Where is this bit of Hamilton news?- Page 3

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 2:32pm

Only one honky is Shuffle Along.

 

And I think there was at least 4 whites in Hamilton (though two have left the cast)

Betsy, Neal (a swing), Thayne and Jonathan.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 2:37pm

Since a central conceit of the show is the diverse casting of the decidedly non-diverse group of white men who founded the country, obviously a great deal will be made of that. The show is a smash success and is crossing over into mainstream popular culture.

What I don't understand are all these bent out of shape people on this forum who bristle at it.

What I don't understand are the people who can be members of contemporary society and think "color doesn't matter." What blinkered lives are you living?

[mpd4165]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 2:39pm

Margo319 said: ""And besides there are white performers in the ensemble and King George."

Three.  Only three white people are in Hamilton.  I'm glad people are calling this completely discriminatory casting call out.  It's a complete violation and illegal.  

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/hamilton-hiring-practices-fire-due-discrimination-article-1.2582555

 

"

It's just killing you that POC are finally getting a seat at the table. Next.

[TrChSpHa]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 2:43pm

mpd4165 said: "Margo319 said: ""And besides there are white performers in the ensemble and King George."

Three.  Only three white people are in Hamilton.  I'm glad people are calling this completely discriminatory casting call out.  It's a complete violation and illegal.  

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/hamilton-hiring-practices-fire-due-discrimination-article-1.2582555


"It's just killing you that POC are finally getting a seat at the table. Next."

In the most successful new show on Broadway, no less. There would be no issue if this were the other way around.

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 2:52pm

They just needed to switch things so that the roles are non-white, as opposed to the performers they are seeking. 

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 3:30pm

haterobics said: "They just needed to switch things so that the roles are non-white, as opposed to the performers they are seeking."

 

Exactly. You can specify that characters are a specific race ("Alexander Hamilton: nonwhite" or "all roles are Caucasian" but you cannot restrict the talent that is seen based on race. That would be the kind of discrimination that AEA battles and why they don't want to be associated with this notice. You wouldn't see this wording on an AEA casting call. "All ethnicities are strongly encouraged to attend" appears on basically every audition breakdown. 

[Margo319]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 3:49pm

"Exactly. You can specify that characters are a specific race ("Alexander Hamilton: nonwhite" or "all roles are Caucasian" but you cannot restrict the talent that is seen based on race. That would be the kind of discrimination that AEA battles and why they don't want to be associated with this notice"

 

I agree completely.  I love Hamilton, I think it's a perfect show with one of the best Broadway casts in history.  The issue was the casting notice, which will soon be rectified because it is, in fact, discriminatory.  It's interesting that even the most die hard fans of the show cannot admit that.  

[cglaid]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 4:00pm

"I agree completely.  I love Hamilton, I think it's a perfect show with one of the best Broadway casts in history.  The issue was the casting notice, which will soon be rectified because it is, in fact, discriminatory.  It's interesting that even the most die hard fans of the show cannot admit that. "

It's because diversity is such the buzzword now, that "transgressions" against white people are being overlooked. If the casting notice said WHITES only or NON-WHITES need not apply, it would be explosive news and people would be up in arms. Just don't specify race at all. We all see the make-up of Hamilton cast. I would never even think to audition for it. But just don't tell me I can't. I am all for color-blind casting. I don't get distracted if members of the same family don't "look" alike. I'm of the camp that best person should always win the part. Talent over anything else. And that casting notice was crappy. Glad they're going to rectify it.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 4:02pm

Margo, what you seem to be missing is that (a) this is old news and (b) it is a very routine correction of a mistake, the sort of thing that happens every day in the life of the union, its members and the producers with whom it contracts. No one does not understand that this notice is improper and no one can't "admit" that. What no one can understand is why this is being discussed and treated as a big deal after a posting error was made and corrected. No one was seen or not seen based on the stricken notice, no one was hired or not hired, considered or not considered. Catching errors before they create real problems is how we want the system to work. The only reason you are all up in arms about this non-event is that the show's high profile got it on the news (just like everything else relating to this show does). Where's your outrage about the other 87 notices that were corrected this month, most of shows you've never heard of?

[gypsy101]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 4:13pm

dramamama611 said: "And I think there was at least 4 whites in Hamilton (though two have left the cast) Betsy, Neal (a swing), Thayne and Jonathan."

 

Current "whites" in the cast are: Jonathan Groff (soon to be Rory O'Malley), Carleigh Bettiol, Hope Easterbrook, Brandon Hudson, Thayne Jasperson. Brandon is a swing.

[addicted]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 4:18pm

Looks like a new article from today about the subject in the NY Post: http://nypost.com/2016/03/30/whites-need-not-apply-for-hamilton-open-audition/

[addicted]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 4:22pm

And another in the NY Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/hamilton-hiring-practices-fire-due-discrimination-article-1.2582555

 

Note the clever "history is repeating itself" line.

[JM226]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 5:28pm

HogansHero said: "Margo, what you seem to be missing is that (a) this is old news and (b) it is a very routine correction of a mistake, the sort of thing that happens every day in the life of the union, its members and the producers with whom it contracts. No one does not understand that this notice is improper and no one can't "admit" that. What no one can understand is why this is being discussed and treated as a big deal after a posting error was made and corrected. No one was seen or not seen based on the stricken notice, no one was hired or not hired, considered or not considered. Catching errors before they create real problems is how we want the system to work. The only reason you are all up in arms about this non-event is that the show's high profile got it on the news (just like everything else relating to this show does). Where's your outrage about the other 87 notices that were corrected this month, most of shows you've never heard of?

