Let's suppose that the Obamas went to see "A Raisin in the Sun" because it's a show about the black experience in America and not just because every straight female in America of whatever ethnicity between the ages of 40 and 75 has concluded that Denzel Washington is one of the most handsome, as well as one of the best, actors in the United States, and Michelle Obama, being a straight female between the ages of 40 and 75...oh, never mind.
What would be wrong with someone's being especially interested in shows that reflect his or her heritage? How many of us on this board who are Jewish did not flock to "Fiddler on the Roof"? Didn't most of the gay men on the board see "La Cage Aux Folles?" "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" undoubtedly struck a chord with Greek folks, as well as others who are first generation Americans from European families.
Even if a show is about characters who identify with a particular group, and members of that group attend early performances, the show is unlikely to succeed on Broadway without broader appeal. Insulting the first family because of their Broadway choices and insulting the shows they attend by applying a label that implies that the shows would not appeal to much of the public badly serves a goal of most of us on this board -- to encourage production of a wide variety of quality shows with divergent messages.
Audrey, the Phantom Phanatic, who nonetheless would rather be Jean Valjean, who knew how to make lemonade out of lemons.
