Protesting Scottsboro Boys Minstrel Show- Page 3

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 10:47am

The fliers asked who would make a musical about the holocaust or Japanese internment camps.

Cabaret (holocaust) - same writers of Scottsboro boys
Allegiance (Japanese interment camps)

People are dumb, they obviously haven't seen Scotts Boys... cause it's friggin brilliant.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 11:21am

JulesBoogie, google the name Charles Baron. This is his group doing the protesting. There's somebody out for publicity, sure - but it isn't anyone from the show.

[julesboogie]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 11:35am

Thx ghost, i wasnt implying that TSB was out for publicity, but that they probably werent feeling "awkward" as it was put early on in the thread. Camera crews are always a plus. But yes i see how this could have been a misguided attempt to stir up political points. Sad thing is that they thought to try and make this show suffer (so it seems).

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 11:52am

I appreciate the clarification, Jules, as well as the link for the blog, but wonder is right. This is very awkward for those in the theater. They're not happy about this. Really, not all publicity is good publicity - even if it's free.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 11:59am

Where were these people when it was off-Broadway?

Not only are they diminishing the show, they are belittling REAL racism. The definition of the word itself becomes more and more broad and more and more meaningless with each passing year.

One more thing: I find it hilarious that with so many young composers trying to be new, current, and subversive, they are utterly shown up by two old pros...one of whom is dead.

[julesboogie]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 12:03pm

haha then we will agree to disagree. IMO in the long run, having a picket line brings attention to the show. People have to go home and google what was being protested. Some will blindly agree with protesters, and others will need to decide for themselves. Controversy sells. And im glad. I hope it does wonders for the PR of TSB. Also that ticket sales go thru the roof as a result of ignorance. It would be just deserts, as the show is trying to shine a light ON ignorance. Tis all im saying

[A Director]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 12:29pm

Another review

http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-03-16/theater/the-scottsboro-boys-and-neighbors-display-racial-caricatures-rain-serves-up-family-puzzles/

[Kad]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 12:35pm

That review reflects the Off-Broadway production and not the show currently on Broadway.

[A Director]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 12:38pm

What are the differences between the Off-Broadway production and the Broadway production?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 12:55pm

I never realized Feingold devoted a paragraph to the odious play, "Neighbors," which I was thinking about when I wrote above that I think there are real serious discussions to be had about race and art and style but I don't think anybody's really up for having those discussions.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 1:03pm

I honestly don't think what Feingold wrote has a single thing to do with these protesters are all about.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 1:40pm

Another example besides Cabaret...

Parade! A musical about the true story of the trial and lynching of an innocent Jewish man in the south. And it's been a while since I've seen it, but isn't Leo Frank actually lynched onstage right after Sh'ma?

[Jon]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 1:46pm

The argument would be that Parade is different because Alfred Uhry and Jason Robert Brown are Jewish.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 1:50pm

And, playing devil's advocate here, Parade also makes an attempt at making it a serious drama. It doesn't use the "racist" format of the minstrel show to make us laugh at the racism being presented.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 1:50pm

Oh god. That's ridiculous. :P
What's it going to be like when 'Mormons!' opens in the spring? Are we going to go through this same thing with Mormons outside the theatre?

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 1:54pm

Wouldn't the actors not be performing it if they felt that it didn't the story of the these men justice? And didn't some of the "Boys" relatives come and see the show and praise it.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 1:58pm

And mentioning upcoming shows like "Mormons," what if "White Noise" ever finds its lost little way to NYC? If we can't handle something as distant as minstrel shows, how will the uninformed masses react to white supremacy?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 1:59pm

We laugh at the absurdity. While I certainly did 'laugh', I certainly wouldn't classify the show as comedic.

The raw juxtaposition of using the minstrel show in this story was mindblowingly stunnning.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 2:14pm

To the OP,

I am African American. before you sign up and jump on a theatre website, get your facts straight and maybe even learn some history. Maybe while you are at it, if you don't want to go to the library, pop in disc one of "Broadway - The American Musical" and you will get a quick history lesson on minstrel shows.

