Lea Michele as Fanny - Funny Girl - Page 61

[Phillyguy]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 1:48pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Both Katerina’s personal Instagram and the production’s are filled with backlash. What a nightmare. I feel bad for her. That said, if this upsets people that much, then I agree that this casting choice was probably a poor one for this moment in time."

There was also a lot of backlash when Beanie left and Lea was cast. "People" who are vocal on Instagram are not necessarily representative of the audience. 

 

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:02pm

SeanD2 said: "Kad said: "I never said Jewish representation of Fanny doesn’t matter. I never indicated that. I indicated that this is a situation that has no clear solution.


You are just contributing further to the noise without actually answering my question: how can casting prevent that situation from happening without breaking the law or putting actors in the uncomfortable position of confirming their racial/ethnic identity?"

I'm reminded of when Alexandra Silber played Maria in West Side Story. Yes, she is Latina, but she reads as Jewish and not Puerto Rican. Should she have been able to play the role? Absolutely. But is it also fair to point out that to many in the audience they would perceive her as not being ethnically appropriate for the role? Also absolutely. A child in the audience isn't going to sit there and google her geneology. A Puerto Rican child is very likely to sit there and wonder why a character that should look like them doesn't."

i have many, many problems with Alexandra Silber as a performer - but she is very visibly latine. what a weird example to use when Jessica Vosk, not latine in any way shape or form, played her Anita (and with a stereotypical accent to boot.)

[DAME]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:09pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Both Katerina’s personal Instagram and the production’s are filled with backlash. What a nightmare. I feel bad for her. That said, if this upsets people that much, then I agree that this casting choice was probably a poor one for this moment in time.

Also, very interesting that since yesterday, Katerina has updated her pronouns in her Insta bio from she/her to she/her/they. Well played…"

These BBW threads and the other social media outlets  featuring the woke outrage should be a major character in the retelling of the drama of this production ..when it becomes a book or miniseries.  It has been very entertaining.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:16pm

Jokes on everyone, it now turns out Katerina is of Jewish heritage. Yes, she’s of Puerto Rican lineage but is full on Jewish. 

[DAME]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:20pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Jokes on everyone, it now turns out Katerina is of Jewish heritage. Yes, she’s of Puerto Rican lineage but is full on Jewish."

You mean Cuban?  A  Cuban Jew.  Like many.

Updated On: 7/12/23 at 02:20 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:25pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Jokes on everyone, it now turns out Katerina is of Jewish heritage. Yes, she’s of Puerto Rican lineage but is full on Jewish."

If true.. why not say that from the get go in that released  bio?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:26pm

My bad - yes, she’s a full on practicing Cuban Jew. Just like the real Fanny Brice was born in Brooklyn making her an American Jew, Katerina is equal amount Jew as Fanny was.  

[DAME]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:28pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "My bad - yes, she’s a full on practicing Cuban Jew. Just like the real Fanny Brice was born in Brooklyn making her an American Jew, Katerina is equal amount Jew as Fanny was."

Where are you getting this?  

Updated On: 7/12/23 at 02:28 PM

[JSquared2]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:35pm

I think we have our next Jesse Tyler Ferguson dramatic reading thread.

 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:43pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "My bad - yes, she’s a full on practicing Cuban Jew. Just like the real Fanny Brice was born in Brooklyn making her an American Jew, Katerina is equal amount Jew as Fanny was."

And where is this information coming from? Care to share a link? 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:44pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Jokes on everyone, it now turns out Katerina is of Jewish heritage. Yes, she’s of Puerto Rican lineage but is full on Jewish."

Oooops. Now everyone can apologize to her on social media and SFTU here especially the ones that assumed a Cuban American could not POSSIBLY be Jewish. Care to apologize and admit you're wrong? Nah? Yeah, thought so.

Absolutely delicious. 

Updated On: 7/12/23 at 02:44 PM

[sheridan]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:49pm

There is actually a pretty large population of Cuban Jews.  Many of them coming to Cuba after fleeing Europe in the 30's.  Most emigrated to the US after the Cuban Revolution.  I'm a Jewban-American and would have no issue  with a Jewish person playing a Cuban American.  

