Full Cast for TARZAN Announced- Page 2

[enjolrasissex]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 5:09pm

Oh boy. I'm kinda excited for this now.

[washu2002]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 5:40pm

You spewed:

If they cast a white guy in the role and made him look like an ape would you cry that he was in black face. It's a no win, I guess.
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Wow, where are your klan sheets? Ape-suits equal blackface? You seem to be the only one who wants to make that association.

Why would I be happy about "minorities" actually being cast in a musical about the deep dark jungles of Africa? In so-called progressive 2005 we should be seeing much more color-blind casting.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

And let's not forget, no one made Chester Gregory audition OR accept the role. I'm sure, from all that I've read about him as a person, that if it were objectionable he'd not be participating.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

When you're a working actor of color, sometimes you take stereotypical roles because that's the path of least resistance. Honestly, why fight a system that's so much bigger than you? As a white man, I'm certain you can't relate.
Updated On: 12/8/05 at 05:40 PM

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 5:43pm

Yay!

Really like the looks of this cast. I've seen every lead in at least one other show, which is fun.

I guess Nick Sanchez will be leaving Altar Boyz soon?

Love Shuler Hensley, Chester Gregory and Joshua Kobak, very excited they're definitely involved!

[BroadwayRandy0711]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 5:43pm

This show I think is going to be amazing. This next Broadway season seems like its going to be a great one.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 5:49pm

Written by Andre de Shields:

“I wanted it to be very controversial so we could maybe finally rip off the scab that had formed over all the pain about race in this country,” he explained. “I wanted this play to be the catalyst to have discussions about how black people, men especially, are seen as scary and how the vision of African American as close to ape has often been on the minds of Americans for centuries...."

“’Prymate’ seemed familiar to me because the specter of gorilla has haunted black America since the very first kidnapping of Africans to the new World,” he wrote. “After all, the history of black America is strewn with the debris of hatred, prejudice, intolerance, racism and images of black men as sub-beasts driven by their uncontrollable lust for white women. When I read ‘Prymate,’ visions of slavery, minstrelsy and lynching danced in my head. Add to this there is the consequence of the AIDS virus percolating just below the skin of the play.”

http://www.gaycitynews.com/gcn_331/stilltiltingarace.html

"...Another is that the gorilla is played, without transforming makeup, by a black actor.

Medoff said De Shields, who's best known for his performances in musicals, was suggested by Sherin, who had worked with him previously.

"Truthfully," said the playwright, "I had never even thought about [the implications of the role being played by a black actor]. In Florida, there was no reaction to it at all, except for one elderly couple who were offended and walked out of a performance.

"Andre De Shields is a spectacularly respected actor, and he wanted to do this role. It's kind of funny, but he thought [any complaints] seemed like a reverse kind of discrimination. He said: 'Why should only white actors be allowed to play gorillas'"?"

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyNzMmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY1MTg4NjUmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk5

And I cannot find it, maybe it's in the first article, but I remember reading that Andre asked why he should NOT play the gorilla? I remember him saying it is a stereotype - that is often true (his words, not mine). Furthermore, with the last quote - following your (WASHU) way of thinking, only white people should play gorillas.

And sweeneyfan - having a white person play a gorilla does not mean black face. It's called a gorilla mask (if they are going in that direction...that is, the direction of making the actor look like a real gorilla).
Updated On: 12/8/05 at 05:49 PM

[washu2002]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 5:54pm

BSo, I've never seen Prymate, I don't know if I agree with de Shields but de Shields was attempting to politicize the role. Yes, I would like for there to be a moratorium on black men playing apes, there is just very little use for it in 2005 America given the racial history of this country.
Updated On: 12/8/05 at 05:54 PM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 5:57pm

Well, in Prymate de Shields played an ape sans costume.

I brought it up because you are trying to make it political - as did de Shields.

P.S. Shuler Hensley is playing Kerchak - another gorilla.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 6:20pm

"Don't consider this an extension of the movie. its a whole new show. Strickland was on Idol? When?"

Oh, please. It's a Disney show. They're not going to deviate from the movie that dramatically. They're already using all the characters from the movie and having Phil Collins compose the songs, so it's definitely not "a whole new show."

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 6:21pm

Chester Gregory will be incredible as Terk (or in any role he plays). Someone as socially conscious as Chester wouldn't even audition if he found it the least bit offensive. Yes, the role of Terk could be construed as "supporting a white lead"--but you could also say that Terk and Tarzan are best friends, equals, and one happens to be white and one happens to be black. Chester is a phenomenal actor, singer, and dancer, and I have no doubt the best actor for the part for those reasons. He will be AMAZING.

Updated On: 12/8/05 at 06:21 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 6:53pm

To OrangeSkittles' point, that the show will not deviate from the film, there was this quote from Disney's Tom Schumacher, in the Playbill story. Perhaps we should wait to see what they have in store first?

"In a statement Thomas Schumacher, President of Disney Theatrical Productions, said, "The creative team for Tarzan has re-imagined, and in some cases, reinvented characters from the original Edgar Rice Burroughs novel, and Disney’s animated film. We hope to bring a fresh perspective to the Tarzan legend, and we think that we have found a wonderful cast to make these roles their own."

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 7:16pm

My point is having Terk, Kala, and Kerchak it's definitely going to be very similar to the movie, regardless of how much "re-imagining" they do. It's not a "fresh perspective" if they refuse to change from their formula of talking animal sidekicks.

[DG]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 7:22pm

Is no one going to point out that Kerchek - an ape - is being played by a white man?

edit: Ooops, just saw that BSo already did - sorry.
Updated On: 12/8/05 at 07:22 PM

[camerangel]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 7:36pm

Josh was a swing/ understudy for Roger.. And yes he's very easy on the eyes..

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 7:41pm

Camerangel, do you know if Strickland ever went on for either Mark or Roger? Unless I'm remembering incorrectly, I'm pretty sure he only went on for the ensemble.

[AuditioningWaitress]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 7:42pm

I love Jenn Gambatese! She is so talented!

[sally1112]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 7:45pm

so what are we waiting for? Someone start the Official Josh Love Thread!!!!!!!!

[RaininSmilies]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 7:52pm

"so what are we waiting for? Someone start the Official Josh Love Thread!!!!!!!!"

Sounds like a good plan to me.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 8:56pm

But Kerchak, Kala and Terk are all in Edgar Rice Burroughs' first Tarzan book, Tarzan of the Apes. (Terk is actually named Terkoz in the book, but it's pretty close). Those characters are not some family friendly Disney invention, Orangeskittles.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 9:47pm

Yikes this convo.

Chester is THRILLED to be doing the role of Terk.

I was actually talking to Jenn Gamby the other day about the show and what a great role Terk is.

[camerangel]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 9:58pm

Girlfriend, I'm pretty sure he went on as Roger.. I never got to see him though.. To my knowledge he never went on as Mark..

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 10:22pm

So wait...does that mean I DIDN'T get cast as Tarzan....but I stripped down to my "loincloth" ad everything. Stupid casting couch.

Akiva

[Phantom2]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 10:46pm

Is it just me or does Josh Strickland look a lot like Gavin Creel? I'm just sayin'...

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 10:57pm

He looks common, common...

[wickedwitchofthechest]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 11:10pm

Common as in coarse, or common as in not special?

(Of course, as my mother has always avowed, to discuss the commonness of commoners is, in itself, common.)