This article talks about a letter that Makoto Hirano, a self-described “dance theater artist, actual Japanese person, [and] actual Samurai descendant,” wrote to the Lantern Theatre Company Artistic Director, Charles McMahon, after watching the theatre company’s production of Julius Caesar. McMahon also wrote a letter in response to Hirano. Read the article here.
Tag Archives: race
Fairy Princess Diaries: Those Wounds Heal Ill, oh @TheWoosterGroup
This article talks about The Wooster Group’s production of Troilus and Cressida (renamed Cry, Trojans! ) in which they decided to portray the Trojans as a “pastiche fictional tribe” during the time the Native Americans inhabited the country. However, they did not cast any Native American actors in their production. Read the article here.
FairyPrincessDiaries: Et Tu, Lantern Theater????
In this blog post from the FairyPrincessDiaries, she voices her thoughts on Philadelphia’s Lantern Theater’s production of Julius Caesar. The company decided to set the play in Rome after a Japanese-led invasion; however, they decided not to cast any actors of Asian descent. Read her thoughts here.
Geek Outsider: Why Black & Brown Representation in Pop Culture is Important. A Rant.
This article from the Geek Outsider discusses the importance of “black and brown” representation in the media and how that representation is necessary to change our viewpoint of minorities in light of the Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis killings. Read the article here.
HowlRound: Race and Representation in American Theatre Series
On HowlRound, there is an interesting and relevant conversation happening regarding race and representation in American theatre. This conversation was largely spurred by the new adaptation of The Jungle Book, which opened in Chicago this past summer. This is a link to all articles involved in the discussion.
HowlRound: What Makes an Artist Qualified to Tell a Story?
In this post by Anjali Bhimani, an actor and singer, she gives her thoughts as to what makes someone qualified to tell a story that is not his or her own and what the most important elements are in telling a story that is not from your own experiences. Read her thoughts here.