This is being very helpful everyone thanks.
PIPPIN is definitely on the short list because I love the play, although I don't know that The Lead Player qualifies as a role "written for a black actress." I think it's just famously gender and racially neutral. I'm having the same thoughts about INTO THE WOODS (which is what the kids are pushing for, and yes, Vanessa Williams was wonderful in the revival as The Witch.) CAROLINE, OR CHANGE is also a great idea but might be too challenging for us. Ditto RAGTIME (also I don't have a Colehouse).
I'm definitely trying to steer away from any show, like HAIRSPRAY, ALL SHOOK UP, GHOST or THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, where race might relegate my actress to a supporting role or secondary lead. (Motermouth, Sylvia, Oda Mae and Muzzie are all great roles, but they aren't the actual leads in those shows). |
I will definitely give AIDA another look. I wasn't enamored of the music the first time I heard it, but it's getting a lot of support and a big cheering section on this post. I'll grant it is an amazing role for a leading actress and I definitely have the actors to fill the other roles, including a handsome leading man rock tenor. So I probably need to give it another chance.
Someone also suggested THE BUBBLY BLACK GIRL SHEDS HER CHAMELION SKIN which is apparently actually about a young black woman growing up in a very homogenous white community. Interesting title (!) and certainly one I will check out.
Thanks all! Keep those ideas coming!
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John Monteverde
Drama Teacher
Pittsfield High School
Pittsfield, MA
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-07-2017 08:47
From: John Monteverde
Subject: Musicals for a leading lady of color
I have a wonderful young woman who is the shining star of my program and who will be a senior next year. She is African American and a musical theater triple threat. Most of the school however, and a majority of my theater program, is white. Can anyone think of any musicals with a black leading lady, but where the rest of the cast does not also have to be black?
I am fully aware of course that she can play
any lead role in any musical. She has done so many many times. She has already played Julie in
Carousel, Marion the Librarian in
The Music Man, Hope Cladwell
in
Urinetown and Ariel in
Footloose. I'm trying to address the fact that in her entire career in both high school and local community theater she has never once had the opportunity to play a role actually written for a black actress.
I would like for her to have that opportunity before she graduates if I can, but I don't have the actors to pull off the rest of the cast of
Dreamgirls or
Once On This Island. Her leading man for example will almost definitely be white. I'm looking seriously at
Aida, but I don't love the show and so far it's the only option I've found.
I'm not sure this is something I need to worry about (and if you think otherwise please let me know) but it seems like it would be a valuable addition to her resume as a serious young actress looking at top musical theater programs next year.
Thoughts?