I get sick and tired of black people running out to protest shows, movies, etc. that they haven't even seen. No, I have not seen the show but I have followed it, read interviews and watched interviews with the production team. They clearly explain what they want to get across with this show. I am CERTAIN neither you or any of those protesters has followed this show. You heard black and minstrel and you decided to protest. YOU are the ones that need to be ashamed and embarrassed. Not only are you showing your ignorance on the subject but also your lack of knowledge about the theatre. And I would ventire to guess that not many, if any of the protesters have set foot in a Broadway theater. And if so, it was the revival of "A Raisin in the Sun", "The Wiz" or "The Color Purple". But mention "Caroline or Change" to them and they will say "What"?

So don't come here tearing down the white producers, director and actors of this show until you really know what you are talking about. You have come to a website that is populated but white people of all ages that probably know more about the Scottsboro Boys than any of those protesters and surely know more about theatre, its history and what messages its shows want to put across. And as far as that review, that is from an African American paper that only a certain segment of the black community reads. Those of us who pay attention to what is going on around us and take the time to find out, pretty much take those papers and the black websites out there for what they are. (Read above)

So do your research on the case and the production and then we, or at least I, can take you more seriously on why you think this production should be protested.

Updated On: 11/7/10 at 02:14 PM

[orlandog]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 2:38pm

I'm also an African American theatrego'er who has followed The Scottsboro Boys from the Vineyard to The Guthrie, to Great White Way(no pun intended). I"ve seen Caroline, or Change (loved it loved it loved it), and even sat through all of the latest August Wilson revivals, Regina Taylor plays, Stew's Passing Strange, and the revival of Raisin, Phylicia in August, Osage County, Cat on a hot tin roof, Memphis, the lion king, and you get the picture. I understand what Kander and Ebb, Stroman, Thompson, and Cast were aiming for and still feel like this minstrel show framing device isn't necessary.

Tell their story and honor their memory, what's with all the gimmicky, tricks and 1970's tamborines and hoopla? More than feeling uncomfortable with the minstrel show idea while sitting in the audience of The Scottsboro Boys (at the Vineyard and at the Lyceum), I felt that it was unnecessary. It really would have interesting to see what George C Wolfe would've done with the material.

I'm not defending the protestors, or The Amsterdam News (which is actually read by a substantial amount of Blacks and has a place in our culture). I'm saying that I got it, was uncomfortable, but at the end of the day, felt the minstrel framing device wasn't necessary and this is coming from a person who HAS seen the show.

It's interesting how you mock the protestors and claim that they shouldn't "...come here tearing down the white producers, director and actors of this show until you really know what you are talking about" when you haven't seen the show. Yet, you feel "...And I would ventire to guess that not many, if any of the protesters have set foot in a Broadway theater. And if so, it was the revival of "A Raisin in the Sun", "The Wiz" or "The Color Purple". But mention "Caroline or Change" to them and they will say "What"? How can I take you seriously?





Updated On: 11/7/10 at 02:38 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 2:42pm

Maybe some people need to feel uncomfortable. So many people have a problem dealing with history and would rather it go away than have to face it.

[orlandog]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 2:49pm

In my humble opinion, it's not about feeling uncomfortable, it's about good art, and even yet, great storytelling. Not tricks.
Updated On: 11/7/10 at 02:49 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 3:06pm

Then I guess it is what some people feel is good art and what are "tricks". orlandog, I don't know you but if you you were uncomfortable during the show than I would think that you automatically looked at the presentation as a trick. I could be wrong. But they creative team decided to present the show in a way other than a straightforward musical that evidentally is challenging to some people and not to others. Just from what I have read and seen, I get it. I know that one should not pass judgement before seeing a show but advance press is designed to promote a show and if I thought I would be uncomfortable with it, I wouldn't want to see it. But I do.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 3:40pm

I haven't seen this musical yet, but I have heard terrific things about it and can't wait to see it.

To think there are topics that are unacceptable to be covered by a musical is as foolish and pointless to me as saying there are topics unacceptable for a book or film. A musical is but one way to tell a story--any story. And, to many of us, it's the height of storytelling as music is endlessly powerful.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 3:51pm

Necessary. Strange choice of words. Of course, it wasn't NECESSARY, but it served a purpose and I feel strengthened the POINT of the story.

I even saw a few people post (not here) that they were offended by the song "Jew Money". I am often offended by anti-semitic remarks (probably fromt he guilt of being a bad jew) but I saw this for the point it was making. IN the south at this time in history, Jews were perceived as no "better" than blacks. It would have been THEIR perception of the situation.

I applaud this show is so many ways, but mostly for its brutal look at our country's history.