Stephen Newport
2012-02-02 12:03:29 UTC
Despite record numbers of new productions being mounted on Broadway in
recent years, some minority performers feel left out in the cold.
A report released Tuesday by the Asian American Performers Action Coalition
shows that the number of Asian-Americans cast in productions on Broadway and
by the 16 largest not-for-profit theaters in the city is dropping.
Though Asian-Americans comprise 12.9% of New York City, Asian-American
actors accounted for only 1.6% of available roles in new productions on
Broadway, 3.2% of roles at nonprofit companies and 2.3% of the roles
industry-wide. Already minuscule, the number of Asian-Americans on stage is
below what it was five years ago-making them the only minority group not
experiencing an increase.
"There are Asian-Americans who have dedicated their lives to theater who
have never been seen by mainstream audiences," said Pun Bandhu, an actor and
member of the Asian American Performers Action Coalition steering committee.
"We really feel invisible."
Overall, the percentage of minority actors in relation to the total number
of roles has increased, hovering at around 21% for the past four years
compared to 14% five years ago, the report found. And the number of minority
actors cast in non-minority specific roles grew year to year.
But much of those gains came from an increase in productions about minority
groups. Only 10.6% of all roles this past year were cast without regard to
race.
African-Americans faired the best of all the minority groups. The percentage
of African-American performers of the total number of roles jumped to 14%
this past year from 8% five years ago. Latino performers doubled their
visibility, accounting for 4% of total roles this past season, compared to
2% five years ago.
In contrast, Asian-American performers saw their numbers drop, from 3% of
all roles five years ago to 1% in the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons with a
slight uptick to 2% last season. There were only 18 principal Broadway
contracts for Asian-American actors in the last five years.
Mr. Bandhu said the impetus for the study started with a Facebook post. An
Asian-American actor posted a message about getting his first audition at a
certain theater in 10 years, and it created an outpouring of similar
experiences.
"We had to take a hard look at the facts to see whether our fears can be
validated or not," Mr. Bandhu said.
The Asian American Performers Action Coalition is holding an industry
roundtable on Feb. 13 to discuss how to make casting more inclusive.
Maria Somma, a spokeswoman for Actors Equity, said, "We hope this study will
encourage producers to re-imagine their hiring practices and to embrace
non-traditional casting."
recent years, some minority performers feel left out in the cold.
A report released Tuesday by the Asian American Performers Action Coalition
shows that the number of Asian-Americans cast in productions on Broadway and
by the 16 largest not-for-profit theaters in the city is dropping.
Though Asian-Americans comprise 12.9% of New York City, Asian-American
actors accounted for only 1.6% of available roles in new productions on
Broadway, 3.2% of roles at nonprofit companies and 2.3% of the roles
industry-wide. Already minuscule, the number of Asian-Americans on stage is
below what it was five years ago-making them the only minority group not
experiencing an increase.
"There are Asian-Americans who have dedicated their lives to theater who
have never been seen by mainstream audiences," said Pun Bandhu, an actor and
member of the Asian American Performers Action Coalition steering committee.
"We really feel invisible."
Overall, the percentage of minority actors in relation to the total number
of roles has increased, hovering at around 21% for the past four years
compared to 14% five years ago, the report found. And the number of minority
actors cast in non-minority specific roles grew year to year.
But much of those gains came from an increase in productions about minority
groups. Only 10.6% of all roles this past year were cast without regard to
race.
African-Americans faired the best of all the minority groups. The percentage
of African-American performers of the total number of roles jumped to 14%
this past year from 8% five years ago. Latino performers doubled their
visibility, accounting for 4% of total roles this past season, compared to
2% five years ago.
In contrast, Asian-American performers saw their numbers drop, from 3% of
all roles five years ago to 1% in the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons with a
slight uptick to 2% last season. There were only 18 principal Broadway
contracts for Asian-American actors in the last five years.
Mr. Bandhu said the impetus for the study started with a Facebook post. An
Asian-American actor posted a message about getting his first audition at a
certain theater in 10 years, and it created an outpouring of similar
experiences.
"We had to take a hard look at the facts to see whether our fears can be
validated or not," Mr. Bandhu said.
The Asian American Performers Action Coalition is holding an industry
roundtable on Feb. 13 to discuss how to make casting more inclusive.
Maria Somma, a spokeswoman for Actors Equity, said, "We hope this study will
encourage producers to re-imagine their hiring practices and to embrace
non-traditional casting."