Norm Lewis as Javert — Page 5

im not being volatile. i can have a friendly conversation and do have friendly conversations all the time. i just stand my ground when it comes to certain issues. i said what i said and it's the truth, im not going to kiss anyone's ass or lessen the blow of what i say for effect or to make friends. the problem is i am utterly blunt and you people on here tend to take it personally. if it doesn't apply to you then don't respond or be so hurt by it.

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The shows been mounted internationally for years. It's been cast by every nationality and color other than alien.

Cameron Mac. put this together as a "tribute" run and prelude to other things to come. At least that was his first official announcement. That being the case, he can and did cast whomever he chose. His choices are unique, for lack of better words. Just as unique as who was/ was not seen and what was/was not offered. This is not as "highly anticipated" as you might think.

The show will sell because it's Les Miz and certaintly not because of the casting. Personally, I don't see it running beyond the 6 month tribute nor do see an album.

As far a Norm, it's a power part that he's not played and he'll play it well. That's just my view.

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I'm not going to speak for anyone else. But, I'm not crying for color blind casting. The reason I went into this thread, I was beat to it by someone else, to state that there were black leaders in Europe during this time period. So in this situation the casting in perfectly fine. So, I'd like to apoligize if I called you racist in any way, that was not my intention. And Tom, I'd love to see Hugh Jackman do just about anything so I'd sit through the show no matter how unbeliveable it is.

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hey people reality check , javert has been african american in the lodon production for more than 3 years

and also , who cares if hes black or white,asian or hispanic, whatever race that man may be

hes talented and FINALLY DESERVES a huge thing like les mis
hes amazing

okay people, but well i can see how you feel about this whole issue, why dont you go talk to the producers MAYBE THEY WILL GIVE YOU A HIT OF EVEN MORE REALITY

(they will pull a miranda preisty, where they dont care what you have you say, and lead you out with "THE TALES OF YOURE INCOMPETENCE DO NOT IMPRESS ME ")

ITS NICE YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT , BUT WHOEVER WROTE THIS
GROW UP
SCREW HISTORICAL

LIKE I SAID, IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT GO TALK TO THE PRODUCERS

SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY
DID YOU CAST IT ? NO?
SO I THINK ALONG WITH ME
THIS IS A POINTLESS AND STUPID TOPIC

wow people grow up
seriously, sum of you are sooooo dum
and thats very liuttle

i know im hardcore
BUT IM STATING THE REAL HERE

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There's another can of worms -- and I know I'm going to get yelled at for this, but I'm saying it anyway. Why DO we use the term African-American as a blanket term for black people? Obviously, there's the case of those who aren't American in the first place, but a lot of black Americans don't come from Africa or have any relation to Africa whatsoever. My family came from Russia and Poland - but I would have no idea what you were talking about if you called me a Russian-American. A Jewish American, yes. A white (caucasian) American, yes. African American as a term seems like it has the potential to be far more offensive or inaccurate than the term "black" does, which, every black person I've ever met has used to identify him/herself with.

Am I way off base on this?

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Yeah, I knew I was pushing it in terms of relevancy, but might as well continue what we first begun.

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Anyone just see TV Funhouse on Saturday Night Live. Mr T. just tried to muscle himself into the role of Torvold in A Doll's House. The director goes, " Your not right for the part." Couldnt help but chuckle...LOL

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OH MY GOD PHILLYACTOR YOU ARE SO RACIST I MEAN HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT TORVALD COULDN'T BE BLACK WHY ARE YOU OFFENDED TO SEE A RICH BLACK MAN IN 19TH CENTURY NORWAY IF YOU THINK COLOR SHOULD BE AN ISSUE IN CASTING YOU ARE IGNORANT. I PITY THE FOOL WHO DOESN'T THINK CASTING IN THE THEATER SHOULD ALWAYS BE COLORBLIND

Sigh. And I thought you had to replied to my witty post.

There are no minorities?
I would definately say there are minorities. It's sad but true!
(Everyone's a little bit racist...)

And there is a difference between parts written, specefically for white/black/asian/blue/green people. And there are parts that were originally played by white/black/asian/blue/green people, that mention nothing about their white/black/asian/blue/green-ness. It's just how the original production was staged.

It's happened in Opera - Aida played by the 300 pound white women. Shakespeare - White men playing jews, moors, and women.

Les Mis is a fictional piece, first and foremost. And it seems kind of... cauco-centric to believe that white people are the only ones who've been able to have power until recently.

I feel it's horribly limiting to people of color to say that they'll never be able to play, I don't know, Curly, in Oklahoma because there wouldn't have black people in 19__ Oklahoma. Perhaps not, but can we not believe that a black man would wake up and say, "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" unless he was in slave clothes and spoke in broken, slave english? I guess they should just stick to playing in the Wiz, Dreamgirls, and the Lion King for the rest of their lives, and let the white people handle the historically inaccurate singing.

What I've learned is that that's the business. It's becoming clear that a lot of people can suspend their belief to believe that someone can fall in love from a glance in a crowded party and break out into song, but not a black man. Only if he's in overalls, or I don't know, FUBU, and singing Ol' Man River or some riff filled jazzy song.

I'm sorry for the rant, it's just heavy on my mind as I'll soon be entering into this crazy world of stereotypes, and agents cast typing, when I'm not "urban" enough to be black, and my skin color obviously says I'm not white.

Let's hope Audra and Brian can break down some more barriers.

And another thing, I've ALWAYS hated, as a African-American, when people use the "My best friend is ____" or "I've done so much for _____". It doesn't automatically make me think you're a racist or biggot, but it always sound like a justification I don't need to hear. You don't need to prove it to me.
I'm not mad, or attacking, I'm just sharing!


(Updated for poor grammar due to it being 4 am)

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Updated On: 7/9/06 at 04:29 AM

folks, it is a piece that is played in Paris, but sung in English!

Who cares what ethnic the cast members are. This is the 21st century. Shouldn't we be over that discussion by now?

Lost - your example of a black man being limited by not being able to play Curly goes both ways. A white man could then be considered limited because he couldn't play Joe in Showboat and get to sing the best song in the show or play Coalhouse in Ragtime. And though the role really has nothing to do with race, Curly couldn't be played by a black man unless Jud and Laurie were also black because the dynamics of the relationships would be HUGELY different if they were given the time period.

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