| Race in Regards to Rights Contracts | |
| Posted by: | dwillmill2 12:31 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
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| I've got a question for you all in regards to your contract when you've been granted the rights to perform a show: Is casting an actor of a different race than specified in the script a breach of contract? For example, if one were producing Violet, in which it is specifically stated that Flick is African American in stage directions but not (as far as I know) in dialogue/lyrics, would it be a breach of contract to cast a Caucasian actor? | |
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| re: Race in Regards to Rights Contracts | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 01:39 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
| In reply to: | Race in Regards to Rights Contracts - dwillmill2 12:31 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
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| It doesn't sound like this should be an issue in theory and in the abstract, but this is not "a question for you all" because it is a question that should be addressed to the source of the rights. The error of asking people here (or listening to their answers) is that they have no way of knowing if the rights holder considers it material or not. It is not that unusual for there to be a difference of opinion on this, but what there can be no difference of opinion on is that the rights holder and sanction things at variance with the script and can shut down your production if they think you are in violation. No one here can do either of those things, and so why would you take a chance? Recasting at the last minute or during production is not fun and not even always feasible. Do yourself a favor. Don't listen to us. Send an email to wherever you were granted the rights. | |
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| re: Race in Regards to Rights Contracts | |
| Posted by: | dwillmill2 04:01 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Race in Regards to Rights Contracts - ryhog 01:39 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
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| Oh, this isn't for MY production. A local theatre is doing just this and it's irked me enough since, as has been established, it changes the story and the journey. I'm debating as to whether to reach out to MTI or to let them be. In my mind, they are unable to perform the show as written and as intended by Tesori and Crawley in this production. | |
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| re: Race in Regards to Rights Contracts | |
| Posted by: | BHandshy 08:00 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Race in Regards to Rights Contracts - dwillmill2 04:01 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
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| "Reach out" to MTI? You mean, like, contact them? | |
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| re: Race in Regards to Rights Contracts | |
| Posted by: | perfectlyfrank 12:35 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
| In reply to: | Race in Regards to Rights Contracts - dwillmill2 12:31 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
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| The bigger question is WHY would you want to do the show without such an important element? Wouldn't picking another show be better rather removing a very significant part of this story? | |
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| re: Race in Regards to Rights Contracts | |
| Posted by: | NewtonUK 12:59 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Race in Regards to Rights Contracts - perfectlyfrank 12:35 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
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| I think the original post is a larger question. The original initiative of non traditional casting was re roles where race was of no importance to the telling of the story - so that you wouldnt be under the gun if you did Long Days Journey Into Night with an all white (or all black) cast, because it was a Mom and a Dad and their two sons. A family. But if you were doing say, A Touch of the Poet, an African American, Asian, latino etc actor or actress could play most of the roles in that show - as long as they could do the Irish dialect required, and not really pull the play out of shape. That said - we've moved past that original initiative in profound ways, and have indeed seen mixed race families onstage where the intent is not that its a mixed race family - just a mixed race cause - an African American King Lear with multi racial daughters. This is not important to the story in the modern world. Its acting. Whereas Master Harold and the Boys kind of requires two black actors and one white actor. The role in Violet, as I remember it, is not racially specific in its content (I may be wrong on this) so you would not be in violation to hire a Caucasian or Asian or other race actor to play this role. Just as you would not be violating the contract to have an African American Violet. | |
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| re: Race in Regards to Rights Contracts (Violet spoilers contained herein) | |
| Posted by: | MikeR 01:28 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Race in Regards to Rights Contracts - NewtonUK 12:59 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
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| It's been years since I've seen Violet, so I don't remember if there are any specific references to Flick's race in the script. But it seems to me that a key issue in the plot is whether Violet chooses Monty, a man she doesn't love but on paper would be a good match, or Flick, a man she loves but whose race means that their partnership will open up a whole new world of problems for her. It's worth mentioning that in the original short story (The Ugliest Pilgrim), Flick is black. | |
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| re: Race in Regards to Rights Contracts (Violet spoilers contained herein) | |
| Posted by: | bwaydiva1 02:54 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Race in Regards to Rights Contracts (Violet spoilers contained herein) - MikeR 01:28 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
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| There are references to Flick's race in the script. | |
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| re: Race in Regards to Rights Contracts (Violet spoilers contained herein) | |
| Posted by: | MikeR 03:00 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Race in Regards to Rights Contracts (Violet spoilers contained herein) - bwaydiva1 02:54 pm EDT 04/02/14 |
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| Thanks. I thought that was the case, but it's been over 14 years since I saw it. | |
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