Mike Mariano

Playbill breaks the news!

Only Asian Actress On Broadway Leaves

Avenue Q’s Asian stereotype Ann Harada is going on maternity leave, passing the part of Christmas Eve to her understudy, Ann Sanders!

The character of Christmas Eve is Japanese (seemingly only because it rhymes with “opportunities”), and mother-to-be Harada is Hawaiian (of what exact lineage I’m unsure). Ms. Sanders may be a worthy replacement, and maybe she’s mixed, but she sure looks like a cracker to me.

But is it really fair to bill Harada as the only Asian actor on Broadway? Of course not; just look at all these working actors like:

• Marcus Choi in Wicked: ensemble member! (Formerly of Flower Drum Song)
• Ericka Yang in 42nd Street: ensemble member! (Formerly of Flower Drum Song)
• Mayumi Ando in Rent: ensemble member! (Formerly of the Los Angeles production of Flower Drum Song)

So here’s some helpful career advice for our non-Occidental Thespians: learn to like Rodgers and Hammerstein.

While brushing my teeth a few minutes ago, I did a really good impression of Mary Louise Parker singing “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”. Unfortunately, no one heard me perform.

And when I say unfortunately, you should read that as “fortunately”

And now by associating a Broadway actress with pop music, I’ve jinxed all of us—be prepared for One Desperate Moment, the new rock musical based on the songs of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It’s about a boy named Eddie, who waited until he finished high school to go to Hollywood and….

Please kill me.

I took this picture through my windshield this morning on my way to work:

Help me out here; is this some sort of DaVinci Code reference?

I thought it was a reference to Gabriel Knight 3, but what do I know?

Stupid Gnostics!