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Writer's pictureMichael Gene Sullivan

Look At This Cast



This is the sort of diversity some theatre companies struggle to achieve, insisting they cannot find the talent, or cannot justify, or would be too much of a challenge for their audience.


The casting of this show was not a statement, it was just casting. Some of these actors were company members, a couple had some experience with the company and were hired for the gig, and one had never worked for the company before. Because this particular theatre company has a history of diversity onstage and off they did not have to go out on a special search or encourage actors they'd never cast before to audition because they suddenly wanted to make a point. And if these actors had not been available there was a diverse pool of talented veterans in the community who would have been considered.


Some theatre companies get special attention in the press when they decide to expand their casting beyond what they and the press have considered "normal." It becomes a big deal, they get plaudits and grants, as if they'd performed a magic trick, as if they'd pulled multi-colored rabbits out of a hat only white rabbits inhabited. This company does not get that sort of attention - because diversity is so ingrained with them that audience and press don't even see it anymore.


I know every show cannot be cast like this. Sometimes this sort of cast might undermine the meaning of the script. But sometimes it might enhance it, and sometimes maybe the theater should pick more shows that can be cast like this in the first place.


This should be normal. This should be expected

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