Prince of Egypt Concert - Long Island

[theatregoer3]

I had no idea ancient Egyptians were this white.

 

Cause these are the WHITEST Egyptians I've ever seen.

 

And that includes when I saw Christian Bale play Moses!

 

Anyone else think this casting is insane/offensive? I'm a fan of these actors (love Schuler!), but...this is weird, right? I'm aware the movie employed white voiceover actors but I thought in 2016 we would've moved beyond that. Maybe I'm overreacting and I need to be checked. Let me know.

[LizzieCurry]

It's a bit much.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Casey-Cott-Stark-Sands-Marin-Mazzie-and-Solea-Pfeiffer-to-Star-in-PRINCE-OF-EGYPT-Concert-in-Long-Island-20160722

[Tag]

My first thought too.  A little too colour blind!!
It's just a concert version though, but it would never fly for a fully staged production.

[trpguyy]

It's a one-night concert reading, to get some audience reactions to the material. Not a big deal. 

[JBroadway]

I totally agree, and had the exact same reaction. Some will likely make the argument, "it's just a concert reading! not the actual show!"*** but I still think it sets a bad precedent, and regardless of whether it's a concert or not, we should still be casting POC in POC roles (and for the love of God, I hope nobody argues with that by bringing up something like Lea Salonga as Mother in Ragtime, because that's entirely different). 

You'd think they would know better after the controversy surrounding those white-washed Egypt movies that totally bombed. 

And it's not even like they can really make the usual bogus arguments that these are just "the best people for the role" or that "they couldn't get any POC with big enough names." No offense to Sands, Mazzie, et al, but they are not even the best people for the roles, nor are they huge names. 

 

***For the record, I typed those words before I even saw the posts above mine. I rest my case. 

[Tag]

(and for the love of God, I hope nobody argues with that by bringing up something like Lea Salonga as Mother in Ragtime, because that's entirely different)

Not quite sure how it's "entirely different".  But ok.

[theatregoer3]

I'm glad I'm not alone in thinking this. 

 

I also would expect the more seasoned seasoned actors on this list to know better. Didn't we all just celebrate a very diverse TONY Awards and compare it against the whitewashing of Hollywood?

[VintageSnarker]

YEAH... it's not great. But as Tag said, it's just a concert and even though it's free there's a part in the article about a Patron's Party. If I'm not mistaken, this is a completely different "cast" from the last reading so it just seems like they assembled some people who were available to do this concert. To me it's not worth getting upset about.

[JBroadway]

I'm genuinely trying to decide whether I should go into depth and explain why casting Lea Salonga as Mother is entirely different, or whether I should just leave it at that and continue doing what I planned to spend my afternoon doing. I think I'm going with the latter, even if it makes me seem full it. Sorry! If someone else who is knowledgeable about this would like to jump in, be my guest. I have to keep packing, and I just now decided this is not worth my time.

[trpguyy]

Which Egyptian Broadway performers would you have cast in this one-night fee concert reading?

[perfectlymarvelous]

It's honestly ickier to me that they seem to have cast a couple POC in the ensemble while literally ALL of the principals are white. It's like, "look, the cast isn't *all* white! we have a black person in the background!" 

I know it's a concert presentation but they could've at least tried to cast some people who aren't lily white. 

[theatregoer3]

My first thought was Navid Negahban as Pharoah, but I'm not a casting director. 

 

I guess all actors of African and/or Middle-Eastern decent were booked this night, yeah? Or they couldn't rely on the name of the property alone to sell tix to this free event?

[disneybroadwayfan22]

[sparepart973]

Disappointed, but not surprised. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Sorry! If someone else who is knowledgeable about this would like to jump in, be my guest. I have to keep packing, and I just now decided this is not worth my time.

What a martyr! 

[neonlightsxo]

trpguyy said: "It's a one-night concert reading, to get some audience reactions to the material. Not a big deal. "

 

It IS a big deal, actually.

 

[trpguyy]

A free public concert in a park on the tip of Long Island is a big deal?

[theatregoer3]

trpguyy said: "A free public concert in a park on the tip of Long Island is a big deal?"

 

I dunno. Ask the TONY-winning/nominated actors participating in it. 

[newintown]

Not that anyone really cares, but  for the last 60 years or so, most anthropologists have rejected the notion of race as having any validity in the study of human biology. That said, the Egyptians of this period weren't black; they were probably more closely related to people of the Middle East than to those of Central Africa. So those who may be deeply concerned about racial accuracy in these theatrical presentations might want to consider calling for a cast with heritage reflecting Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iraq. Although that still would not necessarily represent a true cosmetic reproduction of Egyptian people around 1300 BCE (as no one is entirely sure what they looked like).

[trpguyy]

That's the criteria for "big deal?" The people who you are upset about being cast in it are what makes it a big deal?

[theatregoer3]

newintown said: "Not that anyone really cares, but  for the last 60 years or so, most anthropologists have rejected the notion of race as having any validity in the study of human biology. That said, the Egyptians of this period weren't black; they were probably more closely related to people of the Middle East than to those of Central Africa. So those who may be deeply concerned about racial accuracy in these theatrical presentations might want to consider calling for a cast with heritage reflecting Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iraq. Although that still would not necessarily represent a true cosmetic reproduction of Egyptian people around 1300 BCE (as no one is entirely sure what they looked like)."

 

Agreed. The actor who I suggested is Middle Eastern.

 

[theatregoer3]

trpguyy said: "That's the criteria for "big deal?" The people who you are upset about being cast in it are what makes it a big deal?"

 

I never stated the event was a big deal. That was another poster.

 

You have a lot of pointed questions. I'd be interested to hear your opinion on the topic. 

 

[newintown]

"Agreed. The actor who I threw out is of Middle Eastern."

Sounds great, but my caveat that no one knows for sure what Egyptians looked like during this time is a really important one. It might just be safer to use puppets.

[trpguyy]

I said that the reading isn't a big deal (because generally they aren't), and you suggested that it was, because it has Tony-nominated/winning actors in it. 
My opinion on the matter is...it's not a big deal.

[theatregoer3]

trpguyy said: "I said that the reading isn't a big deal (because generally they aren't), and you suggested that it was, because it has Tony-nominated/winning actors in it. 
My opinion on the matter is...it's not a big deal."

 

Ha! Ok. I like that.

 

Point taken. I'll climb down off my high horse :)

 

Thanks