Huffington Post on In the Heights non-Latino Casting

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 12:57pm

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

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

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 2:55pm

I totally agree.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 4:10pm

atleast he's not COMPLETELY white and playing usnavi

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 4:22pm

"atleast he's not COMPLETELY white and playing usnavi"

And this is why color blind casting pisses me off for the most part. I DARE anyone to say the opposite. I dare you. If I would have said that at least Audra McDonald wasn't TOO black to play Lizzie, I would be called a racist immediately and branded with that for the rest of my life.

I use 110 IN THE SHADE as the prime example because it's always the first show that comes to my mind that highlights why color blind casting does not in fact work all of the time. It works when race isn't an issue but to pretend that in some shows it IS an issue is ridiculous and takes political correctness to an asinine level. As for Audra, she was great in the role. Audra is great in anything, lets just get that out of the way. But I was not familiar with the show when I saw it and had absolutely no idea who she was and who the other people on the stage were in relation to each other. I thought one of her brothers worked on the farm and it wasn't until half way through Act one that I realized they were related.

I'll change my mind on this when it becomes a two way street and Marin Mazzie and Jason Daniely do PORGY & BESS and John Cullum & Marc Kudisch do a Sanford & Son musical. (What? They can't do it because they're white? YOU'RE A RACIST!)

There are plenty of latino actors out there who are more than qualified to play Usnavi. I know many guys who have enough stage experience and are talented enough to do so, so lets not play the game and pretend it's not about stunt casting when we all know that's what it is (and it's not even very good stunt casting at that) They would have cast Hugh Jackman if he was willing.
Updated On: 12/24/09 at 04:22 PM

[Amaranth9]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 5:09pm

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

[Mark_E]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 5:11pm

Colour blind casting does sometimes work but I kinda agree in this situation, especially when a show is based around a certain ethnic.

It is the same as in Billy Elliot. Anyone who isn't white shouldn't be cast in the title role as it is just completely wrong in context.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 5:12pm

" 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.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 5:45pm

this rings of false anger to me

Well said.

[ktabianchi]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 5:46pm

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

[JP2]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 5:48pm

Well, the role of Vanessa isn't defined by race. There's no mention of her race or ethnic background in the show. She could be Dominican, Puerto Rican, Italian, or Korean. . .

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 5:52pm

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

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 5:54pm

^Neither is Sonny, as long as he's not hispanic.

[JP2]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 5:57pm

"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

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 6:01pm

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.

[JP2]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 6:06pm

"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.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 6:11pm

If their intent was to have Vanessa portrayed as another race, why cast Karen Olivo as the original and Yvette Gonzelz-Nacer on tour?
Updated On: 12/24/09 at 06:11 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 6:14pm

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.

[JP2]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 6:17pm

"If their intent was to have Vanessa as another race, why cast Karen Olivo as the original and Yvette Gonzelz-Nacer on tour?"

Uh, my point is Vanessa can easily be any race, because it isn't defined in the show. . .

Karen Olivo is Dominican, Native American, Puerto Rican, and Chinese.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 6:20pm

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

[JP2]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 6:21pm

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

[latitudex1]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 6:27pm

"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

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 6:39pm

None of this explains why white people can't play Simba or Mufasa, but they can play the bad guy and the pig. What's being said there?

[alightinthedark23]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 6:39pm

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.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 6:43pm

Spanish and Hispanic are not one and the same.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 6:51pm

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?