Newswise — When an actor is given a role that was not originally written to be that race, sex, ethnicity, or degree of disability, is that a violation of the original vision of the play? Is that an example of fair hiring practices for the actors? Does this nontraditional casting constitute a "new work" ? Does the law hinder or protect nontraditional casting?
A symposium on the issues has been organized by the University of Maryland School of Law and the Hippodrome Theatre Foundation. The two-hour production begins at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 16 at the M&T Pavilion at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center (Hippodrome Theatre, 12 North Eutaw Street).
"Whose Role Is It Anyway?" will be a free lively panel debate featuring artists as well as theatre and legal professionals. Panelists for the discussion include Donald Hicken, Baltimore School for the Arts; Clayton LeBouef, actor/writer, "Homicide Life on the Streets;" Pat Moran, Pat Moran Casting; Otis Ransey-Zoe, literary manager, CenterStage; Robert E. Suggs, JD, professor at the University of Maryland School of Law, and Rosemary Toohey, playwright. Performances staged to illustrate points about this eternal debate will be put on by Arena Players, Audrey Herman's Spotlighters Theatre and the Vagabond Players.
"Trustees of the Hippodrome Foundation felt it was important to host a forum on this issue. It will be one of the foundation's most interesting educational activities this season, and we invite the public to come take part in the debate," says Olive Waxter, director of the Hippodrome Foundation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to enhance the arts experience for people of all ages through educational activities related to live theater.
"The arts can provide a distinctive window into the law. This collaboration with the Hippodrome Foundation is letting us explore important, cutting-edge issues of race, creativity, and author's rights from a new perspective, through a new media and with new partners," says Karen Rothenberg, JD, MPA, dean of the University of Maryland School of Law. "This program is unique in the country in that we are using theater to teach about the law; we are fulfilling our public mission as a public law school; and we are reaching out to youth."
Other collaborations with the foundation have examined environmental issues in connection with "The Lion King," capital punishment in connection with "The Exonerated," racial discrimination in connection with "Hairspray," and estates and trusts in connection with "The Permanent Collection."
For more information on nontraditional casting and "Whose Role Is It Anyway?" visit www.law.umaryland.edu/arts/casting.asp.
The event is free and open to the public, but seating is reserved. To make a reservation, e-mail [email protected] or call 410-727-5225 after 6 p.m. and leave a message.
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