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Friday, Oct. 5, 1990 The Patty CoOegkiri h PageJ J N p-o-i-ivt • v-f view instead of beaming the spotlight on campus, the Tksrn Arts tltfsaitment was caught In It last Monday moming. Chargas of racial unbalance wereaddreased mair*etingwtth''i"rieatreArt» Chair Ronald Johnson by four concerned students. Johnson admitted that the department had a "failing' because h did not produce more ethnically diverse pieces during their scheduled seasons. But is the argument really with the Theatre department at CSUF or with 1, American theatre as a genre? The student's cause deserves attention and respect, flowever, ihere are a few pointi made by these students that could stand a little more introspection. Lately, many issues have been raised regarding racism in the performing am. Playwright August Wilson to delaying making his Pulitzer Prize winning play "Fences" into a movie until an African-American director to found. ' "Blacks don't direct Italian films. Italians don't direct Jewish films- J declined a white director not on the basis of race, but on the issue of culture," Wilson said in the recent October issue of Spin magazine. Cameron Maci ntosh, the producer of the London hit musical "Miss Saigon,' also became the subject of heated controversy when he pulled the rights to do the show on Broadway. The show was planning a multi-million dollar transfer to New York when Asian actors became outraged and deemed the production racist because a white «ctor was portraying an Eur-asian. " The musical requires a cast of nearly 40 Asian performers -and the Actor's Equity Association was ready to close the production because of the one actor playing a lead role. Descriminating on the basis of talent or skin color can not prove to be a fair solution for anyone. Minority issue* In the theatre are important and deserve attention, but efforts need to made In the direction of progress Instead of pointing fingers at ■ -- administrators. • Mr. Wilson crmUd "Fences." He wrote It, directed it, and contributed something to the stage that can continue to spread hi* message- Mr. Mackintosh has produced many shows in London and Broadway, and linco money was not an issu.- for h:m, he decided to simply pull out instead of recasting the role. Equity reconsidered their claims and backed down two days later. iUUHnnituWlS \MuiO BEST KNOWN FOR...TALK RADIO, DRINKING IN AMERICA AND SEX, DRUGS, ROCK & ROLL] CompactDisc Casselte in in Th.Tr. oonn> hook nil compuw. uptoatrTtaTVMMki mnauayi asses, Ssttt fmt •Wn aonn. m— m. TV w« m M sw» an Mksh r*u In r*» an* • p *Wi «• -tw th. •asssasBMSiMS you to «>. n ■ban aaai a •«<•••■• to aw rv mi. iMnnwiiiHHiMi "iimi tt St* mkmmm ovot """I""**"*" ** *ou'"" aonaa b. mkm mn! SALE ENDS OCTOBER 9. 1990 OPIN 9AM TO MIDNIGHT • 3p3 DATS A YUM TOiRmrawiswM •*--- The point isihat when Individuals personally create something they then earn theright to make demands about the way things ihould be run. "Die students had expressed doubt that »n all-white faculty could effectively direct drama that reiVcts mcbtockexperlertceTtherefore, th^^ future ethnic dramas to be staged under authority of the respective cultural programs," said a front-page Metro article in the Fresno Bee. It seems as though the studemts are more concerned with working with people of the same race, rather than talent. If Integration with the department to what to really desired, why'do they demand isolation of directors? This sort of planning would seemingly have the i same result as if they produced their dramas and theatre Works separately and shared the performance space. Which is fine. They should fed compelled to explore ail aspects of a medium such as theatre, but working together on the Shakespearean plays, and the itQiilat season shows docs not appear to be an impossibility. * Perhaps an African-American theatre festival, or specUl performances, or any other sort of focused artistic expression is a great idea and should indeed be supported by the Theatre art* department. In response to the all-white faculty Issue, Johnson made a promise to fill retiring professor Phillip Walker's position with an individual of African- American or Chicano descent. Surely Mr. Johnson appreciates the fact that there is only one position becoming available on the faculty and an enormous number of ethnic backgrounds that are not currently represented In the Theatre Arts depaitineut or any other, for that matter. » ', If an African-American to hired, then a Chicano/Latino will not. And an Asian will not. And an Indian will not, and so on and soon. The -Euro-centric arrogance" that seemed to be the key phrase for the group's attack can really be directed to the evolution of theatre in America. Art is likely one of the purest and most direct ways to express cultural views and experiences to an audience And theatre is ar undeniably powerful fhedium. Coming up later this year Is 'Working' - a multi-ethnic production about . different types of jobs that individuals hold -why that wasn't at least mentioned in the Fresno Bee article can only be left to question, but the fact remains that opportunity exists for the individuals who wish to audition - Whites, Chicano/ Latinos, Asians, African-Americans and humans. «^ Which brings up another aspect of the problem There is frequently not a large turnout of African- American or other ethnic backgrounds at auditions. It to not'" fair to accuse the department of not using Individuals who are not present for the audition process. \ This to the sort of self-perpetuating dilemma that so many individuato face. This fact was not overlooked by the students, as they attributed the lack of African-American participation to the lack of opportunity for strictly African- American expression in the department At the Associated Students meeting last Tuesday night Staccy Green, legislative vice-president of the ASI emphasized "wanting a more multi-cultural perspective in the department" Perhaps mufti -cultural could be intcrpretated to mean that all ethidoes could work and grow together for a deeper understanding of the art of theatre instead of accusing each other - resulting in even more lost time. CONTEMPORARIES Continued from front page "The Contemporaries" ceremony is a black tie affair open to the public and will feature many of the performers mat were .'■-.. v : _ l on the ballot business years ago. Diversity was the key to keeping the club going, said Jim. "We knew there wasn't enough people to support one style of music, so variety was important from the beginning." MaT% TMP ^ItothJimaridBiUatteTidedBullardHlgh «•* fSwS, School before they came to schoolatCSUF. Jim said he was suprised how many people still don't know about the club, especially on campus. Bas with' the \r expansion and attention they've been getting*he hopes that will change. FRESNO ■M a, suaorrossi mn. K 9 heatre at the U The Memorandum By Vaclav HaveJ A Political Satire on Bureaucracy t ***JrV e*jtSttsr&&> > Octobfet^Z«V4^t'3f8 pm OctobeW8nf4,2 pm Arena Theatre Call 278-2216 '( *
Object Description
Title | 1990_10 The Daily Collegian October 1990 |
Alternative Title | Daily Collegian (California State University, Fresno) |
Publisher | Associated Students of Fresno State, Fresno, Calif. |
Publication Date | 1990 |
Description | Daily (except weekends) during the school year. Microfilm. Palo Alto, Calif. : BMI Library Microfilms, 1986- microfilm reels ; 35 mm. Vol.1, no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- |
Subject | California State University, Fresno -- Periodicals. |
Contributors | Assocated Students of Fresno State. |
Coverage | Vol.1, no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- to present |
Format | Microfilm reels, 35 mm. |
Technical Information | Scanned at 600 dpi; TIFF; Microfilm ScanPro 2000 "E-image data" |
Language | eng |
Description
Title | October 5, 1990, Page 7 |
Alternative Title | Daily Collegian (California State University, Fresno) |
Publisher | Associated Students of Fresno State, Fresno, Calif. |
Publication Date | 1990 |
Description | Daily (except weekends) during the school year. Microfilm. Palo Alto, Calif. : BMI Library Microfilms, 1986- microfilm reels ; 35 mm. Vol.1, no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- |
Subject | California State University, Fresno -- Periodicals. |
Contributors | Assocated Students of Fresno State. |
Coverage | Vol.1, no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- to present |
Format | Microfilm reels, 35 mm. |
Technical Information | Scanned at 600 dpi; TIFF; Microfilm ScanPro 2000 "E-image data" |
Language | eng |
Full-Text-Search | Friday, Oct. 5, 1990 The Patty CoOegkiri h PageJ J N p-o-i-ivt • v-f view instead of beaming the spotlight on campus, the Tksrn Arts tltfsaitment was caught In It last Monday moming. Chargas of racial unbalance wereaddreased mair*etingwtth''i"rieatreArt» Chair Ronald Johnson by four concerned students. Johnson admitted that the department had a "failing' because h did not produce more ethnically diverse pieces during their scheduled seasons. But is the argument really with the Theatre department at CSUF or with 1, American theatre as a genre? The student's cause deserves attention and respect, flowever, ihere are a few pointi made by these students that could stand a little more introspection. Lately, many issues have been raised regarding racism in the performing am. Playwright August Wilson to delaying making his Pulitzer Prize winning play "Fences" into a movie until an African-American director to found. ' "Blacks don't direct Italian films. Italians don't direct Jewish films- J declined a white director not on the basis of race, but on the issue of culture," Wilson said in the recent October issue of Spin magazine. Cameron Maci ntosh, the producer of the London hit musical "Miss Saigon,' also became the subject of heated controversy when he pulled the rights to do the show on Broadway. The show was planning a multi-million dollar transfer to New York when Asian actors became outraged and deemed the production racist because a white «ctor was portraying an Eur-asian. " The musical requires a cast of nearly 40 Asian performers -and the Actor's Equity Association was ready to close the production because of the one actor playing a lead role. Descriminating on the basis of talent or skin color can not prove to be a fair solution for anyone. Minority issue* In the theatre are important and deserve attention, but efforts need to made In the direction of progress Instead of pointing fingers at ■ -- administrators. • Mr. Wilson crmUd "Fences." He wrote It, directed it, and contributed something to the stage that can continue to spread hi* message- Mr. Mackintosh has produced many shows in London and Broadway, and linco money was not an issu.