 

"

 

ah, so because people didn't catch the story when it originally happened we should all just IGNORE it now. right? right... i'm gonna say you have some connection to Hamilton. you are very eager to try and snuff out any legitimate discussion about the issue.  sad. pathetic. petty. 

[rcwr]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 5:42pm

They just needed to switch things so that the roles are non-white, as opposed to the performers they are seeking. 

 

But the roles AREN'T nonwhite. The roles we're talking about are very specifically white -- and being played by actors of color. This is one of the brilliant cores of the show.

[Broadway Forever2]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 5:49pm

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/31/arts/union-criticizes-hamilton-casting-call-seeking-nonwhite-actors.html

 

"The producers of HAMILTON regret the confusion that’s arisen from the recent posting of an open call casting notice for the show. It is essential to the storytelling of HAMILTON that the principal roles — which were written for non-white characters (excepting King George) — be performed by non-white actors. This adheres to the accepted practice that certain characteristics in certain roles constitute a “bona fide occupational qualification” that is legal. This also follows in the tradition of many shows that call for race, ethnicity or age specific casting, whether it’s THE COLOR PURPLE or PORGY & BESS, or MATILDA. The casting will be amended to also include language we neglected to add, that is, we welcome people of all ethnicities to audition for HAMILTON."

 

looks like Hamilton will change it. Hopefully all these outlets stop talking about it 

Updated On: 3/30/16 at 05:49 PM

[binau]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 5:54pm

I'm not necessarily saying I disagree with the decision, but is there really a difference from 'seeing' vs 'not seeing' non-white actors if they don't plan to cast them anyway? Seems to me to be a 'tick the box' exercise to not appear discriminatory, when it still is*.


*Again, not claiming that in this specific context this discrimination is a negative thing. I think it's a positive thing both for the show and for non-white actors, who are unfairly discriminated against generally. 

 

Updated On: 3/30/16 at 05:54 PM

[Ranger Tom]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 5:56pm

seaweedjstubbs said: "Once again, WHERE does it say they are restricting the audition to only "Non-White" people? It doesn't. They're not restricting the audition to anyone. They're just letting you know what they're looking for. Please stop repeating the whole "White people can't audition" thing as if it is fact. It's not."

Kind of like the Declaration of Independence - you aren't guaranteed "happiness" but you are guaranteed the "pursuit of happiness."  In this Hamilton thing, you aren't guaranteed casting, but you can audition.  Right now Hamilton is god (little g) on Broadway.  It can push whatever it wants.  Let the union or the law push back.

[Broadway Forever2]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 6:03pm

the producer said white people can audition it's just that they want poc. They were actually being nice in the casting call and warning all the white fan girls that not many white people were going to be cast lol. Look at the casting notice. They aren't requiring Broadway experience and are allowing you to send videos. They are looking for people who wouldn't have other wise tried out for a Broadway musical. Like Daveed Diggs for instance. He was just a rapper who never did a Broadway show before.  

[Margo319]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 6:34pm

"Just don't specify race at all. We all see the make-up of Hamilton cast. I would never even think to audition for it. But just don't tell me I can't. I am all for color-blind casting."

 

YES

[Broadway Forever2]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 6:36pm

lmao you say don't specify race. My friend went to an audition for this and there were SO MANY white girls there. They clearly aren't looking for that. 

[rcwr]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 7:04pm

Once again: it's not color-blind casting.

[TrChSpHa]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 7:05pm

rcwr said: "Once again: it's not color-blind casting."

 

Thank you.

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 7:57pm

JM226 said: "ah, so because people didn't catch the story when it originally happened we should all just IGNORE it now. right? right... i'm gonna say you have some connection to Hamilton. you are very eager to try and snuff out any legitimate discussion about the issue.  sad. pathetic. petty. "

wrong on all scores. Anyone can say whatever they want. You could also come running in the room to tell us who won the Super Bowl, but that's old news too. What's sad, pathetic and petty is to get worked about something after the air has come out of the balloon. But if it makes you happy, have all the discussion about it you want whilst the rest of us move on to something that's still topical.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 8:01pm

@qolbinau-read #38

[JM226]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 8:03pm

Broadway Forever2 said: "lmao you say don't specify race. My friend went to an audition for this and there were SO MANY white girls there. They clearly aren't looking for that. 

 

"

 

it's irrelevant what they're looking for. as the labor laws clearly state... they MUST provide the opportunity for any qualified persons, regardless of ethnicity or skin color, to audition for the role. YES, even if it's a white girl auditioning for a non-white part or vice versa. it doesn't really solve employer discrimination but that was the INTENT behind creating the law. suggesting anything close to the idea, "non-whites need not apply" is illegal. 

 

as others have already mentioned, that is why you ALMOST ALWAYS see the following phrase as a footnote on the casting notice: "All ethnicities are strongly encouraged to attend."  or sometimes "EOE. Equal Opportunity Employer."  they do not write that stuff for fun. they write it to avoid liability...