Theatre Seemingly Encouraging "Brown Face" for West Side Story Production
by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder
A local dinner theatre in Wisconsin is facing backlash for an audition notice for their upcoming production of West Side Story. In the ad, along with encouraging all ethnicities to audition, the notice also encourages those “who can believably play Latinos” to also show up. Many online are accusing the theatre of either encouraging “Brown Face” or opening the door to “whitewash” this production.
The theatre in question is The Fireside Theatre, a dinner theatre in Fort Atkinson, WI. While they are the only Actor’s Equity dinner theatre in the state, the audition call for West Side Story is non-union.
The post appeared on Playbill and states the following:
PERFORMERS OF ALL ETHNICITIES, PHYSICAL TYPES, GENDER IDENTITIES, AND AGES ARE ENCOURAGED TO AUDITION.
We are looking for actors in their late teens or early 20’s who are able to play teenage members of the gangs – The jets and The Sharks. The Sharks are a gang of Puerto Rican immigrants. Prefer Latino actors for those roles or actors who can believably play Latinos.
The implication that this theatre would be open to casting non-Latino performers in Latino roles has ignited outrage on social media.
Jesse Sanchez, a musical theatre composer, posted the following on his Instagram page.
“dear @firesidetheatre i implore you to change your mindset and hire the people that these roles were intended for before you make (bigger) mistakes. also, please get some DEI work done.”
It’s important to note that while the show’s licensing information doesn’t have any explicit language requiring theatres to cast Latino performers, it is mentioned in the character descriptions. Maria, Anita and Bernardo are all described as Puerto Rican.
It’s worth mentioning that while many productions of the show don’t feature exclusively Puerto Rican cast members, the overwhelming majority of productions feature Latino performers. And it’s very important as to why.
At its core, West Side Story is a narrative about race, identity, and the immigrant experience in America. Casting non-Latino actors in roles meant for Puerto Rican characters dilutes the authenticity of the story and undermines its commentary on cultural conflict.
One of the primary concerns with casting non-Latino actors in these roles is the potential for misrepresentation. Puerto Rican characters bring specific lived experiences shaped by their cultural background, and only actors with a genuine connection to that heritage can fully embody the nuances of those experiences. By casting non-Latino actors, productions risk perpetuating stereotypes or, worse, reducing these characters to superficial caricatures.
In a time where the entertainment world is striving to become more equitable, it’s crucial to honor the integrity of stories like West Side Story by casting actors who reflect the communities they portray.
I’m not aware of the demographics of the Fort Atkinson area and the unique challenges of casting a diverse show. However, I believe that an effort is worth pursuing, no matter how difficult it may seem.
In 2024, audiences are increasingly aware of the importance of representation, casting Latino actors in these roles can have a profound impact. It provides an opportunity for Latino performers to see themselves in characters that share their heritage and for all audience members to experience a more authentic portrayal of the diverse communities depicted in the musical.
It’s my hope that the creative team at The Fireside will cast this show the way the writers intended it to be cast. It would be a powerful step toward fostering a more inclusive and diverse theatre community, not just at The Fireside Theatre, but in Fort Atkinson and beyond.