Susan in company - Page 2
Susan in company
#25Susan in company
Posted: 11/24/19 at 12:34pm
The line was still there in London, I assume it’s the scene with the male Martha who says how many blacks, street people etc do you know. Needless to say, the line got a bit of a laugh when Craig’s understudy went on, who is black.
As for this issue, while the outcome may not be desirable for some I trust the processes that went into it were benign. M Elliot is a pretty ‘woke’ director. I don’t doubt they went with the best available talent. That said, I personally wish they went with someone like Patina Miller or Renée G for Bobbie. I just think the aesthetic of their voices is much more interesting for the show.
#26Susan in company
Posted: 11/24/19 at 3:59pm
viagalactica6 said: "viagalactica6 said: ""after the small wave of controversy? Hopefully a person of color."
Oh God, I sure hope so. In fact, it doesn't have to be Susan. It can be any character or couple in the show. I remember when I saw the original show when it played its out of town tryout in Boston. I was in absolute disbelief that there wasn't at least ONE person of color in the entire cast. But, then again with the exception of Showboat and Grind Hal Prince's shows never did use people of color in them.
I forgot that he used Black actors in the musical Parade.
And Tonya Pinkins was in the original cast of "Merrily We Roll Along".
LuPita2
Broadway Star Joined: 9/11/18
#27Susan in company
Posted: 11/24/19 at 6:29pm
"It’s not about feeding a certain quota. It’s about making the show realistic to today’s standards. But hey, if you think surrounding yourself in whiteness in 2020 NYC with 2 blacks sprinkled in is “diversity” then that’s your problem, fam.
I don’t know maybe it’s because I’m a millennial,But my friend groups don’t look like this in NYC."
I think you mean your standards. I am half Dominican half Caucasian, and I went to a private college that was pretty white. But, it never mattered to me, and I made life long friends that are good humans, which is all I care about. I am a millennial too, but I have noticed there is a huge difference between young and older millennials. I don't have a problem with some shows casting more white people than people of color., I don't view it as some kind of insulting or offensive thing.
Most industries are overwhelmingly something. The tech industry is overwhelmingly male. The finance industry is overwhelmingly white. The nursing industry is overwhelmingly female. The entertainment industry is one of the most diverse industries we have, and in theater specifically, there is a lot more diversity than there was even 10 years ago, and I think it will keep getting better and improving year after year.
Sometimes friend groups are all the same race, sometimes not. People tend to hang out with people that are like them, perhaps that means of the same race, the same socioeconomic status, they are all members of the LBGTQ community, etc. And I understand that this is a Broadway show, and they can do whatever they want, but perhaps these people were all the best suited for their parts.
Expecting the world should look like your friend group (in one of the most diverse cities in America) just isn't realistic and not most people's realities. Company has always attracted a very white audience, and I'm not really expecting that to change, regardless of who they cast.
#28Susan in company
Posted: 11/24/19 at 11:03pm
“Company has always attracted a very white audience, and I'm not really expecting that to change, regardless of who they cast.”
Imagine the audience Company would bring in if it had some POC principals. If people of color don’t see themselves onstage in revivals, why should they be interested in something that feels exclusionary? If white audiences will come either way because it’s Company, then diversify your cast in order to diversify you audience. This is the logic every single production should use. A completely revamped revival of Company should have been the perfect vessel for a wildly colorful cast.
#29Susan in company
Posted: 11/24/19 at 11:11pm
The majority of broadway shows attract a very white audience, but the representation is still very important.
IF Company had a majority cast that was of ethnic background, it WOULD attract more minorities to theatre. Periodt.
This ain’t Hamilton, the ain’t The Color Purple. It’s a show about real people in nyc going through real problems in present day, and I don’t think it’s too far reaching to ask for a diverse cast to represent that
I guess I’m lucky enough to have a friend group of diverse backgrounds. Because no, I don’t want to surround myself in whiteness. No matter how beautiful, smart, and talented the people may be.. they still share commonalities that I can’t relate to.
it wouldn’t kill Company to cast ONE more minority. And to be honest, the majority of y’all wouldn’t care regardless. But to the people who do, it would be an impact.
You call it idealistic, I don’t.
ModernMillie3
Broadway Star Joined: 9/23/13
#30Susan in company
Posted: 11/24/19 at 11:41pm
I don’t think the show was cast to fit any racial quota either way and conclude that the people involved are the best that auditioned and accepted the roles offered. That some may be ‘disappointed’ is fair enough but I think you are looking for controversy where none exists if you’re reading anything more into it. If/when it comes to recasting the balance of the show could be entirely different. The thing about colour-blind casting is that it should indeed be just that.
Totally agree. There is no controversy. If you don't agree with casting, don't go. It's simple, and exactly what people are doing with the WSS revival. Casting is complete, and no it wouldn't kill them, but they still aren't going to do it.
#31Susan in company
Posted: 11/25/19 at 3:23am
YvanEhtNioj said: "...Because no, I don’t want to surround myself in whiteness. No matter how beautiful, smart, and talented the people may be.. they still share commonalities that I can’t relate to.
it wouldn’t kill Company to cast ONE more minority. And to be honest, the majority of y’all wouldn’t care regardless. But to the people who do, it would be an impact.
