Update: BANDSTAND will officially open at the Jacobs! - Page 5

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 10:42am

That's the whitest cast I've ever seen.  Who cares about this show?  What's the point of it existing?  What new things does it bring to the table?  More white people having middle class white people problems?  Thanks, but I think we're all kinda bored with that.

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 10:52am

Right because war veterans dealing with PTSD is such a boring middle class problem.

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:18am

When it's presented in the most white bread way, yes. 

[elephantseye]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:19am

perfectliar said: "LesWickedly said: "I'd say having a diverse cast is important. "

Doesn't this take place during segregation?"

And The Great Comet takes place in 1812 Russia. If the plot doesn't revolve around racial issues, I don't see any reason not to utilize race-blind casting. With so few roles written specifically for POC, casting non-white actors in traditionally (or supposed) white roles is necessary to maintain racial diversity. The only shows I can think of that would require race conscious casting would be where it is vital to the plot or structure of the show-- Hairspray, for example, or Hamilton.

 

It's 2017. There's no excuse for this.

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:20am

"When it's presented in the most white bread way, yes."

Yeah, okay.

[Petralicious]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:24am

I do not care what race she is I would see Laura sing the Dictionary

[elephantseye]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:25am

AKarp2013 said: ""When it's presented in the most white bread way, yes."

Yeah, okay."

Black WWII veterans actually faced a higher incidence of PTSD due to the stresses of war in combination with high levels of discrimination. So there's a way to talk about WWII vets and historically include black actors.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:26am

Sondheimite said: "That's the whitest cast I've ever seen. "

Hey, someone had to take the Bright Star slot.

[canadian fan]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:27am

Sondheimite said: "That's the whitest cast I've ever seen.  Who cares about this show?  What's the point of it existing?  What new things does it bring to the table?  More white people having middle class white people problems?  Thanks, but I think we're all kinda bored with that.

Wow, you do realize if you take out the word white and substitute any other race, it instantly becomes very offensive right? Which is another way of saying this is offensive.  Saying a story is not important or relevant because there are no other ethnicities represented is wrong. IMO anyways....don't like to comment on topics like this, but couldn't help it this time.

 

 

[elephantseye]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:30am

canadian fan said: "Sondheimite said: "That's the whitest cast I've ever seen.  Who cares about this show?  What's the point of it existing?  What new things does it bring to the table?  More white people having middle class white people problems?  Thanks, but I think we're all kinda bored with that.

Wow, you do realize if you take out the word white and substitute any other race, it instantly becomes very offensive right? Which is another way of saying this is offensive.  Saying a story is not important or relevant because there are no other ethnicities represented is wrong. IMO anyways....don't like to comment on topics like this, but couldn't help it this time."

 

If non-white actors were traditionally the only actors who had appeared on stage since the inception of the Broadway musical, if they performed in 'white face' to play caricatures of white people, if they were the only people who were represented both within the plot of the shows and as a physical presence on stage, then to demand non-white actors in an all-white show would be offensive. But that's not the case.

It's not offensive to ask for representation. It is offensive to suggest that wanting a multi-ethnic cast is in some way discriminatory.

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:30am

99% of the stories told are white dominated. I think they'll be fine. I say this as a white person. 

[Petralicious]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:34am

Damn whitey, ruins everything!!! cant they just go away??

Updated On: 3/8/17 at 11:34 AM

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:35am

I was never discussing the show's mostly white cast. I absolutely wish it were more diverse. I'm talking about war veterans dealing with PTSD which I find to be a very important and timely subject. I have many family members that are army/marine veterans so that's one of the reasons I connected to the show at Paper Mill.

Is it a shame that much of the cast is white? Yes. Do I wish it were more diverse? Absolutely. But when someone says "Who cares?" or "What's the point?" or says that war veterans dealing with these issues is just another boring middle class problem, that's what aggravates me.

Updated On: 3/8/17 at 11:35 AM

[elephantseye]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:39am

AKarp2013 said: "I was never discussing the show's mostly white cast. I absolutely wish it were more diverse. I'm talking about war veterans dealing with PTSD which I find to be a very important and timely subject. I have many family members that are army/marine veterans so that's one of the top reasons I connected to this show when I saw it at Paper Mill.

Is it a shame that much of the cast is white? Yes. Do I wish it were more diverse? Absolutely. But when someone says "Who cares?" or "What's the point?" or says that war veterans dealing with these issues is just another boring middle class problem, that's what aggravates me."

