While BST was right to be criticized for its casting in this production, I agree with Jenn that this really should come to Broadway some day. It was one of my favorite animated musicals as a kid, and with the right cast, it can go very far. (I can almost imagine Christopher Jackson as an incredible Ramses)
And just imagine how incredible the set could be in a huge theatre.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
belrowley said: "I hope the bad press also leads to a new director... I love the film, and I feel like it will be an incredible stage production in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing."
Considering Scott is the son of the composer, that's unlikely, unfortunately.
bk said: "No I don't hate it because it's their dough and they can do what they want. It was a one-night concert, they were obviously trying for name power and no, I don't think it was racist but then I don't react in a knee-jerk way to this stuff. There is a time for reacting that way should things warrant it, and there is a time to not be ridiculous, which, in this case, the being ridiculous was absolutely unnecessary and a bore. So, in short, sorry, not playing that game. It's nauseating that they cancelled it, if you must know. I don't blame them, however, because who needs it. "
Why do you say youre not playing the the game when you keep contributing to the conversation? With every post you are actively taking part in this "game". If you truly do not want to "play this game" then don't.
It's very reasonable for you to disagree. I get your point that you don't think this warranted the response it received. Others do think this response was warranted. If this bores you, you have every right to stay out of it yet you keep joining in the discussion.
So do you want to play this game and take a stance - either way or do you want to stay out of it? No one is forcing you to respond.
To your point about it being their money. Yes, it is their money and they're using their money to reappropriate (they'll say adapt) a story about African/Middle Eastern/Hebrew people that was originally written by people from that same region and then tell it using white people and therefore profit off of African/Middle Eastern/Hebrew people while not letting any of them share in the profit. This happens again and again and I'm sick of it.
I understand this was a free concert but it was fundraiser and all of this noise about only certain people being available and they needed names and so forth...it's all propaganda. And all of you know that. There's enough non-white talent to fill several Broadway shows so why not this?
And to the person who spoke of an all white Porgy & Bess, you should look into reappropriation. When white people have been stealing from non white people for millennia it's not as though the scales are suddenly balanced or will be within this year.
^^ THIS.
Are people really trying to call the cast they had lined up "names"? In what world?
Broadway Star Joined: 12/23/15
CindersGolightly said: "Are people really trying to call the cast they had lined up "names"? In what world?
"
exactly. I doubt Marin Mazzie , Stark Sands and Soler are known outside the theatre community. Plus the guy cast as Moses.... he may a sizeable teen fanbase.. (he's appearing in the CW's upcoming Archie series) but he IS NOT A NAME.
you could argue that Darren Criss and Norm Lewis who appeared in the reading for Act 1 are more well known than those 4 mentioned above. for obvious reasons
This continues to be so dumb.
https://www.facebook.com/baysttheater/posts/989934544439253
Understudy Joined: 5/14/16
"Finally, the creative team and producers at DreamWorks Theatricals all believe that the story of Moses is one that is embraced and owned by millions and millions of people from every country, race and culture - and we hope that the project we are developing will honor the passion of those who love it. It has always been our aim to create the piece in a way that people of all races and cultures can one day tell the story."
Wow. He really learned nothing from this whole debacle.
Again, he doesn't actually understand the form, much less social context.
His Hunchback remains perhaps the most amateurish professional directing job I have seen. Out of over 400.
I do think it's sad that it isn't even going ahead now. It's not like they were casting an all-white COLOR PURPLE or DREAMGIRLS, lol.
Understudy Joined: 10/24/15
LizzieCurry said: "This continues to be so dumb.
https://www.facebook.com/baysttheater/posts/989934544439253
"
While I was marveling and shaking my head at Scott Schwartz's appalling tone-deaf statement I was then completely gobsmacked by one of the respondent's comments along the lines of "if this was my work not only would I pull it but sue the white off that stupid cast." They had me until that..."no judge, I don't want to sue the rich, silver spoon fed director who got the job by virtue of his father and continues not to get the point, I want to sue the poor chumps he's paying a pittance to do the reading. That'll show him."
qolbinau said: "I do think it's sad that it isn't even going ahead now. It's not like they were casting an all-white COLOR PURPLE or DREAMGIRLS, lol."
Ugh. Because they're truly the same things.
Y'all know that whoever wrote that Facebook post / press release was also at the RNC last week, rooting for DT and talking about how we need to do away with political correctness because it's destroying our country :)
Broadway Star Joined: 12/23/15
Scott Schwartz is one example of how disgusting nepotism is.
I just hope that Scott Schwartz won't direct this production. His statement was pretty pathetic. And like someone said, he f**ked up Hunchback and destroyed the planned Broadway run, and I would hate for him to ruin the show too (like he is right now).
Updated On: 7/30/16 at 09:59 AM
qolbinau said: "I do think it's sad that it isn't even going ahead now. It's not like they were casting an all-white COLOR PURPLE or DREAMGIRLS, lol.
They cast a show set in AFRICA with mostly white people. It's just as bad.
Broadway Star Joined: 12/23/15
gotta love the fact that they're replacing their white-washed PoE concert with My Fair Lady ---- just about as white a show as one can get. LOL
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
If "the story of Moses is one that is embraced and owned by millions and millions of people from every country, race and culture" shouldn't the production have been "inaccurately" cast but more diverse, not less diverse?
Also, while I adore a lot of people in that production of My Fair Lady and desperately wish someone would drive me out to Sag Harbor so I could see it, I thought the exact same thing broadwayguy91.
This whole discussion makes me uncomfortable. I've read all the arguments, and I still don't see why it matters what skin hues people giving a public reading of a script have (especially when no one knows what the accurate skin hues would be for these characters). But now we have no staged reading. There, happy now? This is why we can't have nice things.
hork said: "This whole discussion makes me uncomfortable. I've read all the arguments, and I still don't see why it matters what skin hues people giving a public reading of a script have (especially when no one knows what the accurate skin hues would be for these characters). But now we have no staged reading. There, happy now? This is why we can't have nice things."
I'm' sorry you feel inconvenienced. We're you planning on attending?
Also, may I ask why this subject makes you feel uncomfortable? You were comfortable enough to join in the discussion. I think you should ask yourself why this topic brings you discomfort.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
I mean, this takes place in Africa, so we have a pretty good idea about the skin hues lmao.
Anyway, that guilt tripping Facebook post made me lose the sliver of respect I had left. :)
pretty sure the people in Ancient Egypt were varying shades of brown
Understudy Joined: 5/14/16
Clearly, Dreamworks has an idea of what ancient Egyptians looked like, because the 90s film did a pretty good job depicting them accurately... (although basically all the voice actors were white - can't get over the fact that Val Kilmer was Moses)
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
gypsy101 said: "pretty sure the people in Ancient Egypt were varying shades of brown"
As was pointed out earlier in this thread, forensic analysis of his mummy has shown that Ramses was pale-skinned with wavy red hair.
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