Thursday, March 31, 2016

"Hamilton" - A Discriminating Musical Hit

Ah, non-traditional casting has hit a snag. Finally someone has noticed that organizations cannot discriminate according to race when it come to hiring. That means that even a massive hit on Broadway like "Hamilton" may not be allowed to publish casting calls with notices that clearly discriminate against white performers. Yeah, it's happening now.

"Hamilton" is a runaway hip-hop musical about Alexander Hamilton, with music, lyrics, and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The show was inspired by the 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton, by historian Ron Chernow. All of the characters (except George III) including our Founding Fathers in the musical are played by minority actors and this is where the problem started.

The producers of the show recently posted an announcement on their website about open casting calls for companies in NYC, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The ad announced:
“Hamilton” is “seeking NON-WHITE men and women, ages 20s to 30s, for Broadway and upcoming Tours..."
Whoa! Not only has this notice run afoul of our NYC Human Rights Commission, but when brought to the attention of Actors' Equity Association, the union for actors and stage manager of which I used to be a member, they were annoyed. Union officials stated that it clearly violates their rules because Equity stipulates in its guidelines that all actors must be considered “without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression or political persuasion or belief."

As someone pointed out in the NYDN article, if the notice stated that only white actors need apply, Al Sharpton, Black Lives Matter, and La Raza would be staging a huge protest. Probably true, but a notice like that would never be published to begin with.

Of course the producers decided to change the notices, but not the casting policy. None of this really matters except that it points out that it is still okay to openingly discriminate as long as one does not put it in writing. Nothing changes.

Afterthought: Though I have not seen the musical because it is impossible to get tickets, I have it really good authority that is truly inspiring and even better than even all of the stellar reviews. Hamilton was one of our founders who was exactly why this country was founded. He proved that someone who was not "to the manner born" could rise to greatness based on ability. To their great credit, the producers have made tickets available free of charge to students in the NYC school system.

Anyway, the floor is open.

24 comments:

Anthony said...

A hip hop themed musical based on a founding father actually exists? I would have lost money on that bet.

Anthony said...

OT: But Hillary is literally asking voters to settle for her.

http://www.mediaite.com/online/hillary-clinton-dont-hold-out-for-the-perfect-settle-for-me-instead/

Kit said...

Before I say anything on this, the opening lyrics of the first song:

How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a
Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a
Forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence
Impoverished, in squalor
Grow up to be a hero and a scholar?

Kit said...

Anthony,

As you watch the news repeat these words to yourself: "350 million Americans yet Hillary and Trump are our front-runners."

AndrewPrice said...

Bev, THAT is funny! LOL!

Allena-C said...

Yeesh! More irony than you can shake a stick at. And it's completely lost on them. So much for diversity, lol.

Critch said...

Do they actually show that Hamilton was a brave, intelligent, stand-up kinda guy? That's rare, most modern playwrights like to show the Founding Fathers as lowlifes.

BevfromNYC said...

Critch - Yes, even the conservative that I know who have seen the show rave about how wonderful it is and how every school child should see this show to appreciate our country. That is why the producers are offering free tickets to NYC schools.

BevfromNYC said...

Allena - This is actually a good thing because it points out that the issue can cut both ways and it isn't less discrimination when "they" do it. Interestingly there is an element of "ageism" too because they specified performers between 20-30yrs of age.

Btw, I am surprised that producers didn't point out the only person of color on the creative team is Miranda. The others (director, designers, music, choreographer etc.) are all white males over the age of 35 yrs...cue SJW's

BevfromNYC said...

Other interesting tie-in with this - the cast of "Hamilton" just did a command performance at the WH for HRH Barack and Michelle to hail the diversity of its cast that only could have been achieved under the Obamas. I am not sure how this show will ever be able to be produced at any HS drama club it they happen to not have someone white enough to play King George III.

Also, notice once again...the "minorities" they are casting are Black and Hispanic...no Asians. I wonder if Asian actors have noticed?

BevfromNYC said...

