Shawn "JZ" Carter and WIll & Jada Pinkett Smith present FELA!

What does that really mean? Didn't they have enough producers if they opened the show on Broadway? Or is it just so they can say "Jay-Z and Will Smith present"? Did they see the show? Were they not as confused by it as everyone else?

Oh goody! Now I must get myself down to the theater! Without their names attached, I don't think I would seen it.

/sarcasm

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I guess that's true. Afrobeat just isn't in my vocabulary. I kept thinking "maybe I'll just fall in love with the music." But nope. It's a lot of chanting and word combinations that I don't quite get. It was pretty to look at, ha.

I don't see what the big deal really is - Jay-Z and Beyonce saw the show and loved it, and Will & Jada must have done the same, so they wanted to put their money behind it. If their names draw new audiences, good for them and good for the show. If not, they just contributed to something they believe in. Where's the problem?

It'll be a nice tax write-off.

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I hope they can bring some much-needed attention this show. I'm happy their onboard, though not surprised since it was mentioned by Reidel during their Off-Broadway run.

BobbyBubby

I'm a bit troubled/confused by your comments here. They clearly don't intend to be racist (and are clearly in jest), but they come off extremely racist.

FELA, a show that will have a hard time finding an audience, is appealing to a specific demographic, using one of the biggest movie stars on the planet and a hip hop legend. Is that a problem for you?

Yep scaryclows I'm a big racist.

Yes Phyllis. The Most Happy Fela.

Against my best judgment, I do feel the need to explain myself.

I see how the producers' acts can be deemed racist, but I don't think it implies any idea that white people couldn't understand the show.

By putting their names on the marquee, they are reaching out towards one audience to whom they believe the show will most appeal. This audience, the African American community, generally does not visit the theatre as much as the Caucasian/White community.(I am not profiling. There are statistics to support this.) Thus, they must try harder to attract what they might deem to be the key to their success- an unconventional and yet massive audience. The white audience, to a certain extent, is already there. The black audience needs to be further developed.

This totally ignores the fact that both Jay-Z and Will Smith (Jada is a minor celebrity) have significant white followings, and that the prominence of their names will attract audiences of all ethnicities, based on star power alone.

This is an economic decision, and a question of advertising. This is a business, and Fela's best shot at good business right now is to appeal most directly to the group most likely to relate to the show, persons of color. They aren't telling you as a white audience member, that you won't enjoy it. They aren't telling you that you that you won't get it.

The equivalent (to a lesser extent) would be to argue that the Sex & the City movie is sexist for advertising primarily towards a female audience. They are targeting those most likely to come and see it, not those most likely to enjoy it or to "get" it.

*Rentboy they are black, so they obviously understood it better than us white folks*

I'm white, and have been going to Broadway shows for many years.
I understood the show completely. Perhaps they can relate a little more. It has nothing to do with understanding.

And I loved it!!!!!

It's because only black people are racist.