Prince of Egypt Concert - Long Island- Page 6

[darquegk]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 1:59pm

The film is extremely well-designed in this aspect- the scene where Moses takes off his wig and wipes off his makeup, transitioning from looking decidedly Egyptian to decidedly Semitic, is one of the most iconic shots in the picture.

And to its credit, the film defined the Egyptians as people of color but steadfastly refused to pigeonhole their ethnicity. They were "ambiguously brown," but designed physically to resemble Egyptian hieroglyphic iconography more than to conform to any modern-day racial representation. The question is how to maintain that distinction onstage. Much like AIDA, the show calls for instantly and unmistakable differentiation between two warring ethnic groups, so casting will be full of pitfalls but must be handled seriously.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:09pm

I just heard from a pretty reliable source that this will still be happening as a private reading which goes to the show that no one learned anything from this and isn't taking action to actually make changes.

[Showface]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:12pm

jawjuhh said: "Can' tell if I'm reading too much into it but I'm a bit put off by the way they worded that FB post, especially the last sentence, especially reiterating the "Free one-night community event".  It seems sort of emotionally manipulative and puts blame on the people "responsible" for its cancellation, rather than making any sort of apology about the core issue.

 

"

I noticed that, too...

 

 

[Showface]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:12pm

 

 

Updated On: 7/28/16 at 02:12 PM

[Showface]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:16pm

There are just so many appropriate ctors that could play these roles. Adam Jacobs is a POC + he's Jewish and could play Moses well, and his sister, Arielle Jacobs could play his sister in the show. Daveed Diggs is also a Jewish POC.

They had wonderful options, and they didn't take them. Now they've faced the well deserved backlash. 

 

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:19pm

Not sure how that's possible.... Adam is currently in the UK. Arielle is currently in Australia.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:19pm

Showface said: "There are just so many appropriate ctors that could play these roles. Adam Jacobs is a POC + he's Jewish and could play Moses well, and his sister, Arielle Jacobs could play his sister in the show. Daveed Diggs is also a Jewish POC."

Those are wonderful choices for a production, but perhaps those three have something better to be doing on a Saturday evening.

[Robert16]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:21pm

Canceled due to controversy

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:21pm

Also, one of them isn't even in this hemisphere right now.

[Sunny11]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:22pm

alliez92092 said: "I just heard from a pretty reliable source that this will still be happening as a private reading which goes to the show that no one learned anything from this and isn't taking action to actually make changes.

 

"

I wouldn't want the people employed in this to lose a job though and the key objective of developing a full Broadway show is still there and they need to do this reading to continue with that.

i think that cancelling the event for public viewing sends a clear message that they have understood their mistakes and when the next PR opportunity presents it self I am sure that they will be ultra careful with their casting choices.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:25pm

While I am one of the people who took issue with the casting, my only hope is that this project doesn't get buried the way The Nightingale seemed to have gotten buried after its controversial production at La Jolla. And I hope if it does move on that the casting directors learn from this.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:28pm

This is the fault of the creative team, ie Scott & Stephen Schwartz, not the casting directors. So it's no surprise they're trying to bury this.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:41pm

It's nice to know this board is still a safe haven for civilized discussion....oh wait.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:43pm

How is what I said not civilized?

[Showface]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:57pm

Regardless of availability, point was simply that there are plenty of actors for these roles. :)

[JennH]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 2:59pm

Mattbrain said: "While I am one of the people who took issue with the casting, my only hope is that this project doesn't get buried the way The Nightingale seemed to have gotten buried after its controversial production at La Jolla. And I hope if it does move on that the casting directors learn from this.

 

"

Much agreed. I've said for YEARS this movie needs to be a stage musical, like Hunchback it SCREAMS for it (although I've already posted my Hunchback thoughts,I won't beat the dead horse that is that VERY misguided adaptation), PofE is such wonderful material on it's own along with being very easily conceived for the stage, I REALLY would hate it's journey end here because of this misstep. I must disagree with kad in his saying this film was a second rate animated musical. I'm sorry, this is one of the top animated musicals out there, it gives Disney a run for it's money, in fact in many ways I think it surpasses Disney...and this is coming from the biggest Disnerd you'll meet. This is also was Dreamworks first film that put them on the map as Disney's biggest competitor, which to this day, they still are. 

And apart from the casting office, and Scott, I know Schwartz imself knew who the cast would be, so I'm shocked he even allowed this to happen considering his stance on similar issues these days. I was in agreement about Scott kind of ****ting over his dad's legacy, but when his dad is teh one who wrote it, and therefore knew who this cats would be, how could he not have anything to say on the subject?

