As I've been awaiting for "The New World" to come out in theatres, I've been a very Native-centric mood. Does anyone know of men or women of Native American heritage who have been on Broadway?
"Beating AIDS and extreme, stupid poverty, this is our moon shot. This is our civil rights struggle, our anti-apartheid movement. This is what the history books will remember our generation for--or blame us for, if we fail."-Bono
I'd forgotten that One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was a play - I'm so ridiculous. And Cheyenne Jackson? Really? That's cool; I had no idea he had NA blood.
As someone with a quarter Goshute Indian blood, yes I am a tribal member, I care about this subject too. I know, I know, I don't look it, came out in my youngest daughter though, bone straight black hair to her behind and cute slanty-ish eyes.
Anyway, I certainly hope more colorblind casting starts happening because I don't see a play about Native Americans, starring Native Americans coming along soon. Look how often they come out in Hollywood. Lots of unemployed yet talented, and HOT, NA actors out there unfortunately. Adam Beech and Rodney A. Grant come to mind...
Tim Sampson is, of course, the son of the late Will Sampson, who played Chief Bromden in the movie.
The original Broadway cast of CUCCKOO'S NEST in 1965 featured Kirk Douglas as McMurphy, Gene Wilder as Billy Bibbitt, William Daniels as Harding, and Native American actor/singer Ed Ames as Chief Bromden.
Ames is best known to the world for the infamous tomahawk throwing incident on the Johnny Carson Show.
Kirk Doulas purchased the movie rights to the book, but by the 1970's was too old to play McMurphy. He turned over the rights to his son Michael, who produced the Oscar winning film.
I am over a quarter Native American (which covers all of both "Americas" by the way) and do not look it at all. Sometimes we are not blessed with hair and pigmentation.