Sierra Boggess to play Maria in West Side Story in London — Page 5

Anyway, I get the appeal of being all “let’s go totally color blind and just cast the best people for the role regardless of color” and then citing all the times in the past 20-30 years that productions started casting POC in roles traditionally portrayed by white people even if it wasn’t historically accurate...like Audra in a Carousel. However, if we totally stopped talking about color and race in casting and fully adopt the full colorblind thing for every role and fully embrace white actors playing the very few roles on Broadway that are made specifically for specific ethnicities and culture, then what’s going to happen is what lead to the whole call for diversity in the first place...meaning whites will not only get to be cast in the vast majority of roles on Broadway because they are seen as the default and almost every role is made for them, but now they will be cast in roles made for POC as well. It’s sort of sneaky and smart to frame this as a push for diversity.

Updated On: 4/21/18 at 01:13 AM

I'm just saying if Betsy Wolfe said she'd be playing Celie in a concert version, we'd all still say WTF. It's the same damn thing.

See, now what we’re not going to do in this thread is assume that Alexandra Silber is white. It took twenty seconds to Google that.

RippedMan said: "I'm just saying if Betsy Wolfe said she'd be playing Celie in a concert version, we'd all still say WTF. It's the same damn thing."

We’d definitely have the same reaction, I agree. Although I don’t think it’s QUITE the same thing. For better or worse, the physical look of latinx vs white people is a lot more blurry and sometimes hard to distinguish. This is why, for example, people complained there was a white actor in OOTI playing Daniel when he apparently isn’t. And why Chita Rivera can and does very comfortably play white characters without anyone needing to be ‘colour blind’. This is why sometimes I think the simplistic POC and non-poc distinction is a bit practically useless. The challenges faced by people of certain colours in terms of roles open to them will be different. Yet when we group everyone as the same thing “POC” we make it seem like everyone faces similar issues.

People actually says ''reverse racism'' as a real thing? LOL
So true- there is no reverse racism- because racism is racism- regardless. We can't have it both ways- if POC can play white characters- then white characters can also play POC- PERIOD. As far as I am concerned, this thread is tiresome. For people who want white people to step aside and repent for the sins of our fathers- too bad. Not gonna do it- nor should anyone. If we want to live in a color blind world it stars right now with each one of us- but that is not the case for so many- and that is fine with me. So rail and talk about how unfair ti all is- meanwhile, progress is being made all around us- which is obvious if you look at what is happening in all segments of the media. Racism is not pretty- no matter where it rears its ugly head.

BWAY Baby2 said: "For people who want white people to step aside and repent for the sins of our fathers- too bad. Not gonna do it- nor should anyone. If we want to live in a color blind world it stars right now with each one of us- but that is not the case for so many- and that is fine with me. So rail and talk about how unfair ti all is- meanwhile, progress is being made all around us- which is obvious if you look at what is happening in all segments of the media. Racism is not pretty- no matter where it rears its ugly head."

Exactly. The people who don't understand this and want to maintain a separation are just as bad as the people they are blaming for making them victims, a role they want to stay in. They are doing the exact same thing, excluding a race group because they feel they have the right. It is just as evil. The real issue is that they don't understand that, and feel they have to do the same thing in return to get even now. But the race gap gets bigger because of it. It's much bigger than let's say, 20 years ago. And those people are responsible for it. A one way street in reasoning is always wrong. Period. Especially if it's about deliberately separating colors, which the whole problem is in the first place. People will never give in to this. It's not the solution. It's toxic.

I would also like to add that colorblind to me means seeing color and understanding history, but refusing to think in victim roles nowadays because I insist all people are equal. That change in mindset is the key to true equality.

Updated On: 4/21/18 at 05:50 AM

People who separate are racist, like you do. With your weird remarks such as "exclusively white music".

Stop thinking in separation so much.

Updated On: 4/21/18 at 06:05 AM

qolbinau said: "Would you really want to see a white person play Celie or Effie though? I know I wouldn’t."

That's not a good example because the lyrics are literally about her being black. Just like Snow White must be white and Penny in Hairspray must be white.

But that is not the case for 99% of the roles out there. A black Christine or Carlotta in Phantom, an Asian Aladdin or a white/mixed Maria don't fall into that category to me. Theatre should paint with illusion and equality. Both ways of course.

You can't complain about Sierra as Maria and then not complain about a black Christine, the daughter of a 19th century Swedish violinist in Paris. It's either both ways or not.

Updated On: 4/21/18 at 06:16 AM

My main beef with West Side Story casting is that they always cast a VERY LIGHT SKINNED (or white) Maria, and very DARK SKINNED Bernardo. They are siblings.

Marlothom said: "My main beef with West Side Story casting is that they always cast a VERY LIGHT SKINNED (or white) Maria, and very DARK SKINNED Bernardo. They are siblings."

This also has bothered me, but to be fair, my brother and I are mixed and he is much, much, much darker than me, while I can pass for white very easily.

broadwayboy223 said: "Did Ana really say "Live your PuertoRicandreams girl!" OMG this is the most yikes thing i've ever seen."

Yes she did. People started yelling at her so she deleted it. Ana is obviously clueless.

Updated On: 4/21/18 at 12:04 PM

Dave, I can vaguely see your point, but no one going to see Phantom knows Christine's background. Do they even mention that in the show? I mean, the show itself, is about a masked man who lives beneath the opera house and seduces this girl into loving him...so...disbelief has been suspended, so I don't think anyone's really worried about race.

But in a show like WSS which is explicitly about race, yeah, your mind is going to say huh...that seems odd...