know for sure, but I'd think it's more to do with casting "name" actors than casting race. If race isn't central to the plot or an issue, then who cares who was what in the book? It's a movie. It's different. They wanted a supporting cast of "name" actors and those are the people they wanted? I don't know. If everyone in the book was white and they cast the movie all black because Denzel wanted to be part of the cast (kind of like Barbecue at the Public) would that be a huge issue to anyone? Probs not. 

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 10:34pm

"I'm sorry. Did someone essentially just say if you cast POC, you should lower ticket prices? Someone please tell me I am seeing things."

 

Don't be sorry, just try not to lose  focus of what we were discussing.

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 10:40pm

"FindingNamo I'd say you're correct. I loved "Georgia McBride" and "The Christians" because they had interracial relationships that were never brought up or spoken about or even a part of the plot. "

 

But that's been going on for quite a while. I see it in films and in a huge amount of tv commercials. Interracial couples are not anything new or remarkable. Nothing  has to be mentioned about them. 

 

That's a nice bit of casting. I know we're debating race, but I'd love to see an overweight actress/actor playing a leading role that wasn't about weight. 

 

I'm seeing a little of that happen slowly but surely.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 10:54pm

I'm all over colorblind casting. Like I said, I love Rashaad in August: Osage County and it didn't take me out of the show one bit. 

I just have a problem with someone casting someone because of their race. Like, we haven't had a black Glinda yet, let's cast someone. That's when I think the whole thing weakens. If she's the best for the part, totally. But not because of color. 

[Lilly7]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 11:00pm

"If race isn't central to the plot or an issue, then who cares who was what in the book? It's a movie. It's different."

Because there are so few roles out there for actors of color, we don't need to take away the few roles meant for them in the first place 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 11:06pm

Exactly. The chance is there. 

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 11:12pm

"If race isn't central to the plot or an issue, then who cares who was what in the book? It's a movie. It's different."

Because there are so few roles out there for actors of color, we don't need to take away the few roles meant for them in the first place 

 

Of course, goes without saying.

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 11:31pm

My bottom line - If there were a musical about the life of Abraham Lincoln, and the role was being played by a black actress, I, being visually oriented, might wonder about the casting. That's what I was trying to get at.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 11:32pm

It's okay to wonder, but most people would figure it out, no?

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 11:38pm

 Calling someone a racist because they would prefer to see an actor that reminds them of Lincoln, is wrong in my opinion.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 11:41pm

 A black woman plays Abraham Lincoln in Hair. 

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 11:42pm

Can't say I remember that.

[Lilly7]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 11:49pm

Genuinely curious as to why you would be bother by it. All art forms that are based on historical events or are adaptions tend to take some creative liberties. Why should racebending be any different from that?

[Showface]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 11:49pm

I used to normally agree that if it is a well known historical figure, then appearance and race matters.

 

BUT, Hamilton came and completely changed the game dealing with that. If we can have a Hispanic Alexander Hamilton and a black Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson, then who is to say that one day we can't have a non-white Abraham Lincoln?

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 11:58pm

"Genuinely curious as to why you would be bother by it. All art forms that are based on historical events or are adaptions tend to take some creative liberties. Why should racebending be any different from that?"

 

You are right. What this all boils down to for me is the automatic claim of  racism in the minds of some on here, when faced with creative differences in the casting process. I know it's  hard for that group to grasp, but everything on earth isn't about racism.

 

Adding to say this- lots of things  on earth ARE about racism. I don't hate any entire group of people and I don't want to be accused of it.

Updated On: 10/14/15 at 11:58 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 12:00am

"I used to normally agree that if it is a well known historical figure, then appearance and race matters.

 

BUT, Hamilton came and completely changed the game dealing with that. If we can have a Hispanic Alexander Hamilton and a black Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson, then who is to say that one day we can't have a non-white Abraham Lincoln?"

 

We can. Anyone can do anything they want. I'm just sick and tired of the constant accusations of racism.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 12:12am

"Because there are so few roles out there for actors of color, we don't need to take away the few roles meant for them in the first place." 

Because it's not your $100 million. They put the money up. They want "names" who will draw people in and promote the movie. That's all. This has happened numerous times. Hell, Sandra Bullock is playing a part that was originally a man. It doesn't matter. It's what will make them their money back. 

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 12:21am

RippedMan said: "HeyMrMusic: I totally understand your point Re: The Martian, but, and I don't know for sure, but I'd think it's more to do with casting "name" actors than casting race. If race isn't central to the plot or an issue, then who cares who was what in the book? It's a movie. It's different. They wanted a supporting cast of "name" actors and those are the people they wanted? I don't know. If everyone in the book was white and they cast the movie all black because Denzel wanted to be part of the cast (kind of like Barbecue at the Public) would that be a huge issue to anyone? Probs not. 

 

"

The white actress playing the written Korean character is not well known. And a black actor is still playing an Indian man, they did not change the character's ethnicity. So if the character is Indian, they definitely should have gone with an Indian actor. Heaven forbid a big Hollywood movie has three supporting characters/actors that are API. This movie reduced that number to one singular Asian actor. People would see the movie anyway because Matt Damon is in it. They had the opportunity to make Asians more visible and yet chose to cast a black actor as Indian and completely whitewash a Korean character. 

[Lilly7]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 12:22am

If Hollywood only chose people who would make money, Ryan Reynolds would be out of work a long time ago.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 12:44am

" And a black actor is still playing an Indian man, they did not change the character's ethnicity. So if the character is Indian, they definitely should have gone with an Indian actor. Heaven forbid a big Hollywood movie has three supporting characters/actors that are API." 

Um, The King and I is a cast of 50 who aren't all Siamese. It's called acting. I have a friend who is black/asian and she plays from Mexican to Korean. It's just acting. It's all make believe. 

And make jokes all you want, but yes, Hollywood, for the most part, wants to make money.

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 12:44am

Anyone watching the new tv series Code Black? interesting casting there. The actor playing the lead role, which is the head Dr. of the Emergency Ward of a hospital, is Luis Guzman. It's interesting because Guzman's an actor who is typically cast as a villainous character, and looks very much the part. I wonder how he'll do with this transition. 

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 12:47am

"And make jokes all you want, but yes, Hollywood, for the most part, wants to make money."

 

And so does Broadway. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 1:47am

Exactly. All casting is done for the purpose of turning a profit. I'm sure if Audra McDonald wanted to play Tevye they'd find a way to make it happen because they could turn a profit. Sometimes shows take a risk, but for the most part, they hope to make some $$$$$$$$