The New York Times: Diversity is increasing onstage on Broadway, according to a new study by the Asian American Performers Action Coalition.
The study, released Monday, examined the 2015-16 season and found it to be the most diverse the group has reviewed so far, with 35 percent of all roles going to minority actors, up from 30 percent the previous season and 24 percent the year before that. The coalition has now compiled 10 years of data on diversity on New York stages.
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Although this is a short article, it hits the main point, there is no fluff, no opinion, it offers just the facts. But the facts are depressing. The numbers, although they are getting higher for African American and Latino actors, that doesn’t mean the numbers are high at all. And that Asian actors are decreasing, is even more cause for worry. We live in 2018 and it still seems like nothing has changed. Broadway may have more diverse statistics, but that doesn’t mean that nationwide theaters are as diverse, because they’re definitely not. The same statistics go for the movies too, they constantly cast white people in rolls that do not specify that they be white, and time and time again, any person not white is usually a background character. And we keep saying that things are changing, but things are not changing fast enough, and the whole industry needs to be rewritten.
It is very exciting to see these small improvements and adjustments that are appearing in the entertainment industry. Diversity disparity has been a HUGE problem on Broadway for forever. However, I wonder if this has to do with Broadways current and recent seasons. Having more diverse shows is giving many minorities the greatest opportunity to display their talent in the biggest spotlight. But will this diversity hold once shows like “Hamilton” leave Broadway? The lack of diversity and representation of minorities in the entertainment industry is a very large issue. I hope that Broadway continues to encourage diversity. I was very shocked by the last part of this article talking about the difference in minority representation between plays and musicals. I never think about them as separate entities but it is disappointing to find out that minorities were only in 16% of the roles in plays. It’s important to acknowledge that this is a very SMALL increase in our industry. There needs to be more improvement as soon as possible. Broadway and the rest of the industry needs more diversity.
The title of this New York Times article, "Study Finds Increasing Diversity on Broadway", made me much more excited and hopeful than actually reading the article did. You would think that with a sweeping, broad title like this, more sweeping and new information would be given, however, as Ella mentioned above, the increase in racial diversity seems to be only really due to Broadway's recent seasons and productions on Broadway. In actuality, these statistics are a little sad. The best news that I got out of this story was that more and more people are finding the ability to tell stories about minorities, but there was no mention of an increase in diversity in directors, playwrights, designers, producers, etc. Hopefully in years to come, there will be more focus on an increase in all kinds of diversity (racial, gender, etc.) in all areas of theatre. I am hoping for more articles like this with more new information in the future.
This article was short, sweet, and to the point. This is something that I believe a lot of online journalism fails to achieve. However, it did fall into the trap of a click bait title. By titling the article "Study Finds Increasing Diversity on Broadway," the author suggests that the number of nonwhite actors on Broadway has jumped by some notable margin. While a five percent increase in nonwhite roles is certainly laudable, by no means is it a signifcant jump from previous years. Nationwide, white stage actors tend to be paid higher wages and still obtain a significant percentage of roles and other theatrical jobs. Thirty five percent nonwhite representation!? That's not something to be lauded. That's a number we as an industry should be ashsamed of. Underrepresented groups make up "56 percent of [New York City's] population." Until 56 percent of the roles on Broadway are played by nonwhites and the people playing those roles make the same as white men in similar roles, we must work to create a more equitable industry at a faster rate than 5 percent a year.
I find absolutely none of these results surprising. Right now, diversity is the thing. People are noticing it. People want it, it is attractive right now. Diversity is marketable. Race is a huge hot topic, especially when it comes to African-Americans. I in no way believe that the advances being made when it comes to equality for African-American people are not important. I am incredibly glad that I’m living in a time when so much is being done by amazing people to bring about racial equality. However, I would say that the vast majority of the time, Asians and Asian-Americans are left out of the conversation. In TV shows, the Black guy may be in the background as the friend of the white main character, but the Asians in the show are the background of the background, the extras or the third, less important, dispensable friend who exists purely for comedic relief, if there are Asians present at all. The same goes for theatre. Asian characters also are a stereotype, a geek, a small, cute girl, or the quiet, mysterious cool kid. Asians are the accepted butt of American jokes. This really needs to change.
Also, it seems that Asians are only cast when the show requires specifically Asian actors, or when the show needs a touch more visual diversity for the ads posted in Times Square.
This article seems to sugar coat the actual reality of the lack of diversity broadway. Yes, I understand that counting blessings is an important part of making progress in the realm diversity, but this article acts like just because there are a couple shows about people of color, suddenly Broadway is a diverse place. Im sorry, but years of white filled shows, even into the 21st century, is not going to be erased by a couple shows full of people of color. The only way to increase actual diversity is by adding actual people of color and white characters into shows, not a couple of token people of color in a show thats predominantly white. I really do think that nowadays people shove the word diverse onto many different things, colleges, programs, music, and most relevantly theater. The way to achieve proper diversity is by revamping the theatrical world and apologizing for years of unnecessary whiteness in broadway shows.
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