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The Non-Traditional Casting Project Continues into the '90s

1990; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 34; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/1146054

1531-4715

Ana Deboo,

Theatre and Performance Studies

NEW YORK It is an often-quoted story: in January 1986, Actors' Equity completed a survey which showed that during the four years covered, over 90o percent of all professional theatre in the U.S. was performed by all-white casts. In response to those findings, a one-day was held from which developed the First National Symposium on NonTraditional Casting held for two days in November 1986. The symposium, sponsored by Equity, was coproduced by the founders of the Non-Traditional Casting Project (NTCP): Clinton Turner Davis, Joanna Merlin, and Harry Newman (see Newman 1989). Over I,ooo actors, directors, producers, casting directors, administrators, educators, and critics from all over the country participated. Speeches were given by John Houseman, Raul Julia, Frances Foster, and Paul Robeson, Jr. There were panels and 18 scenes non-traditionally cast were performed. These scenes provided examples of the four guidelines to casting as outlined by NTCP: societal, cross-cultural, conceptual, and blind (for full definitions see Davis 1988, facing the title page; see also Schechner 1989).' Over the next three years, NTCP distributed a book, Beyond Tradition (Davis and Newman 1988); a video, Breaking Tradition (Non-Traditional Casting Project, Inc. 1989); received an OBIE in 1987; and conducted regional symposiums and forums. On 19-20 January I990 the Second National Symposium--Non-Traditional Casting: the Continuing Challenge-took place at New York University. This symposium was intended as a small working conference in which 18o people took part. There were no performances. According to Sharon Jensen, who became NTCP's executive director in 1989: