Top 10 Controversial Broadway Casting Decisions
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Date: 2023-11-21
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Comments and reviews: 30
jennH
I honestly thought Lea would be #1 mostly because it's what in the public eye right now. but then Pryce comes up, reminding me what I long forgot happened He's done so much great stuff that I always forget he did Engineer. not that it should have happened even if it was accepted for the time, but yeah that's #1 for sure.
Oak. oh Oak. Ok, I actually knew someone who worked on that show. They said they absolutely understood why the perception was that it was subtly but racially motivated. He didn't sell tickets, period. The producers thought anyone who has touched Hamilton would sell tickets but they were wrong, so. they had to make a change. Anyone of any ethnic background in this situation would have had to make way for then legend that is Mandy. It didn't help that insiders galore were constantly saying that Oak came into the show willfully unprepared, and was somewhat difficult to work with.
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I honestly thought Lea would be #1 mostly because it's what in the public eye right now. but then Pryce comes up, reminding me what I long forgot happened He's done so much great stuff that I always forget he did Engineer. not that it should have happened even if it was accepted for the time, but yeah that's #1 for sure.
Oak. oh Oak. Ok, I actually knew someone who worked on that show. They said they absolutely understood why the perception was that it was subtly but racially motivated. He didn't sell tickets, period. The producers thought anyone who has touched Hamilton would sell tickets but they were wrong, so. they had to make a change. Anyone of any ethnic background in this situation would have had to make way for then legend that is Mandy. It didn't help that insiders galore were constantly saying that Oak came into the show willfully unprepared, and was somewhat difficult to work with.
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TheComplimentNinja
Oldie but a goldie. The casting of My Fair Lady the movie. They took most of the original Broadway cast and crew to the film (even some of the costumes) including the leading man, Rex Harrison. But they recast the leading lady. They gave Audrey Hepburn the role for her star power but ending up dubbing her singing voice (against Hepburn's wishes.
The leading lady they rejected. Julie Andrews.
Fortunately, the studio's rejection of her freed her up to make a little picture called Mary Poppins. She even thanked the director who rejected her (Jack Warner) when she collected her Golden Globe for best leading lady, an award Hepburn wasn't even nominated for.
(I love Hepburn but dayum)
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Oldie but a goldie. The casting of My Fair Lady the movie. They took most of the original Broadway cast and crew to the film (even some of the costumes) including the leading man, Rex Harrison. But they recast the leading lady. They gave Audrey Hepburn the role for her star power but ending up dubbing her singing voice (against Hepburn's wishes.
The leading lady they rejected. Julie Andrews.
Fortunately, the studio's rejection of her freed her up to make a little picture called Mary Poppins. She even thanked the director who rejected her (Jack Warner) when she collected her Golden Globe for best leading lady, an award Hepburn wasn't even nominated for.
(I love Hepburn but dayum)
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MsJubjubbird
I saw Aspects of Love where the lovechild daughter was Asian and the parents were Caucasian. How? - I hear she was a friend of the director or something. It just was jarring and you forgot that she was their kid.
But I think people need to calm down when the character they were playing is different to how they are on the inside. It's called acting and maybe the chosen person is better at it.
I also wouldn't call Miss Saigon/Madama Butterfly discriminatory. It paints the guy as a dickhead. People in the US just don't like it because it paints the US in a bad light and reminds them of a history they would rather pretend didn't happen.
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I saw Aspects of Love where the lovechild daughter was Asian and the parents were Caucasian. How? - I hear she was a friend of the director or something. It just was jarring and you forgot that she was their kid.
But I think people need to calm down when the character they were playing is different to how they are on the inside. It's called acting and maybe the chosen person is better at it.
I also wouldn't call Miss Saigon/Madama Butterfly discriminatory. It paints the guy as a dickhead. People in the US just don't like it because it paints the US in a bad light and reminds them of a history they would rather pretend didn't happen.
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Emilia
This hasn't included in the video and I dont really know if it counts but for the broadway revival 20th anniversary of Annie, with Joanna Pacitii and Brittney Kissenger. If you don't know Macys held auditons for the new musical and Joanna scored the role of Annie, and she was amazing. But 2 weeks before her broadway debut they fired her and replaced her with Brittney, she said they had been secretly rehersing her for weeks and it even had Andrea Mcartle and Sarah Jessica Parker on Joannas side. Many people boycotted the show and it only ran for 2 months on broadway
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This hasn't included in the video and I dont really know if it counts but for the broadway revival 20th anniversary of Annie, with Joanna Pacitii and Brittney Kissenger. If you don't know Macys held auditons for the new musical and Joanna scored the role of Annie, and she was amazing. But 2 weeks before her broadway debut they fired her and replaced her with Brittney, she said they had been secretly rehersing her for weeks and it even had Andrea Mcartle and Sarah Jessica Parker on Joannas side. Many people boycotted the show and it only ran for 2 months on broadway
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Book
Daphne Rubin-Vega as Fantine in the first revival of Les Miserables. She was sht awful and couldnt sing the role. I was talking to the couple sitting next to me who had asked if I had seen the show before, at that time, that was my 20th time and when Daphne started singing I could see out of the corner of my eye them turning and looking at me. During the intermission they asked what I thought so far and I said that there were some interesting casting choices. The wife says says to me. Yeah, Fantine! That was the first time I couldnt wait for her to die!
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Daphne Rubin-Vega as Fantine in the first revival of Les Miserables. She was sht awful and couldnt sing the role. I was talking to the couple sitting next to me who had asked if I had seen the show before, at that time, that was my 20th time and when Daphne started singing I could see out of the corner of my eye them turning and looking at me. During the intermission they asked what I thought so far and I said that there were some interesting casting choices. The wife says says to me. Yeah, Fantine! That was the first time I couldnt wait for her to die!
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Dewey
The whole situation with FUNNY GIRL has soured me on the show. LM pursued the show with the fervor of a sociopath. LM is a toxic and rude clone of BS. She is not funny, warm, engaging, or inviting, or deserving. Her casting, and her fans blind eyes and deaf ears to her years of toxic and unprofessional behaviors, effectively erases Beanie Feldstein, Julie Benko, and Jane Lynch from the revival's narrative; and there is nothing funny about that.
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The whole situation with FUNNY GIRL has soured me on the show. LM pursued the show with the fervor of a sociopath. LM is a toxic and rude clone of BS. She is not funny, warm, engaging, or inviting, or deserving. Her casting, and her fans blind eyes and deaf ears to her years of toxic and unprofessional behaviors, effectively erases Beanie Feldstein, Julie Benko, and Jane Lynch from the revival's narrative; and there is nothing funny about that.
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Navid
Lea was always the right part for Funny Girl, Beanie was just not. The show is still running and selling out and cast members still have jobs, Lea saved the show and I'm glad she got the role regardless. Still don't understand how Beanie got the role but not surprised due to her family connections, also the vocal comparisons between the two is just insane and it's clear who's the real better Fanny.
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Lea was always the right part for Funny Girl, Beanie was just not. The show is still running and selling out and cast members still have jobs, Lea saved the show and I'm glad she got the role regardless. Still don't understand how Beanie got the role but not surprised due to her family connections, also the vocal comparisons between the two is just insane and it's clear who's the real better Fanny.
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idk1885
I live in the Philippines and I have some friends that are half-white and look more white than asian. I understand how Jonathan Pryce using prosthetics is controversial, but banning white people from ever playing the role after Pryce is too much imo. It would be nice to see more dominant white appearance asian representation in future media. (The Engineer is half-French and half-Vietnamese)
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I live in the Philippines and I have some friends that are half-white and look more white than asian. I understand how Jonathan Pryce using prosthetics is controversial, but banning white people from ever playing the role after Pryce is too much imo. It would be nice to see more dominant white appearance asian representation in future media. (The Engineer is half-French and half-Vietnamese)
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Ashannon888
The interesting thing about the Engineer, is he's half-white and Half Vietnamese. So by saying he has to be played by an Asian actor, that's itself it a problematic statement. Some people who are mixed-race take after one race or the other. The Engineer could just look white. SO he could be played by either a white or a Asian actor if you want to be authentic.
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The interesting thing about the Engineer, is he's half-white and Half Vietnamese. So by saying he has to be played by an Asian actor, that's itself it a problematic statement. Some people who are mixed-race take after one race or the other. The Engineer could just look white. SO he could be played by either a white or a Asian actor if you want to be authentic.
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Elisia
I remember that Hamilton casting notice. To me, it was more an issue of how the notice was worded and presented rather than the intent. It reminds me of Irish Need Not Apply and lets face it, if it had said white only there would have been an uproar. Overall I think it ended up being a good catalyst for discussions about casting and race.
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I remember that Hamilton casting notice. To me, it was more an issue of how the notice was worded and presented rather than the intent. It reminds me of Irish Need Not Apply and lets face it, if it had said white only there would have been an uproar. Overall I think it ended up being a good catalyst for discussions about casting and race.
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Marsha
Even tho I don't like Lea Michele, I do feel like she is a better choice for Fanny over Beanie. Like everyone else, idk how Beanie even got the role when she can't sing good enough for Broadway. Maybe a Disney cartoon. The name Feldstein clearly got her the connections.
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Even tho I don't like Lea Michele, I do feel like she is a better choice for Fanny over Beanie. Like everyone else, idk how Beanie even got the role when she can't sing good enough for Broadway. Maybe a Disney cartoon. The name Feldstein clearly got her the connections.
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Andrew
Hamilton was written for non-white actors. To give non-white actors a much deserved, overdue spotlight. Why was it such an issue to have white artists sit this one out?
Okieriete Onaodowan was also not marketed as heavily as Mandy Patinkin was.
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Hamilton was written for non-white actors. To give non-white actors a much deserved, overdue spotlight. Why was it such an issue to have white artists sit this one out?
Okieriete Onaodowan was also not marketed as heavily as Mandy Patinkin was.
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Tabatha
Remember when actors use to, what do you call it, oh yeah. act. Can it even be called acting if it has to be played by whatever the character is? Eventually, we will run out of movies because there is no one to check a certain box. smh
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Remember when actors use to, what do you call it, oh yeah. act. Can it even be called acting if it has to be played by whatever the character is? Eventually, we will run out of movies because there is no one to check a certain box. smh
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Thomas
Carly Rae Jepsen in Cinderella. They asked fans among three stars (including Broadway vets) who should play the titular role. Ultimately, they chose Carly Rae Jepsen, which was not a good choice. I love her, but not on Broadway. Sorry!
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Carly Rae Jepsen in Cinderella. They asked fans among three stars (including Broadway vets) who should play the titular role. Ultimately, they chose Carly Rae Jepsen, which was not a good choice. I love her, but not on Broadway. Sorry!
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Trina
The team behind Jagged Little Pill could have addressed the controversy surrounding Jo's storyline by stating that they tried to incorporate a non binary storyline, but then realised that they weren't suited to properly address it.
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The team behind Jagged Little Pill could have addressed the controversy surrounding Jo's storyline by stating that they tried to incorporate a non binary storyline, but then realised that they weren't suited to properly address it.
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Clint
No one has mentioned that Patti used that money from the lawsuit to build a swimming pool and named it the Andrew Lloyd Webber memorial. Or that she found out she was fired in a gossip column not even from Webber
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No one has mentioned that Patti used that money from the lawsuit to build a swimming pool and named it the Andrew Lloyd Webber memorial. Or that she found out she was fired in a gossip column not even from Webber
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albert
The problem with the FUNNY GIRL revival is that the critics were wanting the second coming of Barbra Streisand instead of letting the revival be a new version. With Lea Michele, you get a predictable performance.
