The Broadway musical Hamilton is facing criticism over a casting call seeking "non-white" performers.
The present's producers said they'd change the language,and welcome people of all ethnicities to audition. But they stressed it's fundamental that the lead roles in the present go to non-white performers — and that the practice is accepted, and legal.
Jack Viertel is senior vice president of Jujamcyn Theaters and the host of a series of talks in WNYC's Greene Space about musicals and American society. He thinks the flap over Hamilton says something about our cultural values."I judge what it really says is that we've become sensitized to these issues, or not just in the theater,or not even principally in the theater, but in life, and " he said. "At the same time,I have to say that shows like Hamilton are trying to be section of that conversation, and are doing it very successfully."In this interview, and WNYC's Jami Floyd talks to Viertel about casting on Broadway.
Source: wnyc.org