Sierra Boggess to play Maria in West Side Story in London — Page 12

I'm of Puerto Rican descent and I was hardly offended that Sierra Boggess was going to be singing the "Maria" songs in a concert honoring the music of Leonard Bernstein. It wasn't as if she was playing the role in a full blown production of "West Side Story".

I'm all for racial equality and casting roles appropriately but what just happened here, with this situation is f*cking ridiculous.

troynow said: "Yes Sierra dropped out because it was wRONG... it is about doscovering new people. The talent that can sing maria may be unknown.

However, the talent is unknow because of decades of producers and theatres giving those rare opportuntoes over to a person who is WHITE.

However, the same is happening at Williamstown witn Lempicka. They have foolishly yet again... tale a black tole and goven it away. Joesphine Baker was a black woman.

Take a look yet... no comments. No theeads... nothing

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Eden-Espinosa-Rachel-Tucker-Chita-Rivera-and-More-Announced-for-Williamstown-Theatre-Festival-20180424"

This has nothing to do with Sierra taking a role of some unknown. She is popular and producers are in the business of making money. There are a few bankable star that producers can count on to fill seats and she is one of them. As are Audra McDonald, norm Lewis, Ramin Karimloo, Lea Salonga.

Updated On: 4/25/18 at 04:20 PM

"These aren't my assumptions or prejudices, this is the reality of casting."

No, it's not the reality of casting. The reality of casting is that black people are overrepresented at the moment. I'm not critiquing that given in itself in any way, shape or form. Because things like this can happen. For example when the most talented or suitable people for a role happen to be black. No issues with that scenario.

What I find problematic is that what I described above is not the reason for this overrepresentation. Therefore it feels unfair, unhealthy and forced. Not to me, but especially to other races, Asians for example. Whenever there is a casting project of, let's say 3 people. They put at least 1 mandatory black person in nowadays. I see it in every project, pilot, series, movie, show, reading, commercial. The percentage of that is out of balance, not only population wise, but also compared to for example Asian people. It's completely out of balance. That's not healthy. That is focusing on race too much in a negative way.

If you can't look past that, or you are not mentally ready to see people as equals that is ok, but if you insist on color counting, then do it both ways.

Updated On: 4/27/18 at 09:07 AM

I totally agree. Both situations are equally unfair and a result of people thinking in race too much in the wrong way.

There was a time, in the past few years where casting directors and award show judges seemed extremely sensitive and impressionable about this attacks. They were accused of being racist when not casting a black person in a project of 3 people or not giving awards to a black person. This translated to very forced and unhealthy situations like I described and the overrepresentation of black people is therefore completely out of balance now. They were basically forced to cast on race in the wrong way. Frantically casting black people in everything to avoid criticism and falsely look diverse. It could very well be that casting directors and award show judges are beginning to get tired of this overrepresentation and are aiming for true diversity. To some people there can never be enough representation of the race of choice, but that is not what diversity is about. Especially if the numbers have already far exceeded the percentages, it should still be an insult if someone gets or doesn't get a role or award based on race. That goes for both the negative and positive intentions, It's always bad.

Updated On: 4/27/18 at 12:04 PM

Sierra Boggess made the absolute correct decision in sacrificing this role. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to step aside while the 21st Century Theater-Makers do their thing. Times have changed and so has art.

It seems to me that the rise of Trump- and the feelings that especially lower educated white people have- is that the playing field in no longer level- and that globalization and the rise of the the diversity movement and political correctness- not the same, of course- because diversity is very much justified- yet the PC police enforcers make a big deal of every perceived slight or supposed infraction- so that the tone and expectations of the movement have become strident, overbearing and patently unfair. And, in my opinion- that is why too many people give Trump a pass on his despicable behaviors- it is a deliberate spit in the face to all things liberal and progressive- which have gone overboard to some extent- as posters point out- it seems that every movie and tv show now has a black person and a black woman or female boss- or a black child- or they better or they will be called out.. And the Sierra mess is more of the same, IMO.

Updated On: 4/29/18 at 05:50 AM

CarlosAlberto said: "I'm of Puerto Rican descent and I was hardly offended that Sierra Boggess was going to be singing the "Maria" songs in a concert honoring the music of Leonard Bernstein. It wasn't as if she was playing the role in a full blown production of "West Side Story".

I'm all for racial equality and casting roles appropriately but what just happened here, with this situation is f*cking ridiculous."



^^This pretty much sums up what I was going to post. What next? Will she not be able to sing the songs in a cabaret show...or her shower?

That's my point. We agree that we need equality.

The point is that the victim role is inappropriate in casting when the group of choice is already overrepresented. No need for staying in the victim role and continue to express the idea that people deserve to be treated differently due to their colour. People who do this continue to support separation and that has, naturally, consequences. In any case it's not the solution for equality.

Updated On: 4/29/18 at 06:04 PM