Colorblind

Colorblind casting is a great tool for the theatre to use. Not only does it redistribute the roles that are available to actors, but it also gives the opportunity to see shows in a different light. Colorblind casting can also act as a placebo for the issue of doing plays that are racially significant. Performing a play written by the privileged whites, cast with a African American actors doesn't mean we are getting a story of the African American experience.

Thinking of a specific example that I have seen, would be a high school production of the King and I. The leading male character being of Thai decent, was cast with a handsome white male, with golden hair. Of course this is a high school production and it should not be judged as critically as professional theaters, or should they? Think about it, for me personally the first time I ever saw a play was when my sister was in a play in her high school, I actually think, that most people's early experiences with theatre are through the school system. Perhaps your friend is in the play, or a family member etc. and it's still not a ridiculous price to go to the theatre. Shouldn't high school theaters think of their seasons just as much as a professional theatre? Also they have the guise of being kids still, so major issues that could be confronted in a safer space than a professional theatre. 

Ok, with that in mind, back to the King and I, we see this caucasian teen playing a Thai man, with makeup added for a more Thai effect, and the kicker is, the script has a Thai dialect written into the script, which only added to the stereotype to Thai and frankly, all Asian culture. The play just shouldn't have been done, the casting was a terrible idea, and the mockery the young actor was doing, only distracted the entire show, which became comical. But the school and educators allowed this stereotype to happen, though the intention was not malicious,  however this sends a certain message to the students and community members that see the show. This is an idea of this particular race, it is a generalized representation of a culture that can leave a negative connotation to that race.  Imagine if you were one of the few Asian kids attending the school, how would they feel being represented in such a ridiculous way? High schools try desperately to have kids drop stereotypes, when sometimes, we don't even realize the effect a simple play could have. We are perpetuating those stereotypes, and allowing that short behavior to occur. He school should t have focused on doing a big name show, perhaps instead they do a play like Dog Sees God, that confronts being a teenager straight on, and would be appropriate to cast with the students at the school. Of course like I said it just a high school production, but I think we need to remember just how important that early theatre is.

This is one side to colorblind casting, but as I said at the beginning of the post, I do like the concept of colorblind casting and have seen and heard of many productions that were successful. I think moving forward, we need to continue to broaden our horizons and find more stories of, by, and for under represented races and cultures.