In her final weeks on Broadway as the leadliner Roxie Hart in “Chicago,” Angelica Ross said she hoped audiences could see that trans identity goes beyond wrestling and that there can also be moments of great light.
This fall, Ross made history by becoming the first trans woman to play a leading role on Broadway.
“There are moments of joy, affirmation and creativity,” the star said in a Zoom interview from the Hollywood Diner in Manhattan, after finishing a singing lesson nearby. “Being trans isn’t just about suffering and challenging,” she said, adding, “There’s always a determination, and there’s a certain determination in me…to break through and have this moment. .”
Ross’ breakthrough run, which kicked off Sept. 12, comes as other diverse castings have made waves both on and off Broadway. Productions like the Tony Award-winning musical “A Strange Loop” about a queer black man’s struggle with his identity; the “1776” revival, centered on the signing of the Declaration of Independence and led by an all-female, trans, and non-binary ensemble; and the Public Theater’s production of Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” about the struggles of a black family in South Chicago, are just a few examples. Theater expert Terrance Jackson, who is director of outreach at the Barter Theater in Abingdon, Va., said Ross’ Broadway debut signals an era of growing diversity and inclusion on Broadway stages and in theaters. theaters across the country.
“Audiences are changing,” said Jackson, who also leads Barter’s Black in Appalachia Initiative, which highlights the stories of local black communities through theater. “For Broadway to survive, for regional theaters to survive, we have to cultivate a new audience.” He added that audiences today “want to see their stories on stage and they want to see themselves on stage.”
Jason Pitsilis, a transgender man from Montreal, Canada, who attended a screening of “Chicago” at New York’s Ambassador Theater last month, said he was surprised it took so long to see a openly trans person in a lead role on Broadway. He added that Ross’ debut in the long-running American musical “opens the door to full acceptance” for the transgender community.
“It’s important for us as trans people to be represented, but above all treated like normal people or like anyone else,” Pitsilis, 25, told NBC News, adding that Ross’s role as Roxie emphasizes that trans acceptance should exist, “without frustration, without doubt and without skepticism.
Racial accounting
Ross’ role in “Chicago” comes as actors demand more diverse representation and the inclusion of underrepresented groups in theater productions. Widespread calls to improve diversity in hiring practices follow the 2020 racial reckoning sparked by the murder of George Floyd and nationwide racial justice protests, Jackson said.
“Black theater artists are asking white American theater to see us and consider us in producing work,” Jackson said. “They demand that we be represented on stage and not just on stage but also off stage.”
In 2020, theater advocacy groups Black Theater United and the Black Theater Coalition rallied support for black talent in theater in the wake of the racial justice movement, drawing renewed attention to disparities in the industry. The Black Theater Coalition said it aims to “remove the ‘ILLUSION OF INCLUSION’ in American theater,” fighting racism and providing more work opportunities for black performers, according to the statement. group mission.
A report released this year by the Actors’ Equity Association, a union of actors and stage managers, found that the theater industry saw “incremental progress” in 2020 compared to previous years, but was always behind on delivering on promises. White talent got 54% of contract salary distributions in 2020, compared to nearly 12% for blacks. Meanwhile, Latinos made up 4% and Asians made up just 2%.
The report also said Broadway’s return in 2021 has brought a “bloom of plays with predominantly black cast and creative crew,” and the association is optimistic that this will be reflected in this year’s hiring data. .
Black cast members have also become more recognized for their work during award show season. This year, “A Strange Loop” became the season’s most nominated production with 11 Tony nominations, including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical. “MJ The Musical” and “Paradise Square” follow closely with 10 nominations. As for wins, ‘A Strange Loop’ won two Tonys, while ‘MJ the Musical’ won four and ‘Paradise Square’ won one, including Best Performance by an Actress in a Role. principal in a musical.
Francois Battiste, who plays Walter Lee Younger in Lorraine Hansberry’s ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ production, said it’s no surprise audiences are hungry for diverse voices, because performing is a ‘mirror to society. “.
“If there is to be a profession that should lead the way, why shouldn’t this be the theater to diversify the workspace?” he said.
Jackson agreed, adding that there should be more actors like Ross in the lead.
“I hope there’s an Angelica Ross behind the scenes, whether it’s in the control room, whether it’s front of house,” he said.
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