We all can go "coulda, shoulda, woulda" right now about how this shouldn't have happened in the first place, but what I'm more disappointed about is how this could have been a golden opportunity to REALLY fix the root issue, by recasting, not by canceling. canceling screams 'back paddling cover up" to me, rather than march forward and fix it. I know it's in two weeks, but it's obvious that very limited rehearsal time hasn't even began yet. And look, this movie is well known in the MT world, you can't tell me there isn't any correct people who are waiting in the wings who already know the material they could cast quickly. AND it's a concert with books in hand...so, I apologize but the 'not being abl to recast' holds no water right now for me. 

And as for the issue of no one has ever really found what Egyptians REALLY looked like back then, this is correct, but to the commenter saying that considering it's climate and location, you can't say they're all that light skinned, I do agree, I'm glad someone mentioned that. Heck, PofE isn't necessarily a story with 'ethnicity' as the story's primary conflict, it's really not, but location does matter in certain contexts. But that's another can of worms to open for another day, i have a whole thesis ready for why certain shows though 'ethnicity' has nothing to do with the ACTUAL STORY, certain time periods and location DOES play a part into who one would cast. But again, I'll leave that for another day.

 

 

 

[Kad]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 3:36pm

Re: The Nightingale

I'm not sure it was buried due to its casting controversy- it's very possible it just wasn't very good. Sheik's had numerous shows since Spring Awakening that have gone absolutely nowhere for that reason.

[bk]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 5:47pm

They cast it the way they felt like casting it.  A few people here took exception because that's what people do these days.  It's their dough and their project and if you take exception, don't go see it.  I would have cancelled it, too, had I heard this stuff.  Diversity is wonderful, but not if it's forced on creative people who cast things according to their vision of a project and with the people they think can best realize the project - in this case, a simple concert reading, one-night only thing - the outcry here was, IMO, ridiculous.  

Now I'm back to my diversity in casting with my two-thirds white production of Porgy and Bess - diversity rules, baby.  Bess, You Are My Woman Now - It Isn't Necessarily So - can't wait for you all to come.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 5:49pm

^I agree the outcry was very ridiculous. It was just a one night concert reading. 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 6:19pm

darquegk said: "The film is extremely well-designed in this aspect- the scene where Moses takes off his wig and wipes off his makeup, transitioning from looking decidedly Egyptian to decidedly Semitic, is one of the most iconic shots in the picture.

And to its credit, the film defined the Egyptians as people of color but steadfastly refused to pigeonhole their ethnicity. They were "ambiguously brown," but designed physically to resemble Egyptian hieroglyphic iconography more than to conform to any modern-day racial representation. The question is how to maintain that distinction onstage. Much like AIDA, the show calls for instantly and unmistakable differentiation between two warring ethnic groups, so casting will be full of pitfalls but must be handled seriously.

 

"

 

Great points, and the thoughtfulness of the film's look is part of why I'm not even sure I'd want a stage version; especially with a director who is not exactly dynamic. It's shockingly well-developed visually, with some of the most impressive hand-drawn animation ever done. That is its greatest strength. 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 7:53pm

bk said: "They cast it the way they felt like casting it.  A few people here took exception because that's what people do these days.  It's their dough and their project and if you take exception, don't go see it."

Yeah don't you just hate when people cast things in an racist way and people get offended by that racism.

[bk]

Posted: 7/29/16 at 1:40am

No I don't hate it because it's their dough and they can do what they want.  It was a one-night concert, they were obviously trying for name power and no, I don't think it was racist but then I don't react in a knee-jerk way to this stuff.  There is a time for reacting that way should things warrant it, and there is a time to not be ridiculous, which, in this case, the being ridiculous was absolutely unnecessary and a bore.  So, in short, sorry, not playing that game.  It's nauseating that they cancelled it, if you must know.  I don't blame them, however, because who needs it.  

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/29/16 at 2:25am

Agreed. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 7/29/16 at 3:50am

JennH said: " This is also was Dreamworks first film that put them on the map as Disney's biggest competitor, which to this day, they still are. "

They're not. But that's another conversation.

It is kind of disappointing that the concert was cancelled. I'm not sure the story is right for a stage production because the movie works so well. But the music is great so if they know how to make it work, I'd be interested.

Also, I never knew about The Nightingale thing but I'm not terribly surprised Duncan Sheik's name was in the mix for a lack of diversity issue.

[belrowley]

Posted: 7/29/16 at 4:10am

I hope the bad press also leads to a new director... I love the film, and I feel like it will be an incredible stage production in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing.