Will we ever see an All black production of a classic broadway show again?
Will we ever see an All black production of a classic broadway show again?
#1Will we ever see an All black production of a classic broadway show again?
Posted: 12/26/14 at 8:17amPersonally I don't understand the artistic significance of them. It's the same show but with African Americans. Big whoop! I can see why they were important at the time, but do you think Broadway is more or less done with doing them? If not, what shows would be at the top of the list?
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#2Will we ever see an All black production of a classic broadway show again?
Posted: 12/26/14 at 8:23am
It matters if you are African American. Or care.
How many persons of color are in ANY typical Broadway show? Or in the audience? It is disproportionate to the country. It matters.
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.
#2Will we ever see an All black production of a classic broadway show again?
Posted: 12/26/14 at 8:26amTrolls be trollin'
....but the world goes 'round
#3Will we ever see an All black production of a classic broadway show again?
Posted: 12/26/14 at 8:47amHow is that trolling? Please elaborate..
#4Will we ever see an All black production of a classic broadway show again?
Posted: 12/26/14 at 8:51am
"It matters if you are African American. Or care.
How many persons of color are in ANY typical Broadway show? Or in the audience? It is disproportionate to the country. It matters."
So you are saying a flock of black people would fly to the theatre if they knew an all black production of My Fair Lady is happening? Highly doubtful. Hardly anyone would care. And I am black btw. You may have a point about giving black performers more jobs but it certainly wouldn't get more butts in the audience.
The Other One
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/08
#5Will we ever see an All black production of a classic broadway show again?
Posted: 12/26/14 at 8:57am
I would much rather see successful off-Broadway shows with predominantly black casts done on Broadway. "Father Comes Home From The Wars" and "Our Lady of Kibeho" were two of the best plays I saw in NY last year. How great it would be for more people to have the chance to see them.
As for revivals of classic shows, at this point who cares? How many productions of "Streetcar" and "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" can one see in a lifetime, much less a decade? Black, white, who cares? Granted, Denzel Washington would probably be a great Willy Loman, but, again...AGAIN?! Why?
Let Broadway present new works by Suzan-Lori Parks, Katori Hall and Lynn Nottage before it trots out the umpteenth versions of old war horses.
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#6Will we ever see an All black production of a classic broadway show again?
Posted: 12/26/14 at 9:41am
It's like it's a computer that scans for the topics that make people on the board crazy and then starts a thread about them.
Stop indulging this fool.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#7Will we ever see an All black production of a classic broadway show again?
Posted: 12/26/14 at 9:45am
Actually, it does. Although that wasn't my point at all.
I am however going to take the advice of the others on this board and say goodbye to you and your threads.
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.
#9Will We Ever See ...
Posted: 12/27/14 at 1:09pm
I may be sorry that I'm wading into this, but in many cases, I think an ALL-black cast would be seen today as a contrivance, especially for particular stories. Even true race-blind casting of the leads in certain shows could change the story. For example, My Fair Lady is very much about rigid class structure and bigotry, but it's not about race. Higgins has to be a white CHARACTER, even if played by a black actor, because he was a member of the privileged class in what was then an almost all white society. Eliza has to be a white CHARACTER because a black Eliza could have spoken the Queen's English and still could not have moved up because of bigotry. Neither could her father. OTOH, a rewrite of the story to move it to NYC and move the date up to at least the mid-20th century could work with Higgins and Eliza as black characters. Perhaps Higgins could be testing a theory that high-class speech can overcome racial barriers. However, "The Rain in Spain" wouldn't work any more.
Many stories can work well with black characters originally written as white (e.g., Willy Loman, Spiderman, Mary Poppins), and there's nothing wrong with doing a rewrite for other shows to feature music that might appeal to young black theatergoers (e.g., turning The Wizard of Oz into The Wiz). However, I think that, in the 21st century, casting a whole show with black actors for no articulable reason risks offending people in more than one cultural community.
Audrey, the Phantom Phanatic, who nonetheless would rather be Jean Valjean, who knew how to make lemonade out of lemons.
#10Will We Ever See ...
Posted: 12/27/14 at 1:28pm
Why not hear from people in that community before giving your (white) opinion? Being overly cautious on behalf of a group you're not a part of is a tricky spot to be in.
Remember the DC production of My Fair Lady that featured an Eliza and her dad who were both Asian? (Manna Nichols and James Saito if anyone wants to do some research.)
Actually, this thread would be better off nuked.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
Updated On: 12/27/14 at 01:28 PM
#11Will We Ever See ...
Posted: 12/27/14 at 1:33pm
Sorry. Any production of Spider-Man doesn't work. No matter what race the cast
And drama mama. All it isn't only African Americans but black people of all backgrounds. Not all blacks are American.
yankeefan7
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/12
#12Will We Ever See ...
Posted: 12/27/14 at 3:27pm
"How many persons of color are in ANY typical Broadway show? Or in the audience? It is disproportionate to the country. It matters."
I have no idea because I don't go to a show and start counting how many people of color are in the show, I am there because I want to see a good show with excellent performances by actors. It should only matter if actors are not being cast because of their skin color and I truly doubt that is the case. I understand there are not many people of color writing plays/musicals for the Broadway which would have roles for people of color but I don't see how that can be changed. I am not trying to be a jerk but why does it matter? In sports like football or basketball, does it matter than white people are probably less than 20% of the players? - I don't think it does, the best people are playing.
As for the audience not having many people of color, it is probably more an economic thing than a racial thing IMO.
#13Will We Ever See ...
Posted: 12/27/14 at 4:39pm
Lizzie, I attempted to see the Arena Stage MFL production, but it was "flued" out right after "Little Bit of Luck." I think you missed my point, which is that the CHARACTER'S race is the important thing -- not the actor's. The actors you mentioned were playing white people because the story would not have made sense if Alfie (rather than Mr. Saito) and Liza (rather than Ms. Nichols) were Asian Cockneys. The whole point of acting is to portray someone you're not.
As far as bringing my non-minority racial status into this discussion topic, although I'm not currently an actor, I am a fiction writer. I worry when I write characters of other ethnicities or religions or the opposite sex because I can only experience life as a female Jewish white middle-class American, and I want to portray people authentically. Nonetheless, even though I'm white, I feel that I have a right -- nay, a duty -- to speak up when an idea seems patronizing to people of color. An all-black cast could imply that the actors fit on the stage only with other black actors.
Do I want to see more theater opportunities for people of color? Hell, yes! Do I want to do it through separate projects for black and white actors? No way! Instead of an all-black production, give me producers willing to cast Norm Lewis as Javert or the Phantom because he's an amazing actor and singer and perfect for these parts no matter who else appears in the show.
Audrey
Audrey, the Phantom Phanatic, who nonetheless would rather be Jean Valjean, who knew how to make lemonade out of lemons.
#14Will We Ever See ...
Posted: 12/27/14 at 4:50pm
On a related note... hopefully soon we will see productions of The Wiz, Ain't Misbehavin', Dreamgirls and The Color Purple!
"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new."
Sunday in the Park with George
Updated On: 12/27/14 at 04:50 PM
