What do you think of this casting listing? — Page 4

Talent is subjective. If you think a performance is bad, it's an opinion, not a fact.

"Is it at all possible that those who cast the parts actually thought those performers were good, and they simply weren't to your particular taste?"

I wish that were the case, but singing immensely off-key has little to do with taste unfortunately.

Updated On: 5/26/15 at 04:39 PM

""Is it at all possible that those who cast the parts actually thought those performers were good, and they simply weren't to your particular taste?"

I wish that was the case, but singing immensely off-key has little to do with taste unfortunately.
"

I wish that "were" the case.

Anyway, to say that those actors were cast because they were black is just...wrong.

How would you know that they weren't cast because of talent? The casting directors obviously found them very talented. Maybe the off-key notes were just the performers acting through sung notes, elevating the material to another level, and to their interpretation of the role.

Updated On: 5/26/15 at 04:45 PM

"""Is it at all possible that those who cast the parts actually thought those performers were good, and they simply weren't to your particular taste?"

I wish that was the case, but singing immensely off-key has little to do with taste unfortunately.
"
I wish that "were" the case.

The subjunctive. Remember that.


Anyway, to say that those actors were cast because they were black is extremely insensitive! How would you know that they weren't cast because of talent? The casting directors obviously found them very talented. Maybe the off-key notes were just the performers acting through sung notes, elevating the material to another level, and to their interpretation of the role.
"

Thank you for pointing that out! English is my 4th language. I sometimes think that "were" is for plural (like "we" were) and "I" was. But I understand it now. In this case the "were" is connected to "that".

And now we're at it, can aynybody tell me why "Didn't we almost have it all" is actually "Did we not almost have it all", instead of "Did not we almost have it all"?

Updated On: 5/26/15 at 04:47 PM

YES. You get it.

"I didn't say that. And I am not looking for specific ethnicities I "like." I am just painfully aware of seeing yet ANOTHER (because there are PLENTY) all-white production when it doesn't have to be."

And why doesn't it have to be? Maybe they were the best for their roles?

Hmm...

Should there be affirmative action policies put in place on Broadway, through the Actor's Equity Union, to ensure equal access to being cast in shows for underrepresented groups/social classes/ethnicities, then?

All of this back-and-forth conjecture and hypothesizing is fine, if not redundant, but rarely leads to any kind of actionable change. I would be curious to know if there is some way in which Lizzie and Namo and Kad's desire to have a more 'representational' cast on stage can actually be enforced and/or guaranteed.

"I don't look at race."

And yet, when you see a performance you don't like given by a person of color, you are confident that they were cast precisely (and only) because of their race.

Do you think the same think when you see a performance you don't like given by a white person?

But how does one enforce, monitor, or guarantee that process to take place? Let's take away the lofty social commentary and fluffy verbiage.

You want more representation by ethnic minorities in professional theatre. Okay. What is the entity or initiative to ensure that takes place? For higher education, it had to be affirmative action via the federal government.

Does LORT or AEA or The Broadway League or Casting Society of America step in?? That question is not rhetorical.

"
Do you think the same think when you see a performance you don't like given by a white person?"

Of course! The first thing I do when someone is cast totally out of place is looking for a reason. It usually has to do with fame or race. Both things make me sad. I would be quite open to a caucasian Rachel Marron in the Bodyguard, as long as she is very good. If she's bad, it's weird that they hired her.

Updated On: 5/26/15 at 05:05 PM

"Of course! The first thing I do when someone is cast totally out of place is looking for a reason. It usually has to do with fame or race."

So if a non-famous white person is giving a mediocre performance, we can assume they were cast simply because they're white.

AEA and other organizations are taking a more active stance in diversity; I'm not sure it's something that can be actually enforced, though. It's technically hiring practices. They can be incentivized.

Thanks for the response, Kad. I agree with that and assume AEA would have to find ways of incentivizing more diverse casting for producers and companies. A sad but real truth.

I love that personal standards and preferences become a matter of "enforcement" and "guarantees" to our resident lying sack of Ayn Rand!