tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818182790776118898.post7037586166014267398..comments2023-10-09T04:28:40.375-07:00Comments on Marcia's Black Theater Blog: How come Lynn Nottage is not on Broadway?Marcia Pendelton - Walk Tall Girl Productionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04615695767982077207noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818182790776118898.post-41740368980260041552012-01-05T07:29:27.660-08:002012-01-05T07:29:27.660-08:00Thank you for writing this. I thought "Ruine...Thank you for writing this. I thought "Ruined" as one of the best new American plays in years. While I'm happy for Ms. Parks, Ms. Hall and Ms. Diamond, Lynn Nottage's absence on a Broadway stage is truly mystifying to me. She's a prolific, gifted American writer very near the peak of her powers. What are people waiting for?David Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11757746662824867452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818182790776118898.post-25897439336342779232011-12-14T19:35:23.882-08:002011-12-14T19:35:23.882-08:00I feel like everything you said is valid. African ...I feel like everything you said is valid. African American women in theatre are a common irregularity. While there are some examples of African American women starring in roles on Broadway, obviously there can be a lot more. There are just so many stories to tell and relationships to discovery that there is no reason why there aren’t more roles for Black Females. Some feel like these stories are not commercially viable for Broadway but I happen to disagree. Personally, I believe the main problem is that we, as African American women, can complain and complain about the lack of roles for African American women but that does not do anything. We put too much stock in producers to procure work for African American woman, when the majority of producers are not African American women. Producers generally are attracted to work that they can relate to. It’s human nature and also producing is a large gamble with a low chance of return. So it’s safer to take a chance on something they know. With that being said if we want to see work starring African American woman like Lynn Nottage's work on Broadway then it's our responsibility to come together as a collective group and make it happen. I feel like actors cannot simply be actors anymore, especially in the African American community. We must all contribute to facilitate black work. It’s not enough and I don’t believe it was ever enough to just be an actor, writer or director….everyone needs to do at least one other thing in the theatre to get things going. What we really need is procure and produce work we want to see. It’s our civic responsibility as black people to tell our stories. How else will our children learn the complex and dynamic history that is Black History. Once the show gets on Broadway, from there it’s all about marketing... African American theatre needs to be sold differently and reach a different and diverse demographic. Black people need to want to come to NYC to see these works and the Middle Class Theatre Go-er needs to want to see this kind of theatre instead of other shows that lack this type of diversity. I know I’m rambling a bit…but my point is that if we want to see a Lynn Nottage play on Broadway then we need to form production companies and then market the show correctly. Yes this is over simplified but I really do think this is the way to go.G. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12794732525994931423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818182790776118898.post-86702546098722519382011-12-02T21:01:09.405-08:002011-12-02T21:01:09.405-08:00Marcia, thanks for this excellent and insightful p...Marcia, thanks for this excellent and insightful post. I had also wondered why Intimate Apparel didn't transfer right to Broadway either when as you pointed out it was a big hit for RTC (who can't seem to find another Black playwright to produce although "Blue" by Charles Randolph Wright was another box office bonanza for them too). It is overdue for a Broadway run and with Viola Davis repeating her knockout performance and directed by George Wolfe, or how about a lesser known director who would do an equally good job! Lydia Fort, Seret Scott (who directed an excellent production of Intimate Apparel at The Two River Theater in NJ in the fall of 2010), Liesl Tommy, or even Phylicia Rashad! <br /><br />It always boggles the mind when investors ask who/where is the audience because they only do that whenever it is convenient or when it suits their fancy. Where is the audience for any show? I would love to answer that question in front of the investors. I guess Ruined and Intimate Apparel played in front of empty audiences through each extension!!! <br /><br />Thanks for not leaving out Book of Mormon, the controversial hit musical. As you pointed out, technically it's not a "Black" show, but does feature one of the largest number of Black casts second to Lion King. It's interesting that certain people were so critical of The Scottsboro Boys and the representation of Black people in that production, but when it comes to Book of Mormon, this same group is quiet and from what I understand (I haven't seen it), the portrayal of the "Africans" is not that flattering and very problematic. I guess people see what they want to see... <br /><br />Lastly, since you put it out there re: your hopes for a Broadway run of Intimate Apparel, I wonder when the powers that be select movies and books to adapt for the stage, why Black themed projects are largely absent. I want to put it out there too that I would love to see a musical theater adaptation of Spike Lee's Mo Betta Blues, a stage to screen adaptation of The Five Heartbeats, a stage to screen adaptation of Polly (Debbie Allen's remake of Pollyanna for Disney since they are so obsessed with adapting their animated and live action movies) and what about Lady Sings the Blues for the stage?; what happened to the long gestating musical theater version of Women of Brewster Place?; Eve's Bayou, The Learning Tree... the list goes on...AJ Muhammadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385045288828911noreply@blogger.com