Lin-Manuel raps his approval of Corbin Bleu- Page 2

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 2:45pm

Well, regardless of what he looks like...I hope he does well with the role. It's such a good show, it'd be a shame if Corbin fell flat.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 5:33pm

He Jamaican and Italian, btw.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 5:37pm

I loved him on LA Law.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 5:39pm

That's L.A. LAW.

(Sorry, couldn't resist a GOLDEN GIRLS reference.)

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 5:40pm

It's weird how that guy looks different in each picture. In the last one posted he looks like he could play Mimi in Rent.

[saveusmike]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 5:46pm

I dont see the big deal about what his nationality is.
Lin Manuel isint even dominican, as we know.

He is Puerto Rican, Not even close to Dominican.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 5:49pm

Actually, they are pretty close.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 5:54pm

To be fair, Phyl, Lin-Manuel is Nuyorican, and New York's NOWHERE near the Caribbean.

[saveusmike]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 5:58pm

PRS I meant nationality wise, Not location.

Except for spanish speaking language, they have nothing in common in culture.

[BrianS]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 6:56pm

I suggest anyone who has a problem with his skin color do a google images search for "Dominican Republic People" and see the variety of images that come up. Most of those I saw showed that Corbin is completely believable based on looks alone.

While I'm sure he didn't intend to be so offensive and ignorant, my guess is that soon the person who started this thread will wish it could just go away.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 6:59pm

I suggest anyone who has a problem with his skin color do a google images search for "Dominican Republic People" and see the variety of images that come up. Most of those I saw showed that Corbin is completely believable based on looks alone.

That's pretty much what I was talking about. Is a Broadway message board the wrong place to make references to Dominican baseball players?

[StageManager2]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 7:05pm

^^^
I did it first in my initial post with the Pedro Martínez, David Ortíz, and Alex Rodríguez mention!

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 7:16pm

While Dominicans and Puerto Ricans are obviously from different cultures, ethnicity wise there's not much difference (and to be fair, we DO have many similarities in our cultures - music, expressions, even food). It would be like claiming an American can't play a British, or vice versa, because the cultures are different, which is of course ludicrous.

I have no problem with an African American playing a latino character, just like I have no problem with a Puerto Rican playing a Dominican, and this is hardly something new in casting choices (in the recent revival of A Chorus Line an Asian actor played a Puerto Rican, and god knows how many productions of West Side Story I've seen with African American or Asian actors playing Puerto Ricans). Latinos come in all shapes and sizes, and many of us could easily pass for a different ethnicity. If someone told me Corbin was latino, I'd believe it.

If he's honestly the best person for the part, then so be it. If this is nothing but stunt casting, then it's a shame, especially with the lack of good parts for latino actors. But I'll reserve judgement until I see him in the role. God knows I'd be thrilled to see a latino cast in a non latino role, so I'll give the kid the benefit of the doubt.

Now, if they had cast Zac Effron, that's be a WHOLE other story...

[angelxschunard]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 7:42pm

Saying that Corbin can't play Usnavi because he's black is like saying Hugh Laurie can't play House because he's not American. It's like saying that Isla Fisher (or however you spell her name) can't play all the roles she's played because she's not an American. That's like saying Alfred Molina's entire repetoire has been nullified. That's like saying Antonio Banderas couldn't play Che because he wasn't Argentinian. Laura Bell Bundy wasn't a valley girl, but she played one in Legally Blonde. Wilson Jermaine Heredia wasn't a drag queen, but he won a Tony for it. Christian Borle, Hank Azaria and the rest/most of the Spamalot cast certainly weren't born in that time period or in Britain but they did a fantastic job. Aaron Tveit isn't DEAD but he sure does a hell of a job playing a dead kid.

I wasn't born in St. Louis, but I played Esther in Meet Me in St. Louis. I wasn't born in Texas but I played LaVonda in Sordid Lives.

IT'S CALLED ACTING. THAT'S WHAT THESE PEOPLE DO. Get over it.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 9:32pm

It doesn't matter how good an actor you are, you can't change your physical features.

I'm not saying I agree with them, but that seems to be the problem most people are having with this casting choice. That Corbin's physical appearance does not match the character.

Of course you can play a Texan even though you're not from Texas. But I bet you couldn't play Sarah in RAGTIME.

That's what people are discussing. Not acting ability.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 9:36pm

Yes, it's called acting, but the skill of acting can't magically change your skin tone or ethnicity.

