#1
Posted: 7/5/14 at 4:21pm
I'm talking about color-blind and gender-blind casting.
When is blind casting okay?
#2
Fasten your seatbelts...
Posted: 7/5/14 at 4:26pm
Fasten your seatbelts...
Updated On: 7/5/14 at 04:26 PM
#3
Posted: 7/5/14 at 4:26pm
When it is non-essential to the plot of the show.
Examples: There can't be a white Seaweed in Hairspray because the racial differences are a very big part of the plot. There can't be a female Angel in Rent because the fact that he is a man who cross-dresses as a woman is a huge part of the character.
Examples: There can't be a white Seaweed in Hairspray because the racial differences are a very big part of the plot. There can't be a female Angel in Rent because the fact that he is a man who cross-dresses as a woman is a huge part of the character.
#4
Posted: 7/5/14 at 4:28pm
Generally you should try to cast color blindly whenever the ethnicity isn't a central part of the character. Obviously a white Motormouth or black Velma wouldn't work in Hairspray, but a black or Hispanic Javert or Eponine in Les Miz works fine.
Gender blind casting is somewhat more tricky, because a lot of times a character's relationships with other characters are based on whether the character is male or female.
Gender blind casting is somewhat more tricky, because a lot of times a character's relationships with other characters are based on whether the character is male or female.
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
Updated On: 7/5/14 at 04:28 PM
#5
Posted: 7/5/14 at 4:30pm
I'm just asking because my director likes to have something about the struggles of black people even when it doesn't make sense.
He would make Maria black and set the Sound of music in 1960's Mississippi.
He would make Maria black and set the Sound of music in 1960's Mississippi.
#6
Posted: 7/5/14 at 4:35pm
I think that for the majority of shows, blind casting works just fine. But, it doesnt work in shows like Memphis or Hairspray where racial relations is a main theme.
I saw a blind production of Hairspray and it was all f*cked up.
I saw a blind production of Hairspray and it was all f*cked up.
#7
Posted: 7/5/14 at 4:35pm
PLEEEEEEEEASE film that and put it on YouTube.
I'm BEGGING you!
I'm BEGGING you!
#8
Posted: 7/5/14 at 4:36pm
As someone said in another thread last night, R&H shows were written for a specific period. In my own opinion doing that kind of concept doesn't work because what is there to gain from it other than being "hip, and cutting edge". You would also need to change the libretto to reflect the lack of Austria, Germany or the growing Third Reich. Something that the R&H Estate would never allow in a million years.
Maria can be black, Audra is black, so why can't Maria.
Maria can be black, Audra is black, so why can't Maria.
"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-
#9
Posted: 7/5/14 at 4:37pm
I'm just asking because my director likes to have something about the struggles of black people even when it doesn't make sense.
He would make Maria black and set the Sound of music in 1960's Mississippi.
You're lying.
He would make Maria black and set the Sound of music in 1960's Mississippi.
You're lying.
#11
Posted: 7/5/14 at 4:54pm
It's true he's doing Cabaret with a color blind cast because he feels that "his people" are still being treated like the Jews during the Holocaust.
#12
Posted: 7/5/14 at 4:57pm
And who are "his people"?
"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-
#13
Posted: 7/5/14 at 5:01pm
He refers to African-Americans as "his people"
#14
Posted: 7/5/14 at 5:34pm
Just so you're clear about something - your director is an idiot.
#15
Posted: 7/5/14 at 5:39pm
As they so wisely put it in the brilliant "Tropic Thunder", "what do you mean, MY people?"
#16
Posted: 7/5/14 at 5:44pm
This thread is hilarious. Is the OP a troll?
#17
Posted: 7/5/14 at 5:44pm
No I thought it might be an interesting discussion
Updated On: 7/5/14 at 05:44 PM
#19
You're lying.
You're a lying troll.
You're a lying troll who's lying.
Posted: 7/5/14 at 5:45pm
You're lying.
You're a lying troll.
You're a lying troll who's lying.
#20
Posted: 7/5/14 at 5:47pm
I saw a production of Sound of Music set in a french penal colony. Maria was played by a mulatto mute hunchback. Made you think.
#21
Posted: 7/5/14 at 5:47pm
I'm sorry I said yup to Jordan saying he was an idiot
This is actually true
This is actually true
#22
Posted: 7/5/14 at 5:48pm
As long as people seem to keep wanting to take this topic to its illogical extreme, have we considered species-blind casting? I know of a Ring-tailed Lemur who I think would be perfect for Mrs. Lovett.
#24
Posted: 7/5/14 at 5:50pm
My director is doing a musical version of MISSISSIPPI BURNING but setting it in 1981 London since he thinks punk rock was wrongfully treated by the mainstream the same as southern black people in the 60's.
#25
Posted: 7/5/14 at 5:54pm
When we did Little shop he tried to make a statement about race by making Audrey black. The role was soo far out of her singing range. She sounded like Beyonce in a wood chipper.
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