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The problem with the FUNNY GIRL revival is that the critics were wanting the second coming of Barbra Streisand instead of letting the revival be a new version. With Lea Michele, you get a predictable performance.
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Karen
I remember clearly even now seeing Jonathan Pryce in Miss Saigon in NY. I was unaware of the controversy. He was charismatic, and hateful but you see an unapologetic survivor in the midst of war. Rare talent
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I remember clearly even now seeing Jonathan Pryce in Miss Saigon in NY. I was unaware of the controversy. He was charismatic, and hateful but you see an unapologetic survivor in the midst of war. Rare talent
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Holly
When I bought tickets for Hamilton I thought the non white actors playing the founding fathers would bother me. Well as soon as it started, I forgot all about race. It was just FANTASTIC!
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When I bought tickets for Hamilton I thought the non white actors playing the founding fathers would bother me. Well as soon as it started, I forgot all about race. It was just FANTASTIC!
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Rocky100fl
In 1988 I saw Al Pacino at The Public Theatre as Marc Antony in Julius Caeser. You may be able to take the boy out of New York but. Friends, Romans, Countryman, len me ya eaas.
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In 1988 I saw Al Pacino at The Public Theatre as Marc Antony in Julius Caeser. You may be able to take the boy out of New York but. Friends, Romans, Countryman, len me ya eaas.
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Kevin
I dont see the controversy over the Hamilton non white casting. That was the point of POC performers playing the role to tackle Americas racist past through a nonwhite gaze
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I dont see the controversy over the Hamilton non white casting. That was the point of POC performers playing the role to tackle Americas racist past through a nonwhite gaze
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EvilChina
1 Evil Queen
2 Gaston
3 Mother Gothel
4 Valentina Zenere
5 Rubi
6 La Teresa
7 Carrie
8 Bashiba
9 Ashley Tisdale
10 Hans
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1 Evil Queen
2 Gaston
3 Mother Gothel
4 Valentina Zenere
5 Rubi
6 La Teresa
7 Carrie
8 Bashiba
9 Ashley Tisdale
10 Hans
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Ryan?
Speaking from the present, the Funny Girl casting drama would have more staying power than the revival itself as it is going to close this September.
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Speaking from the present, the Funny Girl casting drama would have more staying power than the revival itself as it is going to close this September.
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kmd2210
Broadway adjacent - casting Lucille Ball in Mame rather than Angela Lansbury. Really sad not to have captured Ms. Landsbury's performance on film.
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Broadway adjacent - casting Lucille Ball in Mame rather than Angela Lansbury. Really sad not to have captured Ms. Landsbury's performance on film.
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Brookelynne
Could you imagine if they said that only white people allowed In 2020 but they thought t was ok when it was the other way around.
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Could you imagine if they said that only white people allowed In 2020 but they thought t was ok when it was the other way around.
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Denise
Hmmm, come bet if Lea went full-Kanye and wasn't just racist towards black people, she wouldn't have nabbed that Funny Girl role.
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Hmmm, come bet if Lea went full-Kanye and wasn't just racist towards black people, she wouldn't have nabbed that Funny Girl role.
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The
Not-So-Fun Fact: Back in the 19th century, there was a casting choice that started a riot so big people were murdered.
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Not-So-Fun Fact: Back in the 19th century, there was a casting choice that started a riot so big people were murdered.
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Alex
Scott Rudin is the one responsible for keeping Amar Ramasar in West Side Story. One abuser always protects another.
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Scott Rudin is the one responsible for keeping Amar Ramasar in West Side Story. One abuser always protects another.
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MsMojo
Whats the craziest casting decision YOU'VE seen in theater? Be sure to share with us in the comments below!
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Whats the craziest casting decision YOU'VE seen in theater? Be sure to share with us in the comments below!
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Mary
How can it make sense to say cast should be open as far as race, but only LBgtQ people can take LBGTQ roles?
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How can it make sense to say cast should be open as far as race, but only LBgtQ people can take LBGTQ roles?
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