First African American Annie on Broadway- Page 3

[TennesseeTwang]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 7:09pm

So, what is the truest definition of non-traditional casting? Does it occur when a role is written for an actor of a specific race or gender and the production casts against that specificity, or does it refer to those instances when a role that could be played by anybody, is cast in a way that isn't frequently done?

Btw, why does non-traditional casting have to be a one or the other proposition? Can't you have race and gender specific roles as well as non-traditional casting?

[Jon]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 7:32pm

I think - and August Wilson thought, that it was perfectly fine to cast a black actor in a role that might have been originally played by a white actor - if it MAKES REALISTIC SENSE in the play. Certainly any of the characters in Sondheim and Furth's COMPANY could be black. The play is set in contemporary New York. Certainly characters in PAJAMA GAME could be black. Yes, blacks did work in pajama factories in the 1950's.

I'd go so far as to say it was perfectly fine to have an Asian Linus and a black Shroeder in the CHARLIE BROWN revival. It's based on a cartoon. After all, dogs don't sing and dance in the real world.

But no, a black Bob Cratchit is just wrong. Ebenezer Scrooge would not have had an African working for him in 19th Century London.

And certainly the recent CAROUSEL revival, in which an uptight, conservative white man in 19th century New England married a black girl, and together they producer a rainbow coalition of white, black, Asian and Hispanic children, would not sit right with Mr. Wilson.

[Deemanster]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:25pm

Janae is on her way to New York on Nov. 13th for an open casting call for Annie! Our prayer is that there is someone at the casting as open-minded as many of you are.

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:34pm

Tell her to break a leg from all of us here. Hopefully we'll see her in Annie very soon!

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:55pm

Best of luck to Janae. Know she'll have plenty of support from us.