You call it idealistic, I don’t."
(Emphasis added.) I suspect you are right that none of us would care if there were more POC in the cast (or even an all-black COMPANY, if someone could conjure a contextual reason for such a production). I certainly would not. I was objecting to your implication that there is some scandal here.
But if the passage I highlighted above is true, if indeed black people and white people are so essentially different as you suggest, then NO black people should have been cast because the roles weren't written for blacks and I doubt the show has been rewritten enough to justify the "alien" POC.
You might want to rethink some of your arguments. I seriously doubt the claim I did not quote above that if another POC were cast, more black people would certainly attend the show. I think the POC who like Stephen Sondheim musicals will attend, regardless, the rest will not; the same may be said of white people.
#32Susan in company
Posted: 11/25/19 at 3:28am
HeyMrMusic said: "...Imagine the audience Company would bring in if it had some POC principals...."
Except for pit singers, ALL cast members of previous productions of COMPANY were principals--the show has no chorus (beyond the "Vocal Minority" among the musicians).
Just saying. I don't agree with your point that more POC would buy tix just because a few more POC were cast; to attract a sizable number of minorities (other than Jews and gays), the production would have to publicize an all-black COMPANY or something of the kind. I'm not sure even that would make much difference.
JBC3
Broadway Star Joined: 4/9/17
#33Susan in company
Posted: 11/25/19 at 8:45am
HeyMrMusic said: "“Company has always attracted a very white audience, and I'm not really expecting that to change, regardless of who they cast.”
Imagine the audience Company would bring in if it had some POC principals. If people of color don’t see themselves onstage in revivals, why should they be interested in something that feels exclusionary? If white audiences will come either way because it’s Company, then diversify your cast in order to diversify you audience. This is the logic every single production should use. A completely revamped revival of Company should have been the perfect vessel for a wildly colorful cast."
With you in spirit, but seeing yourself represented literally is not the same as seeing yourself represented in the stories. I'm not sure the latter would happen for the audience merely by casting actors of color. I think that likely requires a complete revamp as you suggest and not just a few casting choices ... and this production does its revamp with a focus on gender.
#34Susan in company
Posted: 11/25/19 at 4:41pm
Can it not be the same? Because there’s nothing in Company that can happen to only white people. People of color experience everything that happens within the story. And with color conscious casting, we don’t ignore the fact that the character is black, Latinx, Asian, etc., so then the story that’s being presented is literally seeing a POC’s story onstage. People of color have a myriad of stories, just like white people. It’s not just stories of race issues, civil rights struggles, and prejudice. A noncommittal single person in NYC who has friends with relationship advice is relatable to everyone.
I know it’s a crazy example, but imagine if Lizzo were cast in the central role. The story is now a black woman’s story, and Lizzo will bring a younger, more diverse audience to a Sondheim/Broadway musical. The white audiences will still come because it’s Sondheim/Broadway/white people also love Lizzo.
ModernMillie3
Broadway Star Joined: 9/23/13
#36Susan in company
Posted: 11/27/19 at 4:02pm
viagalactica6 said: ""after the small wave of controversy? Hopefully a person of color."
Oh God, I sure hope so. In fact, it doesn't have to be Susan. It can be any character or couple in the show. I remember when I saw the original show when it played its out of town tryout in Boston. I was in absolute disbelief that there wasn't at least ONE person of color in the entire cast. But, then again with the exception of Showboat and Grind Hal Prince's shows never did usepeople of color in them.
"
You continue to send me insulting PMs even after blocking me from responding politely. So I am compelled to answer you here:
YOU INITIATED THE PM EXCHANGE AND ASKED ME ABOUT ATTITUDES DECADES AGO! I responded to the best of my recollection based on my experiences working Prince auditions (and my husband's experience as his associate casting director) FORTY YEARS AGO! And I conceded that BACK IN 1970 (when I was a teenager), I probably would have favored verisimilitude over diversity in casting, too.
YOU THEN WENT OFF ON ME as if I have the same beliefs TODAY, despite the fact that many people change their ideas over a half-century and I said in this thread I now think diversity is more important than superficial "realism".
viagalactica6, I don't know your gender, race, ethnicity or socio-economic background. But I recognize a mediocre mind and poor character when I see them. By all means, keep me blocked; I have wasted enough time on you.
#37Susan in company
Posted: 11/27/19 at 4:33pm
And I'm just wondering why it's taking them so much longer to cast this ONE role in the show...
Det95
Featured Actor Joined: 10/14/19
#38Susan in company
Posted: 12/11/19 at 10:43am
And we have a Susan
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/COMPANY-on-Broadway-Completes-its-Cast-With-Rashidra-Scott-as-Susan-20191211
#39Susan in company
Posted: 12/11/19 at 12:34pm
I'm lit.
(that's millennial for "yay!)
#40Susan in company
Posted: 12/11/19 at 2:17pm
LaneBryant said: "Susan was Amber Iman (who moved on to Lempicka - smart choice), and she will be replaced by Rashidra Scott (currently in Ain't Too Proud).
You'll ask who my source is. The streets are my source, lol. Just wait for the announcement.
"
You’re good!!
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