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High school pulls musical after outcry for casting white student
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High school pulls musical after outcry for casting white student
Quote:An upstate New York high school has pulled its upcoming musical production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” after students protested the casting of a white classmate for the lead role of Esmeralda.

Ithaca High School faced backlash by some students who banded together in protest following the exit of another member of the spring play due to the casting of Esmeralda – a fictional character that portrays a 15th century Romani gypsy in Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel.

“It shows you that theater wasn’t made for you,” Maddi Carroll, 17, an African-American senior who quit the production, told the Ithaca Journal. “And it shows you that if you can’t get the parts that are written for you, what parts are you going to get?”

The move prompted student activists who make up the group Students United Ithaca to pressure the school for a more diverse cast.

“Because of institutionalized racism this results in white children being cast in roles written as white parts and also white children being cast in roles that were specifically intended for people of color,” the group posted to Facebook in a list of 10 “demands” for the Ithaca City School District.

“Make no mistake, the world is not colorblind. Casting cannot be colorblind. Enough is Enough.”

Another demand read: “STOP ignoring and denying that you have created a white centered program run by white adults for the benefit of white children.”

Students also wrote a protest letter posted on Tompkins Weekly on Jan. 8 saying: “Unfortunately, it has also come to our attention that the casting of this musical is antithetical to the very message which beats throughout the heart of the musical itself.”

The letter continued: “We speak, specifically, of the casting choice of the role of Esmerelda. Before we speak further, we want to stress that the talented young woman who was cast in this role is a stellar actor, singer, and dancer. She has worked hard to hone her craft and the IHS stage, or any stage, would be lucky to have her. Our concern is not with her, but with the fact that in terms of demographics, she is the wrong choice for this role.”

Following the complaints, the school announced its cancellation of the production late last month.

“The active community engagement and conversation about the selection of the Hunchback of Notre Dame for the Ithaca High School musical has led to many conversations in our school district,” the Ithaca School District posted on its website.

“This dialogue has affirmed our observations and wishes to have a more inclusive and culturally responsive learning community. In short, our efforts to eliminate institutional biases are ongoing.”

In announcing that the play would not go forward, the school district said: “In lieu of the planned musical, another collaborative project will provide young people and our community the opportunity to engage together while fully expressing the talents of our students.”

“A new project is currently being discussed by students, families and educators. This project will also engage the talents and skills of students previously cast,” the district said.

https://nypost.com/2018/02/07/high-schoo...e-student/
02-09-2018 05:30 PM
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High school pulls musical after outcry for casting white student - CrimsonPhantom - 02-09-2018 05:30 PM



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