It’s mainstream and it wasn’t made for them, because, let’s be real– everything was created for them.
Hamilton caused quite a stir with its newest casting notice that specifically requests Non-White actors for the Broadway and touring productions. No biggie right? No, huge biggie. At least that’s what lawyer Randolph M. McLaughlin and The Actors Equity Association have to say about it. A civil rights attorney that teaches at Pace University’s School of Law told CBS this is a violation of the New York City Human Rights Law, denied an opportunity for employment based on race. So from a legal standpoint, the poor choice of wording was against the law.
“You cannot advertise showing that you have a preference for one racial group over another,” McLaughlin said. “As an artistic question – sure, he can cast whomever he wants to cast, but he has to give every actor eligible for the role an opportunity to try.”
So, I wonder, is he talking about things like this:
Where was the outrage when this notice was posted?
There was none, and I can only make an inference why there wasn’t a big fuss. It’s because the theatre is, in all its loveliness and flashy lights, still considered a white space that caters to the white gaze, so of course no one would have a problem, that and according to Equity rules it’s actually legal! After all, whiteness is the norm.
McLaughlin then adds, “would there be outrage if there were notices that said whites only?”, and I want to ask McLaughlin if he has any actor friends of color or ever went on auditions because that outrage is expressed all the time. Say when you don’t book a job because you aren’t “the right fit” or because the casting breakdown specially requests a Caucasian actor or actress- what then do we do with our outrage? We keep going and we create. We tell the stories that we want to tell, through our own lenses. We have people like Lin-Manuel Miranda who create opportunities for people of color on the stage when there are so few, not because we want to exclude white people. This isn’t reverse racism (which doesn’t exist btw). I’d expect for Actors Equity to be disappointed, but as an activist for civil rights, Professor McLaughlin should know all about creating opportunities in spaces where you’ve been denied (HBCU’s for example).
The issue then isn’t just a human rights violation, the issue, I’d argue, is also much deeper than that and something people won’t admit to. I will say it anyway. Thoughts expressed below are my own, not reflective of Broadway Black;
People, and to be specific, certain white people take offense to this because this show hit the mainstream and for once they have nothing to do with it. Nothing. Nada. They didn’t create it, they aren’t starring in it, they didn’t workshop it, and they can’t audition for it. And if we know anything about the mainstream we know it’s catered to white consumers, and the glorious thing about Hamilton is it doesn’t do that. Its cast and the show’s hip-hop elements speak to those of color, but also, its story of creating an America accepting of everyone is something that is able to resonate with all people.
If this casting notice was for a show like The Color Purple or even Shuffle Along or On Your Feet, there would be NO outrage, because those shows, while all are wildly successful and amazing, don’t have the mainstream appeal that Hamilton does and furthermore- let’s be honest- those shows are exclusive to African-American/Latinx experiences. Hamilton isn’t exclusive to just one group, its story is universal. Growing up we all learned about our founding fathers (who we know are white) this time however they are being portrayed exclusively by people of color, and that is essential to the musical’s plot.
As of yesterday, producers released a statement saying that they would revise the wording of the casting call to encourage all to audition, but also gave context to their choice.
“It is essential to the storytelling of ‘Hamilton’ that the principal roles — which were written for non-white characters (excepting King George) — be performed by non-white actors,” the producers said later Wednesday. “This adheres to the accepted practice that certain characteristics in certain roles constitute a ‘bona fide occupational qualification’ that is legal. This also follows in the tradition of many shows that call for race, ethnicity or age specific casting, whether it’s The Color Purple or Porgy & Bess or Matilda. The casting will be amended to also include language we neglected to add, that is, we welcome people of all ethnicities to audition for ‘Hamilton.'”
The casting call now reads: “‘Hamilton’ is holding open auditions for singers who rap! Seeking men and women, ages 20s to 30s, for the non-white characters as written and conceived for the currently running Broadway production and upcoming tours of ‘Hamilton!'”
On the updated casting call a disclaimer at the bottom that reads, “Performers of all ethnic and racial backgrounds are encouraged to attend.”
I’d also like to note the casting for speaking parts said ‘non-white’, but for the dancing auditions it was never specified, but of course some white performers aren’t satisfied with just being in the company. It must be hard to be the only white person in a cast of all people of color, how can one possibly manage that?!
(According to AE rules, the character breakdowns can be race/ethnicity-specific but the audition notices can’t. The wording and use of the “non” technically makes it discrimination. But the two usually go hand in hand so that doesn’t make sense to me, but what do I know?)
And just like that, everyone is welcome to audition for Hamilton here. Don’t throw away your shot.
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