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:49pm

No idea why this info isn’t surfacing but 2 in the tour cast gave me this info when I asked earlier. I guess the tour’s press is going in the same direction as was done with Lea with no “and by the way” correction was ever issued when Lea’s religion was being questioned as well.  

[DAME]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:50pm

Sutton Ross said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "Jokes on everyone, it now turns out Katerina is of Jewish heritage. Yes, she’s of Puerto Rican lineage but is full on Jewish."

Oooops. Now everyone can apologize to her on social media and SFTU here especially the ones that assumed a Cuban American could not POSSIBLY be Jewish. Care to apologize and admit you're wrong? Nah? Yeah, thought so.

Absolutely delicious."

But can we have a link or info as to where this is coming from?

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:55pm

Why would the acrtress not mention it directly?

[SeanD2]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 2:59pm

QueenAlice said: "Why would the acrtress not mention it directly?"

Because it's nobody's business what religion they are? 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 3:01pm

QueenAlice said: "Why would the acrtress not mention it directly?"

Lea never did nor any press from the show. 

[DAME]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 3:01pm

SeanD2 said: "QueenAlice said: "Why would the acrtress not mention it directly?"

Because it's nobody's business what religion they are?"

Well then why tell us she is Cuban American?

[bdn223]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 3:09pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "No idea why this info isn’t surfacing but 2 in the tour cast gave me this info when I asked earlier. I guess the tour’s press is going in the same direction as was done with Lea with no “and by the way” correction was ever issued when Lea’s religion was being questioned as well."

Because Lea's Jewish roots are well documented to the point they were the subject of an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? that aired in 2016...and the outrage was coming from Orthadox Jews who controversially do not believe in patrilineal Jewishness, while reformed and conservative sects of Judaism do. Lea faced similar discrimination to Fanny in that she has been criticized for her Jewish features throughout her career, but also had to change her name because it was too Jewish. On top of that before Lea was cast she married a Jewish man under a chuppah in a Jewish ceremony and is raising their child Jewish, so while she herself might not be a practicing Jew, she is for all intents and purposes very much living a Jewish lifestyle. 

Updated On: 7/12/23 at 03:09 PM

[Huss417]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 3:10pm

Sutton Ross said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "Jokes on everyone, it now turns out Katerina is of Jewish heritage. Yes, she’s of Puerto Rican lineage but is full on Jewish."

Oooops. Now everyone can apologize to her on social media and SFTU here especially the ones that assumed a Cuban American could not POSSIBLY be Jewish. Care to apologize and admit you're wrong? Nah? Yeah, thought so.

Absolutely delicious."

Kettle Black! Like you ever apologize.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 3:16pm

If after all this she actually does turn out to be Jewish, that will be absolutely hilarious. And yes, given the backlash, if she is in fact Jewish the producers should clarify that ASAP. This is turning into (another) PR disaster.

[BuddyStarr]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 3:17pm

This whole issue is ridiculous.  It's why it's called ACTING.

[alovingfan]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 3:21pm

BuddyStarr said: "This whole issue is ridiculous. It's why it's called ACTING."

But that is why it is called CASTING!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 3:29pm

BuddyStarr said: "This whole issue is ridiculous. It's why it's called ACTING."

I get why people are upset, although even five years ago this would have been a non-issue (i.e. Rachel Brosnihan, a gentile, won an Emmy for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel). But valid points have been made regarding this particular role, and given where the country is at right now, I get it. I think the level of backlash is too extreme, but I guess that’s what happens when you give unemployed actors social media accounts.

[Phillyguy]

Posted: 7/12/23 at 3:36pm

Identity politics have gotten so out of hand that people feel they are entitled to know the religion/ethnicity/race of every public figure. What's worse is that people always assume for the worst, and don't even give each out the benefit of the doubt. 

They probably advertised that she is Cuban American because there are not a lot of Cuban Americans in musical theater. They were celebrating diversity and probably didn't think they need to state the obvious that she is Jewish.