‘Bullets Over Broadway’ Casting Raises Questions
- 10 years ago
There’s a lot of attention focused on the Broadway production of Woody Allen’s ‘Bullets Over Broadway’, and not all of it is good.
There’s a lot of attention focused on the Broadway production of Woody Allen’s ‘Bullets Over Broadway’, and not all of it is good.
The musical, which was overseen by Allen and directed by multiple Tony winner Susan Stroman, is under fire for its overwhelmingly white cast.
In fact, the only non-white performer is a member of the dance ensemble.
One of the factors calling attention to the matter is that a segment of the show takes place at the Cotton Club, the historic jazz mecca in Harlem that was frequented by African American performers and patrons.
It was also leaked by an insider that the casting decision was based on a directive given by Allen himself.
Said the source, “Casting was considering a big-name African-American actor for the play, but Woody passed because he just got the idea that a black gangster wouldn’t be good.”
A spokesperson for Allen refuted the allegations, saying “It has always been Woody Allen’s priority to cast the exact appropriate person for a role regardless of race, which has never been a consideration.”
That person also denied a rumor that African Americans were once part of the cast, but later replaced.
There’s a lot of attention focused on the Broadway production of Woody Allen’s ‘Bullets Over Broadway’, and not all of it is good.
The musical, which was overseen by Allen and directed by multiple Tony winner Susan Stroman, is under fire for its overwhelmingly white cast.
In fact, the only non-white performer is a member of the dance ensemble.
One of the factors calling attention to the matter is that a segment of the show takes place at the Cotton Club, the historic jazz mecca in Harlem that was frequented by African American performers and patrons.
It was also leaked by an insider that the casting decision was based on a directive given by Allen himself.
Said the source, “Casting was considering a big-name African-American actor for the play, but Woody passed because he just got the idea that a black gangster wouldn’t be good.”
A spokesperson for Allen refuted the allegations, saying “It has always been Woody Allen’s priority to cast the exact appropriate person for a role regardless of race, which has never been a consideration.”
That person also denied a rumor that African Americans were once part of the cast, but later replaced.