Huffington Post on In the Heights non-Latino Casting

A fascinating article of the recent casting of a non-Latino in In the Heights.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cara-joy-david/not-since-tamyra-gray_b_402396.html

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Updated On: 12/24/09 at 12:57 PM

atleast he's not COMPLETELY white and playing usnavi

I'm sorry but that article was lame, imo. I am not debating that money may have had a role in the casting, but if in auditions Bleu won over a skeptical Miranda and "smashed it" why shouldn't he play the role? I don't remember the driving force of the pr for this show being how it is a vehicle for Latino actors, but rather that it provides a voice for the Latino community, created by someone from it. Of course, it HAS been a vehicle for Latino actors and will continue to be so. But non-latino actors have been in the show since the beginning. And where was Ms. David's concern at the casting of Marcy? I guess her name was not big enough to warrant an article to point it out.

And the line about an albino performer is just stupid. You'd be surprised at how many albino Dominicans I saw in Santo Domingo alone. But that's besides the point. If Ms. David did not know that Krysta's last name is Rodriguez, would she have put up a red flag when presented with someone who did not fit the "typical" Latina look? That's besides the point too. It's not about color or even "race." A person could be "completely" white or "completely" black and be Latino. I would love to see an Usnavi darker than Benny just so that it messes with people heads or they finally get it. And all this from a person who says that "part of me believes that anything that highlights racial differences is bad as a social policy matter"? Puh-leeze.

I don't mind a non-Latino playing the role if they are at least aware of the kind of issues involved in the show, their casting, and why this show is important to so many (ever hear of an ally?). And yeah, hopefully it will keep a lot of Latinos employed, and continue to make the show's fanbase grow and when the film comes out bigger Latino names can be cast in the roles.

Until then, I'm glad to know that Ms. David will be looking out for the Latino chorus boys and girls. I mean, I think that analysis and reflection on representation and these kind of things is important, but this rings of false anger to me.

/rant

" But non-latino actors have been in the show since the beginning. And where was Ms. David's concern at the casting of Marcy? I guess her name was not big enough to warrant an article to point it out. "

- Exactly. No one made a big deal about Marcy being a non-latina.

A kid I know is in the final round of callbacks to replace Robin de Jesus as Sonny. He's white, Italian American and has not a latino bone in his body.

WOuldn't it be a kick if he and Corbin Bleu played cousins? 0_o

I always thought it was pretty obvious that Vanessa is meant to be latina.

"I always thought it was pretty obvious that Vanessa is meant to be Latina."

How so?

Usnavi and Sonny are Dominican
Abuela Claudia is Cuban
Nina's family is Puerto Rican
Daniela is Puerto Rican
Carla is Chilidominicurican.
Benny is black

Vanessa and Graffiti Pete are characters who aren't defined by race. Heck, they don't even have last names.

Updated On: 12/24/09 at 05:57 PM

"Well, I think it's implied in "It Won't Be Long, Now" when she sings the lyrics "and one day, I going to JFK, and I'm gonna fly". It makes the most sense with the story if she means she wants to fly to her Hispanic home like Nina and Usnavi."

Why couldn't she fly to Paris? Or Jamaica? Why does it make the most sense in the story that it is her HISPANIC home?

It's mentioned constantly throughout the show that she wants to get out of El Barrio, and live someplace nicer. I always took that line as a metaphor. She wants to fly away.

AwesomeDanny, people can fly to Boston from JFK. Nothing in that song and especially that line implies a "Hispanic hone".

I don't agree with how the columnist makes her point, but I do agree with the overall issue. I also hate when these threads come up, people claim that "No one complained when X was cast!" Some people have complained and were attacked by a bunch of idiots over it, so they learned to hold their tongue on the boards.

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No need to get snotty. I get your point now.
And thank you, but I know what Karen Olivo's background is.

"I didn't realize I was getting snotty. . ."

You weren't, but this is the Internet. It's very easy to read into things that aren't there when you can't hear the typist's voice.

Updated On: 12/24/09 at 06:27 PM

Vanessa is certainly Spanish. For one, she sings in Spanish during "No Me Diga". The show also describes Benny being the only non-hispanis person in the barrio.

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I haven't seen the show before so I don't know anything about it. But are there any cast members that the mostly Asian or WHite?