Thursday, April 27, 2023
Jordan Fisher Reflects on Being the First Actor of Color to Play Anthony in Broadway's Sweeney Todd
Playbill: Jordan Fisher may be known as a go-to actor for newer musicals: he’s done Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen. But the 29-year-old is passionate in pointing out that his real love is classic musical theatre.
“At the Red Mountain Theatre Company back in Birmingham, I trained in classical musical theatre…it was Sondheim, it was Meredith Willson, it was Rodgers and Hammerstein,” the actor explains.
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I’m glad to read that Fisher is feeling in his element as Anthony in Little Shop of Horrors since classical musical theatre is what he was initially trained in. I’ve always been frustrated that in this day and age that titles such as “X Person of Color is First to Play A Really Popular Musical On Broadway That’s Been Produced Hundreds of Times” come up all the time. It's sad that shows that have been around for DECADES are JUST now finally casting roles that have no narrative stake on them being a particular race or ethnicity with non-white people. I understand it’s because we are in the US and the industry dominated by white people and casting has traditionally prioritized white people, but it’s always disheartening for especially in the classics to lack diversity that it’s only now in 2023 that so many of these shows are having their first lead be a person of color. Last year Brittney Johnson was the first black actor to play Galinda full-time despite it’s the FOURTH LONGEST RUNNING SHOW ON BROADWAY. Like this industry’s timeline of change never fails to disappoint me in the field of diversity and equity.
There is something to be said about the weight of disappointment: the phrase “first [blank] of color”. We’ve seen Jordan doing this on Dear Evan Hansen. We have seen countless others. From the top of my head Brittney Johnson, Jana Djenne Jackson, Joy Woods, Sky Lakota-Lynch, Chibueze Ihuoma etc. When will people of color be seen as castable? I also think there is something so wonderful about being able to see more men of color as sweet and loving. Anthony is a complex character but at the core, he embodies positivity. A positivity and pure love for Johanna, a love that is juxtaposed with the possessive love of the Judge and Sweeney. We don’t get to see such soft and tender roles given to people of color. Usually black and brown people are relegated to stereotypes of violence. It is a similar joy I felt when I saw Chibueze Ihuoma as Orpheus in Hadestown. Though quite different. Being able to see a love story between two dark skinned actors that did not veer into antiquated stereotypes. One that explored relationships in a sincere and sweet way. That’s what I hope for the future. Joy. People of Color being allowed to exist with joy.
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