"As you watch the news repeat these words to yourself: 350 million Americans yet Hillary and Trump are our front-runners."

That is exactly why I don't watch the news...

Anthony said...

Casting for a role is a bit different than hiring someone to fix computers in that one isn't (usually) just looking for a skill, but a type.

For example, a black guy playing Scarlet O'Hara would mess up everything the role in particular and the story in general is meant to convey :) .

People have the right to do whatever they like when casting for a play or movie (if you can sell something to an audience, more power to you) but I'd be fine with the show being recast with white actors. No point (brown) sugar coating history.

BevfromNYC said...

Anthony - I agree with you - casting is not quite the same. However, one still can't be so overtly racist as to put in writing "No [fill in the blank] need apply" and get away with it.

Btw, the union started in the early '80's to change minds. The point was open up rolls that do not necessary need a specific gender/race/etc. actor to further the plot and to boost minority actors. I wholeheartedly agreed and agree with this. The only time I have seen a real miss since the industry started the "non-traditional" casting push was with a Tennessee Williams play. The director was very well meaning, but you can't take a play set in the'50's South and add a mixed race love match without changing the playwright's intentions completely.

Btw, someone is doing a play based on Sherlock Holmes with a female Sherlock.

Allena-C said...

Ha ha! Well said, Anthony! :)

Allena-C said...

I'm with you Bev, I can no longer watch the "news."
It's hard enough just reading it. Thankfully, there are still a few islands of sanity out here, as evidenced by Commenterama. You all rock! :)

BevfromNYC said...

Hey, Andrew, be on the lookout for the "Strange baby faces popping up around Denver!!!" Bbbwwwwwwaaaaaa.

Critch said...

I think someone should do a presentation of Porgy and Bess with Hassidic Jewish actor only. How about fiddler on the Roof with actors from the Far east. How about, You're a Good Man Charlie brown with Vikings....

Kit said...

Posting mine Friday afternoon on the religious liberty-wedding cakes debate.

I think it shall step on more than a few toes —on both sides.

BevfromNYC said...

Critch - Just to be clear, I think Miranda is correct. The musical was specifically envisioned to be "relevant" to a minority audience and by casting minority actors to play George Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson etc, blah, blah, blah. The little refrain that Kit put up in the comments really says it all. Miranda's message is that "it's not where you start, it's where you finish". Hamilton, one of our famous "fathers" started off a poor bastard child of no-good father who left his family destitute yet somehow managed to be a great gentleman and scholar vital to the founding of our country.

That is the vision of the artist(s) must not be tampered with except when funded by the federal government. Then all bets are off and artists must conform to the will of the people. Don't take taxpayer dollars and you do anything you want to do. Just my long-standing opinion.

But I think this is one of the sources of conservative "anger". Some people have to follow the rules and some do not. And when conservatives are called on it, they are also branded "racists". When liberals are called on it, they are branded "victims of racists, so it's okay".

Yeah, even in band-aid colors (or lack of same)...that's the new grievance of the week.

EPorvaznik said...

I have a dream ... that casting calls will be determined by the content of an actor's characterization, and not the color of their skin.

BevfromNYC said...

EP - Nice...except I would prefer that "talent" be in the mix somewhere. The notice did say something about "no prior experience necessary" and that is kind of bothersome too.


Just to really clear, no one actually leveled any formal charges. Probably some AEA member saw the notice and went "Huh, can they do that?" and it became a "thing" in the paper. There was a giant "Uh, okay, well, uh..." No one really cared except the producers and the Human Rights Commission only in that they have just added a whole new bunch of employees to the roster to root out stuff like this so they can have a job and benefits...

EPorvaznik said...

>>"no prior experience necessary" >>

So that's how they get around paying at least SAG/AEA minimum! ;-)

BevfromNYC said...

Ah , they are just trying the "America's Got Talent" approach. Broadway Production contract minimums are pretty good and one of the reasons ticket prices are about $150 each. But touring company contracts are much better.

Critch said...

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs starring Kim Kardashian and the Boston Celtics...

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