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Sunday, August 24, 2014
Keke Palmer Will Be Broadway's Next 'Cinderella'
NYTimes.com: Keke Palmer, who starred in “Akeelah and the Bee” and hosts BET’s “Just Keke,” will make her Broadway debut in “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” on Sept. 9, succeeding Paige Faure in the title role.
I am such a fan of this!!!!! Role that race plays in casting a show is always a sketchy topic. However, just because Cinderella has always been depicted as being white that doesn't mean she has to be white. I have always believed that race (and sometimes gender) shouldn't keep anyone from audition for a role. If the part is right for you, you will know it. I applaud the producers of Cinderella for making such a strong statement.
Scrolling down and seeing that Keke Palmer was going to play Cinderella was a bit of shock. Cinderella seems like one of those classic roles that is done by a white. blonde hair, blue eyed girl. For me the diversity and making a change like this is a great one. Unfortunately, we live in a world that sadly still sees things in black and white moments like this give a hope that this is changing. Making a move like this is a smart choice on the producers front. Having a change like this can definitely lead to more sales and options for non-race based casting in the future.
To be honest, I was surprised to see that Keke Palmer will be the next Cinderella. With all the discussions about how casting should be blind I am relieved to see that she is stepping into a role that is normally played by blonde blue-eyed actresses. I am curious to know if the rest of the actors on Broadway were colorblind casted as they were in the 1997 television series or not. I am nervous to hear about the possible backlash from people if it seems that Keke is one of the only actors not typically cast in Cinderella. We should continue on the path of colorblind casting but I fear to hear that some of the nation will still see too much in black and white...
3 comments:
I am such a fan of this!!!!! Role that race plays in casting a show is always a sketchy topic. However, just because Cinderella has always been depicted as being white that doesn't mean she has to be white. I have always believed that race (and sometimes gender) shouldn't keep anyone from audition for a role. If the part is right for you, you will know it. I applaud the producers of Cinderella for making such a strong statement.
Scrolling down and seeing that Keke Palmer was going to play Cinderella was a bit of shock. Cinderella seems like one of those classic roles that is done by a white. blonde hair, blue eyed girl. For me the diversity and making a change like this is a great one. Unfortunately, we live in a world that sadly still sees things in black and white moments like this give a hope that this is changing. Making a move like this is a smart choice on the producers front. Having a change like this can definitely lead to more sales and options for non-race based casting in the future.
To be honest, I was surprised to see that Keke Palmer will be the next Cinderella. With all the discussions about how casting should be blind I am relieved to see that she is stepping into a role that is normally played by blonde blue-eyed actresses.
I am curious to know if the rest of the actors on Broadway were colorblind casted as they were in the 1997 television series or not. I am nervous to hear about the possible backlash from people if it seems that Keke is one of the only actors not typically cast in Cinderella. We should continue on the path of colorblind casting but I fear to hear that some of the nation will still see too much in black and white...
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