Revisioning A Musical

[dscollege]

Posted: 12/26/14 at 6:08am

What are some shows that could be completely revision-ized by changing say the Race, Time Period, or Genders WITHOUT changing the script. So practical ideas for Musical's that can change it.

ie. Legally Blonde, but Elle is Black
A Chorus Line, Hip-hop style for say a "in the heights" type show
Guys & Dolls in 2014

[PeterPan2]

Posted: 12/26/14 at 8:04am

You could easily change the gender of characters in into the woods Because there is very little direct mention of gender in the musical

[TazTarney]

Posted: 12/26/14 at 8:12am

I've never understood All black productions. How is it different? It's still the same show except with African Americans in the part, big deal. Why would I possibly sell out 100 dollars just to go see an All black version of wicked. Same show. Same sets, it just happens to be with black people...Nothing new, the story didn't change or anything.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 12/26/14 at 8:15am

I'm sorry is nobody picking up on the fact that the op wrote "revisioning"

[devonian.t]

Posted: 12/26/14 at 8:17am

I was just wondering that!

Revising

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

#5Revisioning A Musical

Posted: 12/26/14 at 9:48am

A different casting pattern is not a revision, which usually constitutes more substantial changes to the material. I believe they were aiming for re-envisioning, meaning to look at it from a new point of view.

Though I know from previous threads that TazTarney is most likely a troll, I'd like to make a categorical statement as to the point of an all-black cast (or "urban adaptation," as some in the industry now dub it)... in addition to being a new or different way to explore a show, and a chance to showcase great talent, that goes back to the idea of media representation. Media representation of any minority race is important because it gives people a stronger sense of self and affirmation of identity, it gives children somebody to relate to and look up to, it expands people's assumptions of their capabilities (assumptions that are often relayed to them through constant negative media portrayal), it provides a more realistic look at the world's population, and it fights the idea that straight/white/male = normal and everything else is "other" (think about your local bookstore, if one still exists in your area: there's probably a section for African American Fiction, Gay and Lesbian Fiction, and Women's Fiction, and while these can be positive spaces for marginalized groups to find books that include them and portray their issues with honesty and authenticity, it's important to discuss the reasons why they have to have separate sections, and why they're not already included in general literature and fiction).

Clearly, though what exactly qualifies as important, meaningful, good, etc., minority representation is a matter of debate, minority representation is important. As Gabby Sidibe, star of Precious, put it, "If I get to see myself on screen, then I know that I exist." Mae Jemison, the first black female astronaut, was inspired to join NASA after watching Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek. Would she have connected to Lieutenant Uhura as much if the character had been played by a white actor? Probably not, and the world may have then lost our first black female astronaut, an inspiration to millions of other little girls.

Now, is representation always going to be commercially or qualitatively successful? No. The current remake of Annie is a case in point, if you look at the film's rating based on an aggregation of reviews at Rotten Tomatoes. But nobody clamoring for representation is looking to be given a free pass because of the "race card." (As far back as the days of the Harlem Renaissance, many prominent luminaries of black culture were saying they wanted their work to be judged on its own merits and not just praised because it was by someone of color. Artistic creations of varying quality exist in all races.) They just want to see themselves meaningfully represented onscreen and onstage, and, theoretically anyway, that's not a hard task to accomplish.

Updated On: 12/26/14 at 09:48 AM