Movement to appoint various races as performers on NY Broadway

The Broadway musical in New York, USA, which resumed in earnest last month for the first time in a year and a half after the performance was canceled due to the influence of the new coronavirus, is spreading the movement to appoint various races to performers and staff.

The Black Lives Matter movement during the holidays has thrown a stone in the white-dominated industry.

Middle Eastern women play a leading role in "My Fair Lady"

The New York Broadway musical, which had been suspended due to the influence of the new Corona, resumed in earnest on the 14th of last month for the first time in a year and a half.

In the industry, many of the performers and staff have been white, and the closed view of race has often been criticized, but after the resumption, there is a growing movement to hire more diverse races.

Of these, "My Fair Lady," which was first performed in the 1950s and has been played by a white woman for many years, will now be played by a Middle Eastern woman.

In the background, the Black Lives Matter movement, which occurred when a black man was suppressed by a white police officer and died during the suspension period, and a series of violent incidents targeting Asian residents, etc. There has been a growing awareness and sense of crisis about racial issues.

Depending on the performance, there is a drastic training such as training to notice unconscious prejudice about race, which is called "unconscious bias", and setting an effort goal to make half of the performers of color race. We are embarking on a transformation.

Bartlett Shea, director of "My Fair Lady," said, "Of course, actors are required to be capable, but we have to rethink our thinking about casting. Skin color is one. It's not a requirement to build the world. "

Japanese actor "I feel the road is open"

Actor Minami Yumizu, who has appeared in many Broadway musicals, has been on the US Open tour of "My Fair Lady" since last month as the only Japanese.

Yumizu:

"There were few colored races in the cast so far, but this time I'm very happy because there are four Asian actors including myself. Thai-American actors are playing the leading role. I also feel that "the road is open". I want to actively show my own personality, such as my identity as an Asian. "On

this tour, Mr. Yumizu called" Dance Captain ", the safety of the stage. He also has the role of managing and coordinating the actors. I think it would be very meaningful if I could feel the possibility of being in this position, whether Asian, Japanese or foreign, by doing this job. I have hope for the next generation. I would be happy if you could get it. "

We also evaluate that the changes in Broadway after the suspension period will lead to the acquisition of new fans.

Mr. Yumizu:

"Until now, everyone was too busy to look at racial issues and pretend not to see them, but the sense of crisis that the industry cannot do without listening properly has finally changed in earnest. I think it happened. If the diversity on the stage spreads, the audience will expand, so I think it was a good opportunity for the industry. "

"Conscious efforts are needed to increase diversity"

Broadway actor Pun Bandhu, who has roots in Thailand, founded a group of Asian actors after being discriminated against by many Asian-American actors, including himself, who couldn't even audition. I have been investigating racial issues on Broadway.

Mr. Bandu pointed out that although the proportion of people of color increased, the composition centered on whites did not change.

Bandu:

"For the last decade or so, Broadway has increased diversity by using colored actors in white-centric stories, but it hasn't fundamentally changed the way we do business. Diversity There is no mechanism to oblige them. ”

However, Bandu said that the number of works by screenwriters of colored races increased at a stretch in the performances performed after this suspension period, and Mr. Bandu explained the reason for the rapid change in the United States during the suspension. We analyze that the increased awareness of race in society as a whole has forced Broadway to change.

Bandeau's

, "I think reflects the pressure that rests on Broadway. By the anger of the society in which Black Lives Matter movement has caused, it was necessary that many of the industry reexamine their own"

Sonouede, achieve diversity He emphasizes that it is important not to end with a transient phenomenon in order to do so.

Mr. Bandu

"It takes conscious effort to increase diversity. I think everyone has realized that we have to do more than ever before. It's still halfway and there is room for improvement. I have to keep putting pressure on it. "

Most of the protagonists and main staff are still white

Although the proportion of people of color on Broadway has steadily increased over the last decade or so, the majority of the protagonists and staff are still white.

According to AAPAC, an organization made up of Asian actors investigating Broadway racial issues, the proportion of colored races among Broadway performers was 11% from 2006 to 2007, but gradually thereafter. From 2018 to 2019, it was 34%, and for musicals it was 41%.

On the other hand, even in the same 2018-2019 musical, the percentage of colored races is only 20% for the leading performers, only 14% for the scriptwriters, and there is no director. It has also become clear that the leading role and key staff are still predominantly white, and the group is calling for further improvement.