Ridiculous casting sheet for the RENT film- Page 2

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 12:14am

I disagree Plum. Race isn't a central issue but it is underlying one with a simple message -- one not need allow race to be a factor in choosing friends! Jonathan Larson made this clear when he opted to describe the characters (to producers insisting on greater depth to the libretto) according to race. This message will NOT come through clear if the cast is predominantly of one race. In fact, it could be offensive if two out of three people of color are a drug addict S&M dancer and a capitalist schmuck who despises the homeless. (I love these characters regardless of their habits and trades, but there's something slightly disgusting about people of color being presented as offending public morale more than others)

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 12:15am

Yes, this site is a joke, but for the record foreign productions of RENT in Germany, Iceland and Japan have had a white Collins or a white Angel or any of the other characters being different from the US productions. It's not that shocking. In fact the current national US tour has Danny Calvert understudying Angel and he is white (not to mention HOT AS ALL HELL! Sorry...) so this is nothing new. RENT has always been one of those shows where race really shouldn't matter. A character could be any race. Taye says in the RENT bible that he was so happy when RENT came along because he felt like he was finally getting to play a real part instead of being cast BECAUSE he was black and the show needed a black man. For RENT it's not about that.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 12:18am

That's what I was trying to say Evelyn - though im out of it so im not too coherrent.

By the way:
Is Rent doing that bad that Drew Lachey is in the show? he didnt sound to good on bway on bway.
Matt Caplan rocks

Even though Rent is being performed all over - and it is a very int'l topic - in AMERICA the race factor plays a large role in the development of the characters.

Besides, I dont know a white Angel

[Plum]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 12:19am

And I say race is an artificial construct. When I have to, I classify myself as Caucasian. But I have Sephardic ancestry- would you call me mixed race? I've been mistaken for Hispanic or Arab enough times to know that race (and the assumptions that go with it, on the part of bigots and anti-bigots) is a load of BS.

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 12:21am

Taye also wants more of these "race-neutral" roles open to people of color. It sounds contradictory, but it isn't. I assure you that he would be dissatisfied if, let's say, this project were to be filmed with Mimi as the only person of color. The cold reality is that African-American, Asian and Latino actors and actresses aren't being afforded enough major roles in Hollywood. I assure you that the people supporting a "race-neutral" casting effort that deliberately pursues Caucasians for most of the roles (??? Now that's contradictory!)would be dissatisfied if that FAKE CASTING SHEET had insisted that the ratio be five African-Americans to three Caucasians.

[paulie23]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 12:21am

Um, Jonathan's original script called for this Joanne/Collins caucasian character breakdown, I don't think it's racist at all. I think they're tyring to stick to the original.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 12:22am

I'm French and Jewish - not the best of combinations.

My aunt said that theatre is about action and performance. Aida doesn't have to be black. She id because it makes it easier for ppl to accept. Near the end, some of the nubians were white.

I think that American culture is heavily race-orriented.

But to really end this:

Larson himself expressed the races of the characters.

It shows the diversity in Rent

[Plum]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 12:25am

To me, diversity is in people's personalities and experiences, not the color of their skin. But like I said, I barely believe in race in the first place, so I'm a bit of an oddball.

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 12:31am

paulie: Jonathan's "original script" also called for Maureen to leave Joanne and go back to Mark, after they sing a song that essentially reduces their lesbian identities to phases that are based strictly on sexual desire. If Columbus were to stick to the first draft of Larson's libretto, then this film WOULD be awful. In any case, Raul Esparza and Jai Rodriguez have both auditioned for principal roles in the film, so that casting sheet is definitely bull.

Plum: I agree that race is a social construct. However, skin color is not a social construct. You must accept that skin color (and by association, race) is an issue in the U.S. -- especially when it comes to jobs. It is fun to not have to discuss the issue of race, and even more fun to be in a room where people don't all have the same skin color but still enjoy being around each other. But, it is more practical to not discuss race unless you have to discuss it than to join a discussion about race by saying that race isn't an issue. I'm speaking in general terms and not suggesting that you don't think race is an issue, of course...

*edited for spelling* Updated On: 10/15/04 at 12:31 AM

[Plum]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 12:34am

Of course race is an issue. But I don't accept it- I'd rather that it changed. Discussion is great, because the closer you look at the race issue the more you realize it's all in people's heads.

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 12:35am

Exactly, Plum.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 1:20am

Jonathan's "original script" also called for Maureen to leave Joanne and go back to Mark, after they sing a song that essentially reduces their lesbian identities to phases that are based strictly on sexual desire.

