![]() We are certain that their record does not reflect a conscious policy of exclusion and we hope that by bringing these issues to a more conscious level, the Roundabout can become an ally in an industry-wide commitment to more inclusive casting. We are reaching out to the Roundabout to engage in closed-door discussions about these issues and are hopeful that they will accept our invitation. ![]() ![]() The Roundabout made our list of the five theatre companies least likely to hire actors of color. Last year, we released a report looking at the percentages of actors of color hired at 16 of the top not-for-profit theatre companies in New York City over a five year span. The Roundabout Theatre Company does not have a good record when it comes to inclusive casting. However, we have heard from quite a few members of the Asian acting community, including those with major Broadway credits, that requests from their representatives to secure an audition were denied. This would have been particularly effective since Hispanic-American star Chita Rivera was already in the cast. Or, if he wanted to preserve white actors in these roles, the use of brownface would have been more ironic or satirical had the entire ensemble been cast multi-culturally. For one, he could have hired actors of actual South Asian descent. Ellis could have handled this issue with more sensitivity. The Roundabout production seems to show little awareness of the long history of Asian impersonation we are trying to put behind us or how racial politics and demographics have changed even in the 28 years since this show first premiered. Today, you would never see a white actor in blackface playing the title role in "Othello" with the excuse of, “oh, well, that’s what was done in Shakespeare’s day.” We wonder why minstrelsy is acceptable when it comes to Asians? However, we would assert that if these characters came from the British colonies of Jamaica or Cameroon, and not the British colony of Ceylon (now present day Sri Lanka), blackface would never have been utilized in the same casual way. Director Scott Ellis was being true to tradition, historical precedent, and to the story itself. We understand that the racism inherent in this musical is a reflection of the social mores within 19th century British panto and Music Hall traditions. The obvious talents of the actors notwithstanding, the use of brownface had the effect of being extremely surreal and alienating, as if a joke was being told that was not intended for the Asian American community to hear. We were deeply disappointed to see white actors impersonating characters of South Asian descent complete with brown grease paint, appropriation of costumes and dance movements and relying on stereotypes in place of characterization. AAPAC Opposes Brownface in Roundabout Broadway ProductionĪfter seeing The Roundabout Theatre Company’s Broadway production of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" and receiving numerous complaints about the use of brownface in the production, AAPAC feels it is necessary to release the following public statement:
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