Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
bwaybabe2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/5/08
#1Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#2re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 9:35amBert 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.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
eatlasagna
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
#2re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 10:38amLea Salonga for Asians (more specifically Filipinos)
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#3re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 10:46amBecause Pat Suzuki did nothing for them with Flower Drum Song.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#4re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
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
#5re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 12:04pmNorm Lewis--the first black Javert on Broadway, and playing what was a white cartoon character in Little Mermaid.
PiraguaGuy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
#6re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 1:26pmB.D. Wong was also an Asian Linus in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"
Formerly SirNotAppearing - Joined 3/08
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#7re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 2:00pmLeah DeLaria played a Man in ROCKY HORROR.
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#8re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 2:12pmBianca Marroquin was the first Mexican actress to play a leading role on Broadway.
#9re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 2:36pmDefinitely 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...
#10re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 2:44pmChita 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.
You're reminding me of people you hear at the movies asking questions every ten seconds, "Who is that? Why is that guy walking down the street? Who's that lady coming up to him? Uh-oh, why did that car go by? Why is it so dark in this theater?" - FindingNamo on strummergirl
"If artists were machines, then I'm just a different kind of machine...I'd probably be a toaster. Actually, I'd be a toaster oven because they're more versatile. And I like making grilled cheese" -Regina Spektor
"That's, like, twelve shows! ...Or seven." -Crazy SA Fangirl
"They say that just being relaxed is the most important thing [in acting]. I take that to another level, I think kinda like yawning and...like being partially asleep onstage is also good, but whatever." - Sherie Rene Scott
"If artists were machines, then I'm just a different kind of machine...I'd probably be a toaster. Actually, I'd be a toaster oven because they're more versatile. And I like making grilled cheese" -Regina Spektor
"That's, like, twelve shows! ...Or seven." -Crazy SA Fangirl
"They say that just being relaxed is the most important thing [in acting]. I take that to another level, I think kinda like yawning and...like being partially asleep onstage is also good, but whatever." - Sherie Rene Scott
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#11re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/05
#12re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 3:11pmYes 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
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/6/05
#13re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 4:27pmYeah 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.
#14re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
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.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#15re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 5:03pmWell, to his credit, Raul did start as Che in the tour of Evita.
You're reminding me of people you hear at the movies asking questions every ten seconds, "Who is that? Why is that guy walking down the street? Who's that lady coming up to him? Uh-oh, why did that car go by? Why is it so dark in this theater?" - FindingNamo on strummergirl
"If artists were machines, then I'm just a different kind of machine...I'd probably be a toaster. Actually, I'd be a toaster oven because they're more versatile. And I like making grilled cheese" -Regina Spektor
"That's, like, twelve shows! ...Or seven." -Crazy SA Fangirl
"They say that just being relaxed is the most important thing [in acting]. I take that to another level, I think kinda like yawning and...like being partially asleep onstage is also good, but whatever." - Sherie Rene Scott
"If artists were machines, then I'm just a different kind of machine...I'd probably be a toaster. Actually, I'd be a toaster oven because they're more versatile. And I like making grilled cheese" -Regina Spektor
"That's, like, twelve shows! ...Or seven." -Crazy SA Fangirl
"They say that just being relaxed is the most important thing [in acting]. I take that to another level, I think kinda like yawning and...like being partially asleep onstage is also good, but whatever." - Sherie Rene Scott
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#16re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 6:17pmWell, before Raul there was Raul Julia, who played a multitude of roles outside of his own ethnic heritage.
#17re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 6:20pmVery true. I adore Raul Julia, can't believe I didn't think of him. His Mack the Knife is my favorite recorded Mack.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#18re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
#19re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 6:41pmDidn't Benson play the Phantom?
PEACE.
#20re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 7:09pmI 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
Broadway Star Joined: 1/17/07
#21re: Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway
Posted: 4/11/09 at 7:15pmI've always found it fascinating that a half-Japanese actress, Sono Osato, was the original Ivy Smith in On the Town.
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