Weird Cast of RENT Photo? Caucasian Joanne???

I don't know what you are talking about it, but it definitely wasn't the Toronto cast.

That sounds like it's likely one of the European casts.

Yeah, it is not Toronto if it had a white Joanne.

That cast was Chad Richardson as Mark; Cary Sheilds as Roger; Saskia Garel as Mimi; Jenifer Aubry as Maureen; Karen Leblanc as Joanne; Danny Blanco as Collins; Jai Rodriguez as Angel.

That is pretty tradition casting in regards to race.

Despite Karen Leblanc's name translating to "the white one" I assure you she is an African American actress.

Updated On: 1/8/06 at 03:20 PM

That's possible. I have the cast recording, but don't feel like tracking down the liner notes.

I know the Mexico City company was mostly latino actors and actresses, and in Eurpoe it wasn't unusual to cast outside of what we have come to accept as the normal casting for Rent.

Well, the casting directors always look for a black actress. That's the way Jonathan Larson wrote the character and thus far US productions have tried to remain faithful to his vision.

Plus, go here (http://wannabeinrent.com/) and look under Joanne.

I do think it's kind of stupid that they adhere so closely to the OBC's races. I'm all for racial diversity, but - and again this has been discussed to death - with the possible exception of Mimi - these characters could be of any race. You can still keep the show diverse by having a white Collins and a black Maureen.

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Wheres the link?

ooops...forgot to name the link.....it's there now.....sorry!

There have been not only Black Mimi's but Angels of every persuasion under the sun. at one point there was a break-down for an asian angel sooo the racial thing is pretty much bull. I mean there really isn't anything other than that breakdown (which doesn't seem very professional) that says Joanne's GOT to be black. I don't think it would really matter either way.

Well...in some Asian country (I believe it was an Asian production of the show), they had an Asian Mark...and I believe there was an Asian Mimi...

One of my friends sent me to the site and it even had all of the songs--

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Jonart...I would love to play all those roles. But I couldn't sing Roger. But I'm all about playing Mark, Collins and Benny. I totally wanna play benny as a wigger.

Akiva

Karen LeBlanc is definitely a black woman, and Patronus, she's not African-American, she's Canadian. And she was one of the best Joannes I've ever seen. :) I don't feel that it's discrimination with the way the show is cast. It's the most racially and ethnically diverse show probably to ever be on Broadway. The fact that they stick to certain characteristics within certain characters isn't that surprising, in North America.

Casts outside N.A. have not stuck to those that kind of typing. Neither have understudies in various North American casts, even on Broadway, for some characters. I don't see a problem with it. There are few enough roles for actors of color on Broadway, that if you started opening up some of those in Rent which have traditionally been cast with black actors, it would limit the opportunities even further.

The current World Tour Mimi is Asian because they wanted a 'name' star in that part of the world.

Pitpro, that WAS the Canadian tour, same cast, for the most part, that was in Toronto. They also had a short run in Ottawa. And no, it's not the cast she was referring to with a white Joanne.

Updated On: 1/8/06 at 07:35 PM