| re: Disney admits to resorting to 'brownface' for live-action 'Aladdin' | |
| Last Edit: GrumpyMorningBoy 01:03 pm EST 01/10/18 | |
| Posted by: GrumpyMorningBoy 01:01 pm EST 01/10/18 | |
| In reply to: Disney admits to resorting to 'brownface' for live-action 'Aladdin' - WaymanWong 02:50 am EST 01/10/18 | |
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| I feel like this is heading off-topic, so please forgive me, but I've been spending a decent amount of time in the Disney Parks over the last year, especially WDW down in Orlando. Despite Disney's huge efforts to draw guests from all racial backgrounds, I've been shocked to see how many of their shows' performers are white, even when it's utterly unimportant. For example, the cast of the Lopez/Anderson-Lopez adapted FINDING NEMO, THE MUSICAL -- where all the performers are dressed head to toe as fish and sea creatures, with only their faces exposed -- was entirely white at the last performance I attended. Same thing for the "Trolley Kids," who welcome guests to the Magic Kingdom and dance (& lip-synch) "The Trolley Song" from MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS. All eight of them were white. These shows are cast out of New York City. It would be very hard for Disney to say that they have a hard time seeing quality auditions from people of color. Disney does have four roles who are consistently played by black singer actors... over at "The Festival of the Lion King." Which was developed independently from Julie Taymor's version, and relies far more on stage acrobatics and aerial dancers. Here, at the end of the reprise-rich finale, the vaguely African-esque accented performers take "Circle of Life" to church. There are literally 32 bars of a straight up gospel song. Because... you know... it's Africa. And that's what lions like to sing. Gospel. The even get to riff a "Hallelujah." I cringe every time. For what it's worth, Disney just recently put out an Equity casting notice for a performer at the Animal Kingdom park: "Anika: Female, (height) a young woman who lives in the Anandapur Indian village and spends her time as a caretaker of birds in the Caravan aviary. She is the descendent of a Maharani, a free-spirit, and the storyteller in her proud family." - GMB |
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| Link | Disney's "Festival of the Lion King" (27:51) |
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| Next: | re: Disney admits to resorting to 'brownface' for live-action 'Aladdin' - showtunesoprano 03:38 pm EST 01/10/18 |
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