Next to Normal with an all-black cast- Page 2
Next to Normal with an all-black cast
#25re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 9:29pmYou think having a black cast would change the message of the show?
#26re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 9:32pmUh, yeah. Part of the reason it "shocks" people, or at least was a big deal for me to take my mother to see was because it was the "American Whitebread" stereotypical family, and looking behind that perfect whitebread facade to see all of what the truth is for some families. I think changing the race is OF COURSE gonna change that message a little.
"Get mad, then get over it." - Colin Powell
#27re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 9:36pm
Yes because black people, or to you "the coloreds" are already so messed up it's just not effective at all to see a "normal" family who doesn't happen to like you or Mommy suffering from this disease.
Gotcha.
Updated On: 7/30/09 at 09:36 PM
#28re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 9:38pm...wow, Kelly2. Just... wow.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
bossbear062
Understudy Joined: 9/5/08
#29re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 9:43pmI think the thing that shocks people is not cause it's a "white bread" family turned upside down ..i think because it is a family period turned upside down...if anything I think the shock value would be elevated more if it where a black cast....a black family that is torn apart in the suberbs and it has nothing at all to do with race/racism or prejudice ..that could be a little different..im just saying.
#30re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 9:46pmI think Kelly2 was just shocked that her Mom agreed to take the white hood off long enough to sit in a theater for 2 1/2 hours.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#31re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 9:52pm
Wow...who knew that mental illness could be racist.
So....it's not shocking if an African American family were to deal with mental illness the same way as a white family?
I'm REALLY taken aback by your thoughts -- regarless of how you meant them.
********
I'm the worst person as "casting" known people...somehow I just don't think that way.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
AndAllThatJazz22
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/08
#32re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 9:53pm
Who is to say that an African-American family can't be your typical All-American 'White Bread Family'. I personally hate the idea of Audra. That woman is a genius...but she is a classic Broadway soprano. Norm Lewis's voice is also too traditional for Dan, as well.
"There's nothing good on. The media hates Christmas. The media loves vampires, though. Maybe they will show a Twilight Christmas."
-Danmeg's 10 year old son.
Updated On: 7/30/09 at 09:53 PM
-Danmeg's 10 year old son.
#33re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 10:07pm
Ummm, I love how Kelly2 says "OF COURSE" like it's oh so obvious that having a black Diana, black Dan, or a black Goodman family would entirely change the show. Those are some ridiculous and ignorant comments. Ugh. Take your ignorance somewhere else.
Not a black actress, but a Latina actress I'd love to see as Diana is Daphne Rubin-Vega whom I think possesses the rock voice required to pull off the part. And no, I don't think casting her in the part would OF COURSE change the message of the show, like, I mean, like duh!
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#34re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 10:11pm
Oh my GOD. Daphne. YES. YES. YES. YES.
Needless to say I LOVE Daphne and THIS is the type of show she needs so badly right now.
Would that be okay with you, Kelly?
#35re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 10:17pmLilli Copper as Natalie would be great!!! What about Gabe???
#36re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 10:19pm
LOL, yes, sorry, had to go take off my hood and go to the meeting. You all need to take some pills yourself. You think that something as loaded as race doesn't alter the message of a show, as interpreted by its' audience members? Really? Okay. Y'all are the ignorant ones.
I have no problem with any production or any casting of anyone of any race that they want to put in the show. But to say it's the exact same show and it will still say the exact same things to the entire audience is ignorant. It's not saying it won't still make a strong statement about mental illness and families, but it does definitely make change things. Shake them up a bit, which can be both good and bad.
"Get mad, then get over it." - Colin Powell
#37re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 10:20pmAlso, do you think no African-American or Latina actresses auditioned for Next to Normal at all? The creative time chose to cast every single member of that cast of a specific race. Do you think maybe there was a reason for that?
"Get mad, then get over it." - Colin Powell
#38re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 10:31pm
Why would it not be shocking if an African-American family had to deal with mental illness? Do you think this sort of thing is more prevalent in African-American families? Because, statistically, it's not.
It's not that the family is "white bread" that is shocking, it's that they're the "perfect loving family." They're representative of ANY family, ANYWHERE in America (one of the reasons a specific location is never given). Are you suggesting that this would be less shocking if the family were African-American?
colleen_lee
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/16/05
#40re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 10:46pm
Or, along the same lines as Adam Greer, mixed race.
Mixed race families will slowly become the majority in this country. And, no, I don't feel it would alter this show one iota. This is not a show that deals with race in any shape or form, it deals with mental illness and the human condition.
"You just can't win. Ever. Look at the bright side, at least you are not stuck in First Wives Club: The Musical. That would really suck. "
--Sueleen Gay
Updated On: 7/30/09 at 10:46 PM
#41re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 10:47pmOookay, y'all are a little too crazy for my taste. Peace.
"Get mad, then get over it." - Colin Powell
#42re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 10:50pmIt seems like Kelly2 finally left the thread. Now we can have a good, interesting conversation about what actors would be good as replacements in this show.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#43re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 10:58pmLet's do a younger cast. Ashanti as the lead.
#44re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 11:00pmI love that idea! And let's have Elle Fanning as Natalie. LOL
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#45re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 11:04pm
The show is about a Family and Tragedy,
It can happen to any Family, white, black, Asian etc. or blended.
It's Life in regional will be most interesting.
It would work well in China.
#46re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/30/09 at 11:05pmOh God, Curtain don't say that! Poor Kelly's head will spin right off!
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#47re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/31/09 at 12:27am
Kelly2, I don't see one darn good reason as to how the message of the show would be affected by if this family was played by an all-black cast vs. an all-white cast. First of all, how does race come into play with the message of the show in the first place?
The fact that the family is on the outside a perfect, loving family, as others are mentioning, makes the message compelling. Perfect, loving families can be white, black, Hispanic, Asian, etc. So, no, I don't agree with you that it will change things. Maybe people will have a slightly different perspective of the show, but I don't think it would be one that would affect the integrity of the show or the show's true message.
'Also, do you think no African-American or Latina actresses auditioned for Next to Normal at all? The creative time chose to cast every single member of that cast of a specific race. Do you think maybe there was a reason for that?'
Talent?
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
#48re: Next to Normal with an all-black cast
Posted: 7/31/09 at 1:00am
" Do you think maybe there was a reason for that?'
Talent?"
So you're saying you don't think there are any non-caucasian actors/actresses who are as talented as the current cast of N2N? Sounds like you're the one with the racial issue.
"Get mad, then get over it." - Colin Powell
TheaterBoy7777
Broadway Star Joined: 1/28/06
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