Which actor broke their minority barrier on Broadway

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

Lea Salonga for Asians (more specifically Filipinos)

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

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

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

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.

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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.

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.

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

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.

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)