- for h:m, he decided to simply pull out instead of recasting the role. Equity reconsidered their claims and backed down two days later. iUUHnnituWlS \MuiO BEST KNOWN FOR...TALK RADIO, DRINKING IN AMERICA AND SEX, DRUGS, ROCK & ROLL] CompactDisc Casselte in in Th.Tr. oonn> hook nil compuw. uptoatrTtaTVMMki mnauayi asses, Ssttt fmt •Wn aonn. m— m. TV w« m M sw» an Mksh r*u In r*» an* • p *Wi «• -tw th. •asssasBMSiMS you to «>. n ■ban aaai a •«<•••■• to aw rv mi. iMnnwiiiHHiMi "iimi tt St* mkmmm ovot """I""**"*" ** *ou'"" aonaa b. mkm mn! SALE ENDS OCTOBER 9. 1990 OPIN 9AM TO MIDNIGHT • 3p3 DATS A YUM TOiRmrawiswM •*--- The point isihat when Individuals personally create something they then earn theright to make demands about the way things ihould be run. "Die students had expressed doubt that »n all-white faculty could effectively direct drama that reiVcts mcbtockexperlertceTtherefore, th^^ future ethnic dramas to be staged under authority of the respective cultural programs," said a front-page Metro article in the Fresno Bee. It seems as though the studemts are more concerned with working with people of the same race, rather than talent. If Integration with the department to what to really desired, why'do they demand isolation of directors? This sort of planning would seemingly have the i same result as if they produced their dramas and theatre Works separately and shared the performance space. Which is fine. They should fed compelled to explore ail aspects of a medium such as theatre, but working together on the Shakespearean plays, and the itQiilat season shows docs not appear to be an impossibility. * Perhaps an African-American theatre festival, or specUl performances, or any other sort of focused artistic expression is a great idea and should indeed be supported by the Theatre art* department. In response to the all-white faculty Issue, Johnson made a promise to fill retiring professor Phillip Walker's position with an individual of African- American or Chicano descent. Surely Mr. Johnson appreciates the fact that there is only one position becoming available on the faculty and an enormous number of ethnic backgrounds that are not currently represented In the Theatre Arts depaitineut or any other, for that matter. » ', If an African-American to hired, then a Chicano/Latino will not. And an Asian will not. And an Indian will not, and so on and soon. The -Euro-centric arrogance" that seemed to be the key phrase for the group's attack can really be directed to the evolution of theatre in America. Art is likely one of the purest and most direct ways to express cultural views and experiences to an audience And theatre is ar undeniably powerful fhedium. Coming up later this year Is 'Working' - a multi-ethnic production about . different types of jobs that individuals hold -why that wasn't at least mentioned in the Fresno Bee article can only be left to question, but the fact remains that opportunity exists for the individuals who wish to audition - Whites, Chicano/ Latinos, Asians, African-Americans and humans. «^ Which brings up another aspect of the problem There is frequently not a large turnout of African- American or other ethnic backgrounds at auditions. It to not'" fair to accuse the department of not using Individuals who are not present for the audition process. \ This to the sort of self-perpetuating dilemma that so many individuato face. This fact was not overlooked by the students, as they attributed the lack of African-American participation to the lack of opportunity for strictly African- American expression in the department At the Associated Students meeting last Tuesday night Staccy Green, legislative vice-president of the ASI emphasized "wanting a more multi-cultural perspective in the department" Perhaps mufti -cultural could be intcrpretated to mean that all ethidoes could work and grow together for a deeper understanding of the art of theatre instead of accusing each other - resulting in even more lost time. CONTEMPORARIES Continued from front page "The Contemporaries" ceremony is a black tie affair open to the public and will feature many of the performers mat were .'■-.. v : _ l on the ballot business years ago. Diversity was the key to keeping the club going, said Jim. "We knew there wasn't enough people to support one style of music, so variety was important from the beginning." MaT% TMP ^ItothJimaridBiUatteTidedBullardHlgh «•* fSwS, School before they came to schoolatCSUF. Jim said he was suprised how many people still don't know about the club, especially on campus. Bas with' the \r expansion and attention they've been getting*he hopes that will change. FRESNO ■M a, suaorrossi mn. K 9 heatre at the U The Memorandum By Vaclav HaveJ A Political Satire on Bureaucracy t ***JrV e*jtSttsr&&> > Octobfet^Z«V4^t'3f8 pm OctobeW8nf4,2 pm Arena Theatre Call 278-2216 '( * |