Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 4:37am

Since the topic of minorities is being discussed in a thread at the moment, I'd like to know who each of you thinks was the one actor in each minority (Hispanic, Asian, Black...) who paved the way for their minority, on the Broadway stage.
Updated On: 4/11/09 at 04:37 AM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 9:35am

Bert Williams was the first African American to appear on a Broadway stage. This was back before Equity existed. He was forced to appear in blackface, and when the first Actor's Strike occurred, no one bothered to tell him.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 10:38am

Lea Salonga for Asians (more specifically Filipinos)

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 10:46am

Because Pat Suzuki did nothing for them with Flower Drum Song.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 11:57am

I don't think she's the first or the only to break the barrier, but Audra McDonald has certainly paved the way for actors of minority. Many of the roles she has played and/or won Tony Awards for are not necessarily black roles and are usually played by white actors.

~Steven

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 12:04pm

Norm Lewis--the first black Javert on Broadway, and playing what was a white cartoon character in Little Mermaid.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 1:26pm

B.D. Wong was also an Asian Linus in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 2:00pm

Leah DeLaria played a Man in ROCKY HORROR.

[changinandhow]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 2:12pm

Bianca Marroquin was the first Mexican actress to play a leading role on Broadway.

[g4rat]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 2:36pm

Definitely audra mcdoanld. Especially since she has played roles traditionally played by white actors. She's a great example of if the person has the talent and is right for the role why shouldn't they play it. And I guess Saycon Sengbloh kind of opened the door for African American elphabas. Now if only she'd come back to play the role full time...

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 2:44pm

Chita Rivera, not sure if you can really say she "broke the barrier" but she was one of the first successful Puerto Rican actors on broadway, she originated some truly famous roles.

[Jon]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 2:52pm

Of Audra's four Tony awards, two of them were for specifically black characters (Ragtime and Raisin in the Sun) and two were not (Carousel and Master Class).

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 3:11pm

Yes those are the shows she won Tonys for, but she has done others, I can think of two off the top of my head that are traditionally white those being 110 in the shade and Henry IV. I don't know that I would say she broke the barrier, but she has made a difference.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 4:27pm

Yeah I think he big one was Carousel not Master Class. I mean she wans't reprising a role in that. She also played Ayah (sp) in The Secret Garden. I love her but things like her in Shakespeare aren't ground breaking. Over the roles she's done I think she's changed the way African American women appear on stage. She made it possible for a black leading lady stand up on stage and sing in a smooth legit polished voice. I can't think of too many Black leading lady sopranos before her. While there are times I'm like "UGH BELT!" I'm certainly glad that she's challenging the perception that a black girl has to be sassy, have tons of attitude and belt all the damn time.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 4:38pm

Definitely Chita Rivera who has successfully played roles throughout her career without being ethnicized. She started as Anita and went on to play Rose in BYE BYE BIRDIE, but after that, she has played Anna in THE RINK, Velma Kelly, Reno Sweeney, the Queen in MERLIN, she was one of the stars in JERRY'S GIRL, she played LaFleur, the main role in THE VISIT, and I'm sure she has played a few more non-Latina roles in stock. She truly defied all minority barriers.
Audra McDonald is more modern, but I agree she has been able to play parts in which her race is not seen as relevant.
Same goes for Raul Esparza whom I'm sure people think of as "white." I can't think of any other Latino actors who are allowed to be in a Mamet play, a Pinter play, and a Sondheim musical without people thinking of "color-blind casting." Interestingly enough though, no one thinks of him when it comes to casting Latino male roles.

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 5:03pm

Well, to his credit, Raul did start as Che in the tour of Evita.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 6:17pm

Well, before Raul there was Raul Julia, who played a multitude of roles outside of his own ethnic heritage.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 6:20pm

Very true. I adore Raul Julia, can't believe I didn't think of him. His Mack the Knife is my favorite recorded Mack.

[Jon]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 6:33pm

During the original run of Man of LaMancha, a Japanese actor played Cervantes/Quixote for a while.

And of course, Asian-American actor/director Randall Duk Kim has a summer theatre in Wisconsin where he regularly performs Shakespeare, Checkov, Ibsen, etc.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 6:41pm

Didn't Benson play the Phantom?

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 7:09pm

I don't know if Brian Stokes Mitchell paved the way, but he's certainly done many roles that were not originally intended for a black man. (Kiss Me, Kate, Les Miz, Man of La Mancha)

[viola13]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 7:15pm

I've always found it fascinating that a half-Japanese actress, Sono Osato, was the original Ivy Smith in On the Town.