In Jonathan's defense ... that is exactly what happens in La Boheme... I mean Marcello and Musetta get back together. So that plot line was paying homage to La Boheme, the fact that they don't get together in the current version of RENT is a departure from the original basis story line ... not that it's bad cuz' it would be stupid if Mark and Maureen got back together, though it works in La Boheme, because Musetta is not a lesbian... Updated On: 10/15/04 at 01:20 AM

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 1:34am

the guy that was the orginal angel was black. he was just light skinned!!

[mint0621]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 7:25am

why can't we have an Asian mimi or Asian Angel? I saw Rent played by a Korean cast in Korea, and wow, the guy who played Angel was the best Angel I'd seen, everyone swore it was a girl until the hospital sene when he came out without women's clothes....

[AbsolutKnight]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 7:33am

When I saw Rent on the US tour years back we had an asian Angel. And he was very good in the role.

[timote316]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 12:52pm

The Rent/race issue has been discussed before (I only know this because I initially raised the question lol)

The only real race reference in the script where Mimi refers to 'Spanish babies' back home during Out Tonight (I believe thats the only reference). Basically, any other characters could be of any color. The reason why we believe Joanne, Collins and Benny are black, Angel latino, and Maureen and Mark white is because the original cast was that way, and Broadway casting has kept the colors the same (some exceptions are black actresses cast as Mimi).

For the movie, Mimi must be Hispanic (or else the line in OT would make no sense) and parents must be the same color/ethnicity as their children. If they cast a black Mark, Asian Roger, Arabic Collins, and a white Joanne, it'll be different to see it, and hard to get used to, but not wrong.

Btw, sorry if any of this has been politically incorrect lol

[perfectliar]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 3:09pm

I don't know if anyone else has posted this already since I haven't read them all, but Jonathan Larson originally envisioned Collins as caucasian. It wasn't until Jesse L. Martin auditioned for the role that he realized Collins could also be African-American.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 3:13pm

It sounds like they know nothing about Rent.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 3:22pm

timote,

You said "For the movie, Mimi must be Hispanic (or else the line in OT would make no sense) and parents must be the same color/ethnicity as their children."

FTR, quite a few Mimi's have been non-Hispanic, and I've seen many shows where parents were different colors as the kids.

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 3:46pm

Angel is usually Hispanic, correct?? Joanne and Collins are African American-- you CAN'T cast a Caucasian person for those roles! WTF is their problem?

[bjivie2]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 4:12pm

I don't know what I think about this. I DO think that it SEEMS like replacing the normal casting of African-Americans in two main roles for Caucasions is a cop-out, but if there's a specific reason with the director's concept, then so be it. As long as it makes sense. Wouldn't it make sense just to leave ethnicity completely out of the description of a few of the parts? I don't know, I think everyone's getting really worked up about a false casting notice.

[shesings]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 4:17pm

Why is it a fake casting notice? I actually have friends who have booked jobs from listings that this site sent them. You have to pay to join and get all the info lets not forget!

And who knows. Maybe they are changing some of the original ethnicities. It wouldn't shock me. I don't think its right, but I wouldn't be surprised either.

[mint0621]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 9:02pm

AbsolutKnight, you saw an Asian angel? Now that would've been something I'd have loved to see...Mayumi writes on her website how she doesn't like being the "token Asian" in Rent, but sees it as a necessary evil.

[xluckystar2107x]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 9:05pm

they type cast for the show as well. if you go to http://www.wannabeinrent.com theres a similar list of qualities.

i saw an asian angel as well Updated On: 10/15/04 at 09:05 PM

[timote316]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 10:29pm

On Broadway, you have to take what you get, which sometimes leads to black parents for a white kid. Hollywood is different, as the pool of actors is larger.

And yes, I know there have been non-hispanic Mimis. Scary Spice is black and British, and Krystal Washington isn't exactly a hispanic name (although I don't know for sure she isn't hispanic). I'm just saying for the movie to be somewhat credible, Mimi has to be hispanic. The other roles, although traditionally ethnically-set, can be cast otherwise.

However, it may be most wise for the movie to cast African American actors as Joanne, Collins and Benny, a Latino actor for Angel, a Hispanic actress for Mimi and Caucasian actors as Roger and Mark, to make the show as "true" as possible.

And I did not know Mr. Larson wanted a white Collins. See what a good audition can do? Change the race of a character!