Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down thy privilege, a look at race in theatre
Posted April 18, 2022
Cub Investigative Reporter
A recent study from Asian American performers shows that white performers, writers, and directors make up more than 80% of New York theater.
Broadway theaters are currently making changes to address the lack of people of color in the theater. In 2022, 58.6% of Broadway actors identified as white, and 25% identified as people of color; 6.3% of the 25% identified as Asian Americans and Latin Americans. Nevertheless, Broadway and many other U.S. theater companies lack the representation needed to truly bring theater to its full potential.
The Academy Awards celebrates motion picture arts and sciences, and actors, actresses, directors, cinematographers, and many other artistic individuals contribute to filmmaking. According to the Boston Globe, since 2000 there have been only 72 actors and actresses who’ve won Oscars for best actor/actress. However, 60 of them were white and only 12 were people of color. These results include this year's winner, Will Smith. Halle Berry still is the only woman of color since 1928 to win Best Leading Actress for her role in Monster's Ball.
“If women of color aren’t cast in leading roles, they will not be nominated for them," stated writer, director, and former contributor to The Washington Post, Britni Danielle. "It’s not a matter of talent; it’s a matter of opportunity,”
When people of color or people from different backgrounds are represented in films, they are still stereotyped and often not given the same opportunities for leading roles. This has been happening for decades. Often roles are just a "better fit" for white Americans.
From an outsider's point of view, high school performing arts programs appear very inclusive. However, when a deeper look is taken and others’ experiences are shared, a much different story arises. DDHS's Performing Arts program offers many students of color or of different sexual orientations a chance to perform. David Douglas High School is exceptionally diverse and doesn’t hesitate to offer every student a chance to take the stage.
DDHS Career Center assistant Tiara Primus attended Southern Oregon University and was part of their theater program. She remembers directors were stuck in their ways. Many directors didn’t think outside the box with directors sticking to plays and musicals that primarily focus on white characters, while actors of color would fill stereotypical roles.
“Theater is about the story, not the storyteller,” said Primus. “We were paying more, for less opportunities. The lack of diversity within theatrical spaces is only as limited as the individuals who choose the productions, and cast, and direct the productions. The solution towards re-innovating the lack of diversity within theatrical spaces across America is to expand our understanding of what the purpose of storytelling is, and to recognize our own unconscious biases when it comes to creating new works, casting, and producing shows."
As a result, it’s apparent that diversity in theater and filmmaking can only be helped if filmmakers and directors change their mindsets. Ignorance seems to be the cause of the lack of diversity in filmmaking and theater.