Hamilton And Spring Awakening: Character Analysis

Everyone has heard of the hit musical Hamilton and the ingenious strategy of casting people of color in the roles of our nation's, very white, founding fathers and mothers. The Deaf West Theatre Company’s version of Spring Awakening also addressed the need for social change by casting both hearing and deaf actors who used sign language to tell the story, as well as the first person to appear on Broadway in a wheelchair. Shows like Hamilton and Spring Awakening illustrate how far we have come in making the already diverse theatre community an accurate representation of the diversity of America today.

I feel strongly that the importance of representation onstage is critical to the mission of broadening the types of people that can be influenced

by theatre. The more diversity and representation onstage, the more diversity in the people drawn to see, participate, create, and invest in theatre. The theater community has always been where the misrepresented have found acceptance. Many of the people who have found refuge in the arts community do so in search of an outlet to express their voice which they could not do in the mainstream world. This is why performing arts has always been at the forefront of social change. The sustainability of this amazing art form and the people who support it lies in its ability to continue to reflect modern issues and trends in a way that is relevant to the masses.
In my opinion, a huge part of the problem today is the lack of opportunities for non-traditional casting. There is a need for shows and roles to be written that reflect the world today and do not necessarily call for a white lead actor, but instead for anyone with the talent and honesty to accurately offer their portrayal of a role.
I believe the other half of the problem lies in the fact that it is up to the casting directors to open their minds and understand the value of not type-casting. Instead they need to utilize the diversity of the talent pool, looking past the expected ideals for casting in traditional roles and recognize they have an opportunity to influence a broader audience.
In addition to performing on stage, I want to work in the field of casting where I will be an advocate for creating non-traditional roles in an effort to represent issues and ideals in a way that creates a meaningful dialogue. I have been able to use theatre as an outlet to learn about and understand experiences that I otherwise would not have been exposed to having grown up in a small suburban town. I have found that a performance does not have to be a controversial in-your-face issue in order to affect change. Simply having a diverse cast can enable the communication of a message that offers a valuable new perspective.