Representation

[EmR2]

Hey! So I wanted to start a conversation about representation in theatre. Some questions I want to pose to start getting things rolling are:

1)   Who can portray a character with a specific give race?

2)   Who can portray a character with a specific given gender identity?

3)   Who can portray a character with a specific given sexuality?

4)   Who can portray a character with no specific race, gender identity, or sexuality, and should they make their race, gender identity, or sexuality part of the role?

[JBroadway]

This conversation has been had on this board so many times, and every single time it leads to an intense fight, where the same exact bullet-point arguments are hurled at each other. Nobody every changes anyone's mind, and the mods have to lock or delete the thread because of all the "personal attacks" and such. 

Let's spare ourselves this once, for the love of god. 

[Oak2]

The answer to all 4 of your questions, in the perfect future that Broadway is meant to one day enjoy, is "The Nathan Lane clone genetically engineered and culturally raised to be the proper race/sexuality/sex/gender identity of the character." Hope that helps!

[haterobics]

1. Robin De Jesus

2. Bianca Del Rio

3. Keala Settle

4. Aaron Tveit, and no.

[smidge]

haterobics said: "1. Robin De Jesus

2. Bianca Del Rio

3. Keala Settle

4. Aaron Tveit, and no."

Bahhhaaa, ok, that got me roaring

[ggersten]

haterobics said: "1. Robin De Jesus

2. Bianca Del Rio

3. Keala Settle

4. Aaron Tveit, and no."

The answer to No. 1 for movies used to be Anthony Quinn.  

[BroadwayRox3588]

Can we please not, before Dave comes in and derails the conversation?

[UncleCharlie]

Am I the only one thinking this would be a thread about how to find an agent?

[haterobics]

BroadwayRox3588 said: "Can we please not, before Dave comes in and derails the conversation?"

I think the mods track Dave's profile as a way to find worrisome threads, so his appearance is typically a sign of a thread's end times.

[haterobics]

UncleCharlie said: "Am I the only one thinking this would be a thread about how to find an agent?"

You need to get woke, sir.

[UncleCharlie]

haterobics said: "UncleCharlie said: "Am I the only one thinking this would be a thread about how to find an agent?"

You need to get woke, sir."

I'm just not up.on all the hip, cool phrases you kids are using now. 

[Lot666]

UncleCharlie said: "haterobics said: "UncleCharlie said: "Am I the only one thinking this would be a thread about how to find an agent?"

You need to get woke, sir."

I'm just not up.on all the hip, cool phrases you kids are using now."

Translation: "You need to wake up, sir."

And no, I don't understand why it is now considered "cool" to intentionally misuse the word "woke".

[dramamama611]

Actually, Uncle Charlie, I briefly HOPED that maybe it was about that.

 

To the OP:   it's not that your subject isn't worth talking about, it's that we always talk about it...and as stated above, it always gets ugly.     Also:  it's also considered good form to state your own opinions, instead of dropping a question and leaving.

[Oak2]

But yeah also speaking of representation, if someone COULD recommend a great attorney it'd be much appreciated to help me with a little misunderstanding I'm having with the authorities. Apparently they're saying it's "weird" and "illegal" to privately collect Mr. Lane's DNA, and are talking about some kind of strained order or something. They don't see the bigger picture. Sad!

[haterobics]

Lot666 said: "And no, I don't understand why it is now considered "cool" to intentionally misuse the word "woke"."

It isn't being misused, it is being transformed to represent a new thing, like how language works.

[UncleCharlie]

haterobics said: "Lot666 said: "And no, I don't understand why it is now considered "cool" to intentionally misuse the word "woke"."

It isn't being misused, it is being transformed to represent a new thing, like how language works."

That explanation is on fleek.

[haterobics]

UncleCharlie said: "That explanation is on fleek."

The Dalai Lama notwithstanding, I am the original woke bae.

[UncleCharlie]

haterobics said: "UncleCharlie said: "That explanation is on fleek."

The Dalai Lama notwithstanding, I am the original woke bae."

Speaking of which, could the Dalai Lama replace Bernadette and keep the show running. It'd be a slightly different Hello Dalai than we're used to, but still...

[haterobics]

UncleCharlie said: "Speaking of which, could the Dalai Lama replace Bernadette and keep the show running. It'd be a slightly different Hello Dalai than we're used to, but still..."

He's 82, so the choreography may be a bit much for him, plus I don't know how many book changes would be required to queer up Horace.

[Lot666]

UncleCharlie said: "haterobics said: "Lot666 said: "And no, I don't understand why it is now considered "cool" to intentionally misuse the word "woke"."

It isn't being misused, it is being transformed to represent a new thing, like how language works."

That explanation is on fleek."

So, when people on this board refer to a "cast recording" as a "soundtrack", they aren't misusing the word "soundtrack", they're transforming it to represent a new thing. Like how language works.

[haterobics]

Lot666 said: "So, when people on this board refer to a "cast recording" as a "soundtrack", they aren't misusing the word "soundtrack", they're transforming it to represent a new thing. Like how language works."

On one hand, yes, since you purchase the digital versions in the 'soundtrack' section of iTunes, so it is hard to say you aren't buying something when you are buying it in that section of the store.

On the other, no, since the term is based on movies and when they were still on film, they had a video track and a sound track, which is not the case.

I don't think using an incorrect term due to lack of knowledge is the same as adding an evolved meaning to an old term intentionally. But if people use the wrong term for long enough, then sure, it will likely be adopted despite the rationale.

[singer234]

Theatre elitists always harp on this obcr/soundtrack fiasco, knowing full well they are just embarassing people with less knowledge about the proper vocabulary. Their fury over the misuse is often directed at teenagers who are in their early phases of discovering musical theatre. And these are often the same people complaining about the lack of creativity and originality on Broadway. Well folks, it starts with the younger generation, and the only thing killing the future of Broadway is this elitist nostalgia for the past and stronghold on fending off colloquialisms. /endrant

[haterobics]

singer234 said: "the only thing killing the future of Broadway is this elitist nostalgia for the past and stronghold on fending off colloquialisms."

That's the only thing?!

[dramamama611]

Yes, because the only thing we all do is agree with After Eight.  

 

Oy.

[Mister Matt]

And no, I don't understand why it is now considered "cool" to intentionally misuse the word "woke".

I'm with you.  Every time I hear "woke" used like that, I get ratchet feels.  And recently, "far out" has suddenly reemerged as a replacement expletive for an f-bomb with the opposite meaning it had in the 70s.  I'm wondering if I should start using "jive turkey" as a superlative compliment.