Huffington Post on In the Heights non-Latino Casting — Page 2

According to the dictionary, Hispanic can be defined as:

1. Of or relating to Spain or Spanish-speaking Latin America.
2. Of or relating to a Spanish-speaking people or culture.
n.
1. A Spanish-speaking person.
2. A U.S. citizen or resident of Latin-American or Spanish descent

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alightinthedark23, I think Lizzy meant that Spanish specifically refers to a citizen of Spain. Just because they speak Spanish in Latin America doesn't make them Spanish. You wouldn't call an American, Canadian, or Australian "English," would you?

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I just saw a University production of RENT where Joanne, Benny, Mimi and Tom Collins were all Caucasian. It was jarring at first, but I got over it. All the of kids were talented so I forgot about what I previously believed about the race of characters.

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To the poster who said that Billy Elliot should be played by a white boy:

Why? Yes, there are historic references, but where in the show does it state anything about Billy's ethnicity/cultural background?

Holy ****, I want to see Kelly and Gaga sing Dreamgirls.

The only reason an all-white RENT was initially jarring was because of what I had previously known cast-wise. It had nothing to do with how the characters are written. I don't think Larson needed any certain races to play any of those parts.

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A Caucasian Mimi could have the last name Marquez for many reasons. Why couldn't she live in a neighborhood with Spanish babies?

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Sigh. I don't really have the strength to get into another extended debate on this, but if blacks and latinos were not given roles that aren't racial accurate, you'd see a lot fewer - a LOT fewer - blacks and latinos on stage.

Also, Mimi IS Hispanic, unless her mother just speaks spanish for the hell of it.

Jordan Catalano - I agree completely. I've had problems with this casting since the minute it was announced. It's stupid! The show is about Latin people! Why cast someone who isn't of that ethnicity as the title character? It makes no sense and will only confuse the audience. And...if you don't have a problem with it then I'm sorry, but I just don't understand you :)

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No matter how many times we have a thread like this, I'm constantly amazed at how many people simply don't get it.

tl;dr
People can't even seem to agree on the reasons why they object to colorblind casting.

Some people seem to object on a political/social level, where they want the Latino roles filled by Latino actors because Latino actors need onstage representation. This I get.

But most people seem to be objecting because of appearance alone. I just can't agree with this reason. In the specific case of Corbin Bleu or Marcy Harriell there's really nothing about their appearance that says "this person is unequivocally not Latino". I wouldn't have to challenge my willing suspension of disbelief to accept them based on looks alone.

In more jarring cases? I'm sorry, but it shouldn't be that challenging to rearrange our preconceived concepts of how someone should look. Whether it's the local community theater without enough minorities to cast a show properly, or Broadway opening up casting on a traditionally white role to the talented minorities that don't get enough roles and opportunities otherwise. You have to keep such an open mind for so much you're seeing onstage, why can't you expand it enough for that?

I think most people agree that it's different when the content is race specific. But people need to stop confusing "historically inaccurate" with "race specific".

The appearance argument is (obviously) shallow and has nothing to do with the more valid social discussions about the need to have a more diverse casting pool. Needing a blond, blue-eyed (so specific!) white girl for Alice (because of an iconic cartoon depiction) sounds like a personal problem to me. That's just as silly as my personal objection to Laura Bell Bundy as Elle Woods because I don't think she's pretty enough. I got over it, you can too.
tl;dr

Phyllis, I immediately thought of you when I read some of the ignorant comments re color bling casting in this thread. People really don't get it. They always resort to the argument: "Well, why can't [insert popular white star] play Effie?" Ugh.

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Why "Ugh"? I used it as an example and it's as good of an example as anything else.

Oh and Merry Christmas everyone.