toottoot: "Not really a starring role, nor did she originate it, but Lonette McKee would appear as Julie LaVerne in both revivals of Show Boat that occurred in the late 20th century. It seems to follow a pattern as a great many actors from the original production subsequently appeared in a revival several years later, including Paul Robeson and Helen Morgan."
Paul Robeson was not in the original Broadway production of Show Boat. That was Jules Bledsoe as Joe.
Elfuhbuh:"Minstrel shows were still popular in the 90’s, to add some perspective here."
nmartin said: "toottoot: "Not really a starring role, nor did she originate it, but Lonette McKee would appear as Julie LaVerne in both revivals ofShow Boatthat occurred in the late 20th century. It seems to follow a pattern as a great many actors from the original production subsequently appeared in a revival several years later, including Paul Robeson and Helen Morgan."
Paul Robeson was not in the original Broadway production of Show Boat. That was Jules Bledsoe as Joe.
"
oof. I'm so embarrassed. Thank you for catching that.
gypsy101 said: "nealb1 said: "Seeing Yul B as The King of Siam in the 80's, was oneof the most memorable theatre experiences I've ever had. It was not cringey at all. Not at all.
He was a legend."
wasn’t it a little odd that a non-asian played the king of Siam?"
It is. But then again Ken Watanabe is Japanese, and he played Thai. As did Jose Llana who is Filipino. Clumping Asians in together doesn't really respect their individual differences.
There have been Japanese who have played Chinese, and those two cultures are very different. In fact, historically, these are two countries that have been at odds with one another.
Again, labeling people as "Asian" doesn't do much to distinguish between cultural experiences either.
I doubt anyone on this board saw either production, but Vivienne Segal originated the role of Vera Simpson in Pal Joey and later performed the role in the 1952 revival.