Yes, I am well aware that many Dominicans LOOK African-American, but...the show deals with one black character and his coping with acceptance from his girlfriend's family. If Usnavi looks like Benny then it won't make sense. I'm not ignorant and I know very well what I am saying. I'm not close-minded or racist either. I am also well aware that actors play other races all the time and pull it off with no problem.

I just think, in this instance, that having a black actor play a Dominican would be rather confusing seeing as how a major plot line in the show deals with another character's black race singling him out.

And angelxschunard...nothing you compared this thread to necessarily works. The characters you just listed are not defined by ethnicity (except for your EVITA reference, but Antonio Banderas can still obviously pull off Argentian).

And no, I don't wish this thread would just go away.

Updated On: 12/9/09 at 09:36 PM

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 9:41pm

I'm sure there have been many African-Americans in the cast playing Latinos before now. In fact, Chris Jackson is a very light-skinned African-American, so they paint him up to look darker for the show. Do you have a problem with them casting a lighter black man and painting him?

I'm not trying to start a fight, I'm honestly asking.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 9:44pm

Saying that Corbin can't play Usnavi because he's black is like saying Hugh Laurie can't play House because he's not American. It's like saying that Isla Fisher (or however you spell her name) can't play all the roles she's played because she's not an American. That's like saying Alfred Molina's entire repetoire has been nullified. That's like saying Antonio Banderas couldn't play Che because he wasn't Argentinian. Laura Bell Bundy wasn't a valley girl, but she played one in Legally Blonde. Wilson Jermaine Heredia wasn't a drag queen, but he won a Tony for it. Christian Borle, Hank Azaria and the rest/most of the Spamalot cast certainly weren't born in that time period or in Britain but they did a fantastic job. Aaron Tveit isn't DEAD but he sure does a hell of a job playing a dead kid.

So Corbin can change what color he is? That is quite different than covering up an accent...

But about the rest of it; Are you f***ing dumb?
Updated On: 12/9/09 at 09:44 PM

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 9:49pm

Oh, I'm not trying to start a fight either. I'm just trying to explain my reasonings further.

No...painting an African-American to look darker so as not to be confused with the Latinos on stage, well...that's not really a problem. But, I've seen the show and yes, Chris Jackson IS a very light-skinned African-American and even though they paint him to look darker (which I have never heard of until now and I have a friend in the show; and if it's true then that's very interesting to know)...Corbin Bleu would still look very similar to him. That's what irks me about this casting.

I am not irked by the fact that one race is portraying another...I just think don't think it makes sense in THIS particular show.

Updated On: 12/9/09 at 09:49 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 10:04pm

Usnavi will be younger than Sonny and half Vanessa's age.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 10:07pm

orangeskittles - You're right...I definitely think there are factors beyond Corbin's skin color that IMO lend it to being a bad casting decision.

But, like I've said...I hope he does very well with the role. I do think that he has talent and it's not like he cast himself, so I hold nothing against him. I wish him the best. It's just not the casting decision I would have made.

Updated On: 12/9/09 at 10:07 PM

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 10:36pm

I have no issue with Corbin's ethnicity, to be honest...Latinos come in all colors and many of them do look African-American.

Also angelxschunard, most of the instances you're talking about are people changing their accents or mannerisms to play a character, not the color of their skin which is what some people here are taking issue with. The two are not one and the same.

[BrianS]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 10:53pm

Worst case, the stupidity of racism is only going to be exemplified by this casting. Two men of similar skin coloring and one is accepted because he is "from the same island as the rest of us" while the other is not arbitrarily because his ancestors were born in Africa.

[JB Fan]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 11:25pm

Interesting that in this entire thread, no one has mentioned that the current Vanessa, Marcy Harriel, is not hispanic either. She is half African-American and half Italian. She has played Mimi in RENT and Maria in WEST SIDE STORY...but since she LOOKS hispanic that is ok...

Weird, and no matter how much older Robin De Jesus is, he looks very very young, and that will not change,

I was shocked when Corbin Bleu was mentioned because I had not seen how he has aged, but once I saw his recent photos (and knowing how talented he truly is), I was very excited by this casting.

I am in shock at how random and particular many of these posts are.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 11:40pm

But about the rest of it; Are you f***ing dumb?

Possibly, but more memorably she gets really excited at Legally Blonde; so much so that she has to apologize to her neighbors.