Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#1Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 1:38pm
A friend of mine, who is black, expressed interest in playing the role of Gabe someday in Next to Normal and it got me thinking which black actors and actresses in musical theeater could play these roles?
Daniel Breaker as Dan and Norm Lewis as Dr. Fine come to mind.
#2re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 1:41pmThat reminds me of another performer who belongs in the "overrated" thread...Norm Lewis.
crushgroove
Featured Actor Joined: 6/27/07
#2re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 1:42pm
Um i'd switch that...Daniel Breaker is only 29...waaaay too young to play Dan....Norm Lewis could play Dan.
Either way...I find Norm Lewis dull.
Updated On: 7/30/09 at 01:42 PM
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#3re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 1:44pmHe's 29? I thought he was older. Well, you learn something every day, I guess.
#4re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 2:54pmThis reminds me of that 30 Rock episode.
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#5re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 3:02pmLaChanze and Norm Lewis work just fine as the leads.
#6re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 3:12pm
Gabe: Ruben Studdard
BOX OFFICE GOLD
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#7re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 3:12pmI don't watch 30 Rock, B3. Care to elaborate?
dramadude2
Broadway Star Joined: 6/29/07
#8re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 3:13pmNorm Lewis is incredibly sassy.
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#9re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 3:14pm
Mattbrain, buddy, where you been?
The term is African-American!
#10re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 3:25pmYeah, Blaxx. We don't play cowboys and blacks, we play cowboys and African-Americans!
#12re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 4:39pmAudra McDonald as Diana? Maybe?
#13re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 4:46pmUnless the role of the psychotherapist is being played by someone who is black, the rest of the cast would have to be black or it look pretty strange!!!
fgreene1938
Leading Actor Joined: 10/25/06
#14re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 5:05pm
Audra McDonald would be a great choice for Diana. I don't think Norm Lewis would be interested in the role unless the play was rewritten to include "Dan" having developed a phobia for any type of clothing covering his upper body.
Updated On: 7/30/09 at 05:05 PM
#15re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 5:06pm
Unless the role of the psychotherapist is being played by someone who is black, the rest of the cast would have to be black or it look pretty strange!!!
Why couldn't Dan and Diana or Natalie and Henry be different races?
The idea that the company would have to be "all black" is ridiculous.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#16re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 5:38pm
I don't think Norm Lewis would be interested in the role unless the play was rewritten to include "Dan" having developed a phobia for any type of clothing covering his upper body.
^I fully support this.
Wanting life but never knowing how
Craww
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#18re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 6:47pm
'Next 2 Watermelon'
- Racist.
#19re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 7:28pm
There are other black actresses besides LaChanze & Audra McDonald, y'know. And I actually think Taye Diggs would be great as Dan.
Updated On: 7/30/09 at 07:28 PM
Iluvlizlemon
Understudy Joined: 7/19/09
#21re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 7:35pm
I'm with somethingwicked, it's absurd to think that it should be "all-black," especially since Phylicia Rashad rendered this statement ridiculous after her acclaimed turn in AUGUST: OC.
I'd love to see Anika Noni Rose tackle the role of Diana one day. Is Adriane Lenox too old for the part?
#22re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 7:35pm
Audra McDonald's voice is way too classical for that role or that score. Could you imagine her singing I Miss the Mountains in her soprano?
LaChanze is a much better choice.
#23re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 9:08pmNo, I can imagine her singing it in her belting voice.
#24re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 9:23pmI don't know. I don't think the message of the show would be quite the same. Not that it's a bad thing that it would change the message, but it's certainly something to think about.
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