Only Asian Actress On Broadway Leaves
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.