Second Stage Theatre to bring STRAIGHT WHITE MEN, LOBBY HERO to Broadway- Page 2

[little_sally]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 11:59am

I love that Second Stage is devoted to work by living playwrights. I wish other companies would adopt this philosophy.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 12:00pm

No, I was responding to the classification of Lee as Asian American versus Reza as French. (And neon's subsequent assertion that Reza is not Asian.)

If Lee is Asian American, than Reza is Eurasian, right? Or Mideast-European? Or Franco-Iranian?

I was opening the can of worms regarding over-simplistic (or perhaps just not entirely thought out) racial labels.

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 12:02pm

newintown said: "No, I was responding to the classification of Lee as Asian American versus Reza as French. (And neon's subsequent assertion that Reza is not Asian.)

If Lee is Asian American, than Reza is Eurasian, right? Or Mideast-European? Or Franco-Iranian?

I was opening the can of worms regarding over-simplistic (or perhaps just not entirely thought out) racial labels.

 

"

Yasmina Reza is however she identifies. Lee has frequently identified herself as an Asian American writer.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 12:04pm

I think Reza was identified as French as opposed to being American, not as opposed to being Asian. It was nationality, not racial.

[Lot666]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 12:05pm

Michael Kras said: "It made me, a straight white man, uncomfortable as hell, and that's the point."

Sounds interesting to me.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 12:08pm

"I think Reza was identified as French as opposed to being American,not as opposed to being Asian. It was nationality, not racial."

As I mentioned, it was also stated that she's not Asian in the following post. But at this point, let's just let the entire topic pass; the point I attempted to make is not falling on receptive ears.

[adagio]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 12:31pm

I saw the recent Steppenwolf production of Straight White Men and thought it was well-acted but rather boring TBH.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 12:32pm

I'm more annoyed that they're spending all this money to renovate the theater and the marquee outside is going to be dull and basic. 

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 12:33pm

The Wikipedia page on Yasmina Reza states that her father was Iranian, but of Russian heritage. His family fled Moscow in the early 20th century. So her father may have been an Iranian citizen, but it appears that Reza does not actually have any Asian heritage. I think for purposes of this discussion, we are talking about heritage and race, not just geography, yes?

 

Not that it really matters, but I think Lee should be recognized for what a big milestone this is without a bunch of caveats.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 12:34pm

LOBBY HERO at the Helen Hayes is going to be a very tough ticket. Two A-listers in the smallest Broadway house and a limited run. Good luck getting tickets.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 12:47pm

"The Wikipedia page on Yasmina Reza states that her father was Iranian, but of Russian heritage. His family fled Moscow in the early 20th century. So her father may have been an Iranian citizen, but it appears that Reza does not actually have any Asian heritage. I think for purposes of this discussion, we are talking about heritage and race, not just geography, yes?"

It may be just me, but it's this kind of microscopic focus that begins to sound a bit KKK-ish. Like that scene in Show Boat where they say one drop of black blood makes one black.

Of course, none of this is meant to detract from Lee's accomplishment.

But there is also the new question - do we distinguish between traditional commercial Broadway vs the newer nonprofit Broadway? The ultimate goals of the two have a significant difference - commercial Broadway aims to make a profit; nonprofit Broadway doesn't have that concern and can therefore be a bit more "adventurous."

Updated On: 4/20/17 at 12:47 PM

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 12:59pm

It may be just me, but it's this kind of microscopic focus that begins to sound a bit KKK-ish. Like that scene in Show Boat where they say one drop of black blood makes one black.

 

That is not at all how I meant it, and I sincerely apologize if anyone took it that way and was offended. I was responding to the argument about whether Reza counts as an Asian writer because her father was Iranian, and I was just pointing out that his Iranian citizenship was a matter of circumstance, not race or ethnicity.

[Sauja]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 1:00pm

I'm shocked (and pleased) that they're going with something as bold as Straight White Men in their very first Broadway season. It's a play that didn't quite dazzle me in the theater at the Public, but then I found for days and weeks after, I kept dwelling on it and going back over it. I think I just needed the time to digest it, and it eventually soared in my estimation. It's a really challenging play in the guise of something quite straightforward, and in that way, I find it very unlike much of Lee's work. Bottom line: a choice I find super surprising AND super encouraging. 

 

But I'm least excited about the NY premiere of Mary Page Marlowe, which I caught at the Steppenwolf and found much more ambitious than actually interesting. Ah well. No one's is all great, all the time!

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 4:54pm

wonderfulwizard11 said: "Seriously. I was a little annoyed that Second Stage bought a great theatre for small plays, but if they're planning to use it for these purposes then I'm pleased they have the space. 

 

"

Sorry, but what else would they have used it for? Second Stage has pretty much always produced some remarkable stuff, and their mission was not set to change once they acquired a Broadway venue. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 5:02pm

wonderfulwizard11 said: "Seriously. I was a little annoyed that Second Stage bought a great theatre for small plays, but if they're planning to use it for these purposes then I'm pleased they have the space. "

Huh??  Seriously, what else would you have expected the space be used for other than "small plays"?  The next version of Cirque du Soleil??  Also, btw Second Stage has done, MANY musicals (ever heard of DEAR EVAN HANSEN, NEXT TO NORMAL, 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, EVERYDAY RAPTURE, etc etc?).  Do you have any reason to believe that they won't continue to do more small musicals in that space?

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 5:18pm

To add to my above post, aside from THE HUMANS and 39 STEPS, there has not been anything else in the Hayes aside from musicals, limited engagements or short lived play runs since 2007. The house was BARELY used exclusively for "small plays" (at least in the past ten years) and if anything, it is in better hands with Second Stage than it was as an individually owned ensue. 

[smidge]

Posted: 10/17/17 at 1:21pm

Has anyone heard when tickets for Lobby Hero will go on sale to the general public?