Ok, fair enough. But the point is, is that you can tell the same story and hit the same emotional notes with a multi-ethnic cast.

All-white casts are, imo, both unnecessary and boring. No one was that I saw was commenting on PTSD being boring; it's boring when the story is told by a 100% white cast.

Updated On: 3/8/17 at 11:39 AM

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:41am

AKarp2013 said: "I was never discussing the show's mostly white cast. I absolutely wish it were more diverse. I'm talking about war veterans dealing with PTSD which I find to be a very important and timely subject. I have many family members that are army/marine veterans so that's one of the reasons I connected to the show at Paper Mill.

Is it a shame that much of the cast is white? Yes. Do I wish it were more diverse? Absolutely. But when someone says "Who cares?" or "What's the point?" or says that war veterans dealing with these issues is just another boring middle class problem, that's what aggravates me.

 

"

I agree completely. The story sounds intriguing and one that should be told. I just wish it were told with a more diverse cast.

 

[canadian fan]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:41am

I agree 100% that the show should have more representation of other ethnicities. I think it would add to the show for sure in so many ways. But saying a show isn't relevant and who would want to see it because its only represented by one race, regardless of the race in question, is just wrong. Again my opinion only.  

[DaisyMae56]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:44am

100% agreed. A brand new original musical that can potentially impact the veteran community on BROADWAY is very encouraging. I also read that this is the first Bway show to be noticed by Got Your Six (look it up if you don't know what it is.) I think this show could start an important conversation about mental illness and music therapy for our vets who have fought for our country. 

[smidge]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 12:21pm

Sondheimite said: "That's the whitest cast I've ever seen.  Who cares about this show?  What's the point of it existing?  What new things does it bring to the table?  More white people having middle class white people problems?  Thanks, but I think we're all kinda bored with that.

 

That's just a vague generalization that can pertain to most theater. Yes, even Sondheim. Why pick on Bandstand? 2 all white Glass Menageries back to back probably aren't necessary either. 

 

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 12:32pm

While still not right, it's easier to excuse when it's a four person cast.

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 9:31pm

I think that there should be room on Broadway for an original musical from the swing era. It was a short but exciting time for American music. You had musical geniuses Duke Ellington and Fats Waller. Dueling clarinetists Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. Three of the greats of the century: Billie Holliday, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

I don't know if the original score for this musical will fall embarrassingly short of the representative music of the time, and a swing era musical will probably be presented with a large spoonful of sentimentality, but I'm looking forward to seeing what it has to offer.

[perfectliar]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 10:20pm

Call_me_jorge said: "perfectliar said: "LesWickedly said: "I'd say having a diverse cast is important. "

Doesn't this take place during segregation?

 

"

The show takes place in the north, though. Right? "

I don't know, I was legitimately asking. If it takes place in a segregated location at a segregated time, that would explain the cast is all I was getting at.

 

I know almost nothing about the show. From what I've gathered, this looks like a historical piece, not something stylized like 1812.

Updated On: 3/8/17 at 10:20 PM

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 3/9/17 at 2:26am

Even with a diverse cast this show would still sound as hideously boring and dull as it does now. Osnes and Cott have the most bland, generic, unexciting musical theatre voices in the business. I'm not sure if it's the average material or their generic sound but that video preview almost sent me into a coma. 

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 3/9/17 at 9:30am

(Just to be clear, this is in response to LizzieCurry's sharp Bright Star quip!)

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 11:49am

Petralicious said: "Damn whitey, ruins everything!!! cant they just go away??

 

"

With "intelligent" commentary like this, I can't imagine why these boards don't attract more new blood.

[mehtotheworld]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 12:01am

Plannietink08 said: "Even with a diverse cast this show would still sound as hideously boring and dull as it does now. Osnes and Cott have the most bland, generic, unexciting musical theatre voices in the business. I'm not sure if it's the average material or their generic sound but that video preview almost sent me into a coma."

I have to agree about Cott, but Laura Osnes makes up for any vocal deficiencies (a point I actually disagree with when the material is right) with other things like stage presence, chemistry with leads, etc. I saw her in the Crazy for You concert and she absolutely held her own with Tony Yazbeck, whom I think is one of the most talented people on Broadway (or that should be on Broadway). I find her fun and interesting to watch, though of course YMMV! I just don't think that video really showcases that, unfortunately.