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#26

Tony Nominating Committee and diversity

Posted: 4/28/17 at 5:52pm

VintageSnarker said: "Not that it's Tony worthy (or isn't, I haven't seen it to be able to judge) but I feel like we're forgetting A Bronx Tale.

My sense of things is that with the exception of Natasha Pierre, a lot of the musicals that have some diversity are still casting nonwhite actors in smaller supporting roles that wouldn't earn nominations (Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, etc.). And unfortunately the few lead or stronger supporting roles (Amelie, Groundhog Day, A Bronx Tale, Holiday Inn, In Transit) don't seem to really be considered competitive for awards, though anything is possible."

To be fair to Come From Away, literally all of the roles apart from Jenn Colella (who is based on a real person) are "smaller supporting roles that wouldn't earn nominations." Q Smith might sneak in there (possibly only in my dreams).

Updated On: 4/28/17 at 05:52 PM

#27

Tony Nominating Committee and diversity

Posted: 4/28/17 at 10:30pm

Mike66 said: "

Where else could an African American performer replace (or understudy) a White performer or an Asian performer. Or the other way around. Phillipa Soo isn't available -- Denee Benton gets to play the part. "

I saw Hello Dolly 3 times but was lucky enough to see a performance when Gavin Creel was out. His understudy, Christian Dante White, who is a POC, was AMAZING! HIs performance as Cornelius Hackl was more believable to me than Creel's. Young, enthusiastic, doe-eyed, late 20s, strong voice, freshly innocent yet ready to explore the new city for adventure! I'm a big fan of Gavin Creel though I think Hello Dolly! could have had a more diversified cast for its featured/supporting cast (ensemble is diverse).

#28

Tony Nominating Committee and diversity

Posted: 4/30/17 at 4:48pm

I know this seems very anal but why do people say 'diversity' when really they mean 'racial diversity'? The same thing happens in business except when they say 'diversity' they often are saying 'gender diversity'. There are many demographics that can make a cast diverse and are often underrepresented, such as disability, race, age etc. I just wish people would be more careful with their language. If you are interested in a broad range of demographics say 'diversity', if you are only interested in race say 'racial diversity'. Maybe to some the terms are so synonymous to most that there is no need to though.

Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.

#29

Tony Nominating Committee and diversity

Posted: 4/30/17 at 6:38pm

qolbinau said: "I know this seems very anal but why do people say 'diversity' when really they mean 'racial diversity'? The same thing happens in business except when they say 'diversity' they often are saying 'gender diversity'. There are many demographics that can make a cast diverse and are often underrepresented, such as disability, race, age etc. I just wish people would be more careful with their language. If you are interested in a broad range of demographics say 'diversity', if you are only interested in race say 'racial diversity'. Maybe to some the terms are so synonymous to most that there is no need to though.

"

I think it's just a side effect of the broader cultural conversation right now being more about racial/ethnic diversity. Specifically in the theatre world too-- I'm remembering the workshop reading of Prince of Egypt that was supposed to happen last summer getting canceled because the entire cast was white.

#30

Tony Nominating Committee and diversity

Posted: 5/1/17 at 8:16am

"I hope, as I hope with all award shows, that the awards are given based on strong and deserving performances. Race should not be a factor in any of the decisions. The Tony Awards were created to recognize excellence in Broadway Theatre and not to give the ATW and TBL diversity points."

Exactly. I don't get why this is even brought up on Broadway which is much better than Hollywood. If people want to wish shows had more diversity in the cast than that is a different subject.

#31

Tony Nominating Committee and diversity

Posted: 5/1/17 at 1:40pm

On just a bit of further thought, I'm not sure what this thread is even about, as a list of non-white potential nominees for various awards (that occur without deep examination) includes:

Corbin Bleu
Chuck Cooper
Harold Perrineau
Tracie Thoms
Denee Benton
Ariana DeBose
Steven "HeaveN" Cantor
Telly Leung
Moya Angela
Gerianne Pérez
Nicholas Ward
The entire cast of Jitney
Lindsay Mendez
Caesar Samayoa
Q. Smith
Rodney Hicks
Jon Jon Briones
Eva Noblezada
Nicholas Christopher
Rachelle Ann Go
Carlo Albán
Khris Davis
John Earl Jelks
Lance Coadie Williams
Michelle Wilson
Phillipa Soo
Manoel Felciano
Maria-Christina Oliveras
Bhavesh Patel
Caroline Stefanie Clay
Charles Turner
Ramin Karimloo
Corey Hawkins
Condola Rashad
Barrett Doss

Updated On: 5/1/17 at 01:40 PM

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