King Kong Casting — Page 2

massofmen said: "Here yeee here yeee!!!! a new decree!!!

From now on every leading couple on stage can never ever be the same color. otherwise someone will be offended. All leads need to be multi racial or if they look white at least have some other ethnicity in their geneology closer than 2 generations past.

From now on at all aea auditions, all people will need to bring their 23andme write up to make sure they represent all the countries on the earth!!!!

gimme a break.

Thank God they also recast the nicole kidman"sparking diamond" in moulin rouge to be a person of color. Those non white, colorful diamonds are everywhere. Its vitally important that the nicole kidman part not be played by a white girl. but we are def color blind casting..which means not white people. Lets be honest here.

My friend who is an agent said to me "my entire agency doesn't see the point in signing white girls anymore"
The snowflakes are in full blizzard.

this industry is going to destroy itself making sure no one is ever offended again. I mean thats what art is about right? Thats what all the great artists do. They make sure everyone is represented and everyone is happy so as not to stir the pot.
so stupid."

This is just straight up racism. Nothing else. To those who are the majority, equality looks like inequality. You ever think that maybe people were just great for the part and the race of the character is of no importance? No, you didn't think that. Instead to decide to spew some vile, racist, Republican rhetoric. You have no place here with your brainwashed bullsh*t.

devonian.t said: "It's hardly nonsensical. You may not agree, but massofmen puts forward a clear point of view.

I am worried about current casting trends, too. I think quite a few people are. But most are afraid of the backlash if such thoughts are spoken aloud.

I am curious how Billy will be cast after Joshua Henry leaves 'Carousel'. There's an outrage just waiting to erupt..."

It's nonsense drivel that is bordering on racist. We can agree to disagree all day.

Bwayfan292 said: "I rarley speak my mind on these type of things to avoid arguments. However, I just find it kinda funny. Theres huge outrages when an actress or actor who is white is cast in a POC role. But then when a actor or actress of Color is cast in a white persons role it isnt that big of a deal. You cant have it both ways. Im not saying That in this case Christina shouldnt be cast, (which im extatic about, loved her in a bronx tale) but then dont get upset when it happens. I know people will call me “racist” and stuff but thats my viewpoint. And I also know that people will be like well this is an orgniating role on broadway. Well ceclie in the color purple movie was black, and the character in KONG was white and blonde. I believe that it truly doesnt matter what color you are, its theatre. The point is your supposed to be playing someone who isnt or is real and just having a fun time. Anyway thats the end of my little tangent. I think this show is still gonna flop, but Im looking forward to this alot."

The Color Purple’s source material specifies each character’s race as it plays to an important theme of the story. This is not the case with King Kong.

GeorgeandDot said: "Bwayfan292, your comments are racist. They're not malicious, but they are racist. I don't think you mean for them to be so I suggest that you reflect a bit. I can explain why this is the case below if you care to read it.

The lead in Kong is not white. There is nothing in the script saying she's white. She's white because our society has deemed white as nuetral. Celie is black because the role is black. Maria is Latin because the role is latin. Tracy Turnblad is white because the role is white. Kim is Asian because the role is Asian. This is color conscious casting. It is casting with the race of the actor in mind because it is important to the story or themes. Roles like Billy Bigelow, for example, are raceless. There's nothing in the show declaring the character's race. Evan Hansen is another one. That role could be played by an actor of any race. We have just decided for some reason that those characters are white. It shows the racism that is woven into our society.

Also, no. Color blind casting does not go both ways. Frankly, there's no such thing as color blind casting. No one is color blind. Us people of color, don't want you to be color blind. We don't want you to have to look past our race to see us as people, which is what that term suggests. We're proud of our heritage. Anyways, there are hundreds of roles that have been deemed as "white roles" to every one role written for someone of color. By allowing actors of color to take on those "white roles," it opens up a lot more opportunities for such great performers as Audra Mcdonald. Like I said, equality may seem like inequality at first when you've been the majority for so long."

I by no means meant for them to come out as racist, I apolgize. I can see that i am in the wrong. So again I apolgize.

"we are def color blind casting..which means not white people." After the whole Sierra Boggess thing, I whole heartedly agree.

Since when is King Kong not about race? Read some on film analysis, its always been about race. A white woman and an "other."

Karen Grigsby Bates talking about King Kong and race, "a big, black ape who falls in love with a willowy white woman. The unspoken fear about black-white sexual relations has been remarked on by film historians and cultural critics ever since. The 1933 original stoked anxieties about black male hypersexuality. Kong snatches Ann Darrow up and makes off with her as she screams in horror."

I could go into more detail but that's really all you need. Read this NPR interview. Race and 'King Kong' heard on Day to Day. Also watch Lindsay Ellis's Loose Cannon video on King Kong. It goes into the subject of race briefly.

Not to say I'm not excited for this show. I've wanted to see it ever since it premiered in Australia. The mechanics of that puppet is amazing! Am I excited for this casting? I guess so. I'm more interested in the score. Especially since that was the main downfall of the original production. Like the original London version of Finding Neverland, never to be heard of again, rip. So many hands have been on this thing, I wish them the best.

Updated On: 4/24/18 at 07:51 PM

Slightly off topic from the casting itself but I'm still not entirely certain what the point of making this a musical is? Maybe it'll surprise us all, but it doesn't seem to lend itself to the stage, regardless of who's in it.

GeorgeandDot, I really want to thank you. I'm a white woman, so I feel just terrible speaking for POC in situations like this. However, I like to believe I'm an ally and want to be able to express my beliefs about these issues when they arise. However, I really lack the words so much of the time and you've beautifully articulated them here. I'm really grateful for your posts in this thread, as I think they've helped to educate myself and others.

To happily veer away from this I very much liked the '76 film version. It got a lot of thing right that the before and after versions didn't One being Charles Grodin's Carl Denham, portraying a ruthless oil company executive responsible for countless deaths on Kong Island and New York being happily squished to death by Kong. I sure hope the Carl Denham cast in this show is white!