A Director said: "
I'm sure Mendoza is great. I'm also sure that there are literally 1,000 American actresses who are also POC and would have played the part just as well. But I guess that's show biz...she's worked with both Baz Luhrman and Alex Timbers before, and they went with someone they know. That's how it usually goes. But if I were a New York-based musical theatre actress I'd be pretty pissed."
Have you seen the musical? If not, do you know what creative team is looking for when casting the role? How are you sure there are literally 1,000 American actresses who are also POC and would have played the part just as well? Have you seen the work of all 1,000 actresses? Why 1,000? For all you know, there could be 1,001 or 1,002 or higher. Oh, by the way, today men and women who act are called actors.
"
Actually, there was a very recent (and costly) scientific study of American actresses...sorry - female actors - between the ages of 25 and 45 who identify as both female and BIPOC. The research was performed as a joint venture between Columbia, UCLA, upper-middle class suburban New Yorkers, and the producers and director of Moulin Rogue. After extensive review of the participants' vocal range, quality, and versatility, coupled an in-depth analysis of multiple socio-sexual qualities including "charm," "charisma," and "chemistry" (with both Aaron Tveit and his understudies), it was concluded that there are precisely 1,097 female actors in the United States who scored in either the "satisfactory" or "excellent" range in regards to their ability to play Satine on Broadway.
As it turned out however, after viewing the results of the study, Baz Luhrman and Alex Timbers, while having martinis at Sardis, discussed the matter for precisely 3.5 minutes before they simultaneously threw their hands up in the air and loudly declared to the entire second floor of the restaurant, "F*ck it, let's just go with someone we know," and the next morning Mendoza was flown over on the producers' dime from Australia to New York City to sign her contract and join rehearsals for the Broadway production.
As a consolation prize, the top scoring American actors from the study were sent a heartfelt, emoji-filled email encouraging them to come see the show when it reopens with a 10% discount on tickets. The email also included a friendly reminder to update their federal unemployment claims if they haven't done so in the last ninety days, as well as $50 gift certificates to Applebee's.
Not everyone gets to be a sparkling diamond, but that's showbiz, am I right?
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