Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
RW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#1Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 12:11amThe show has been running for over 10 years and soon be the highest grossing musical of all time, so wouldn't you think they would have cast a Caucasian man as Simba by now?
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#2Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 12:16amThey would need a caucasian Mufasa and a caucasian Sarabi, and caucasian understudies for them all. It's the "look" they have built upon is all.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
RW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#2Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 12:20amblaxx, you make a good point. I guess Disney didn't care about that when they cast Adam Jacobs.
KirbyCat
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/23/08
#3Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 12:24am
They have a predominantly black cast because it is a show that is heavily African. It's really only the hyenas/Zazu/Timon/Pumbaa that are cast with caucasian actors.
If we're going with the "look" logic, take a look at The Little Mermaid: Norm Lewis was the father of the little red headed mermaid, a blonde mermaid, an Asian mermaid, and the brother of a Jewish/Italian-sounding octopus. That said... who cares. Norm Lewis wore a skirt and body glitter.
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#4Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 12:56am
It still needs to be cohesive. The story focuses strongly on the father-son relationship, a blond, blue eyed Simba just was not part of Taymor's aesthetics.
Zambello just wanted to push "ugly" all over merpeople world, not a good example.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#5Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 1:12am
Scar is also usually Caucasian.
And I agree with blaxx. You'd have to recast Mufasa, Sarabi, and the Young Simba to make it work.
Also, I don't think Adam Jacobs is white.
RW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#6Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 1:19amHe's ethnic, Filipino to be exact
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#7Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 1:28amThere have been "ethnic" Simbas, too. Just don't expect an albino to play the part anytime soon.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#8Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 1:51amI'm just wondering why the race of the rest of the family matters at all when everyone is playing an animal with either a mask or a puppet anyway.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#9Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 1:57am
There is also something on the books that a certain percentage of the actors need to be of color -- I don't know if it goes far enough to list specific roles with that requirement.
(Or at least thats what I was told at one point -- I could have been misled, but I seem to remember others backing it up.)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#10Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 2:23amLast time The Lion King came through the theatre where I work in the box office, someone called and asked, "Is this the black version of the Lion King again?"
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
NoHSMisNotAMusical
Stand-by Joined: 10/21/11
#11Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 2:29am
Because it's set in Africa, so why would there be white people?
There are so many shows dominated by white people, leave this one alone.
Broadwaystar2
Broadway Star Joined: 9/4/13
#12Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 2:33amThe same reason there is yet to be a BLACK Elphaba in ANY incarnation of Wicked. I'm not talking understudy either.
#13Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 2:40am
^^^^^^ ?????? O_O Is this a real statement?
"Because it's set in Africa, so why would there be white people?"
You have obviously never turned on the television and or read a book. South Africa at one point had a multitude of Caucasians running the government. Study your history sir/madame! There is life outside your apartment!
NoHSMisNotAMusical
Stand-by Joined: 10/21/11
#14Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 2:43amAlexia Khadime, Lilli Cooper, Saycon Sengbloh, Dan'yelle Williams, Amaris Dupree and others would like to have a word with you, broadwaystar2. And a black actor playing a role originated by a white person is very different than vice versa.
NoHSMisNotAMusical
Stand-by Joined: 10/21/11
#15Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 2:44amLions are native to Africa. White people came in and exploited it.
#16Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 2:45am
The same reason there is yet to be a BLACK Elphaba in ANY incarnation of Wicked.
Oh please. Do research before making statements like that. This is Saycon Sengbloh. She is black. She played Elphaba.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#17Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 2:46am
Because it's set in Africa, so why would there be white people? 
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
NoHSMisNotAMusical
Stand-by Joined: 10/21/11
#18Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 2:48am
Haha ^
When rereading my comment, I noticed that
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
BroadwayBryce
Chorus Member Joined: 8/1/13
#20Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 2:51amI worked with a woman who played Nala on Broadway a few years ago and she actually said its written by Julie Taymor in Lion King's contract that only timon, pumba, and scar can be Caucasian
rabymon10
Stand-by Joined: 10/30/06
#21Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 2:51am
On casting for the upcoming Australian return season:
“In casting the show, our task from [director] Julie Taymor was to find a diverse and exciting group of performers who uniquely reflect the cultural influences of our country and our region” said Executive Producer James Thane.
http://aussietheatre.com.au/news/confirmed-full-cast-of-the-lion-king-announced
Updated On: 10/20/13 at 02:51 AM
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#22Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 2:54am
Denzel Washington can play Julius Caesar but forget any more than token Caucasians in Lion King. Had no problem with Denzel as IC in case you are interested
The old double standard is alive and well
Poster Emeritus
#23Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 3:23am
Are you effing kidding me with that, Mr Roxy? Why do there need to be any more than "token Caucasians" (which, by the way, nice turnaround of a phrase that's often used to describe the sparse [at best] presence of people of color in the majority of pop culture) in a show that is set in Africa and that employs many, many actors of color and has done so for more than 15 years? There don't need to be more roles for white people in the theatre, I think there are damn near enough.
Updated On: 10/20/13 at 03:23 AM
Broadwaystar2
Broadway Star Joined: 9/4/13
#24Why hasn't a caucasian Simba been cast?
Posted: 10/20/13 at 3:27amSaycon was the STANBY! So do YOUR research! Not the same as BEING the role!
