Playwright objects to Hartford theater's casting of Caucasians in leading role

The Hartford Courant published an article about "The Motherf**ker With The Hat" Playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis objecting to Hartford-based TheaterWorks casting Caucasians in the lead roles of the play.

Guirgis, the article states, was most upset that TheaterWorks made no effort to bring in Hispanics for the leading roles of Jackie and Veronica, a dysfunctional and volatile Puerto Rican couple. In addition, he said the casting notice made no reference to the leading characters being Puerto Rican.

TheaterWorks Executive Director Steve Campo conceded the point, saying, "in the future TheaterWorks will certainly seek and take advantage of all available resources to more effectively reach out to Latino theater artists, especially when obviously appropriate roles are available.”

What's also unacceptable, in addition to not making an attempt to cast more credible roles, is the fact TheaterWorks made no apparent effort to market the production to the Hispanic market in the area, which is overwhelmingly Puerto Rican.

Hartford's mayor is Puerto Rican mayor and Caucasians are the minority in the capital city.  In Hartford County, there are 136,783 Hispanics with 95,964 of those (70%) being Puerto Rican, according to the U.S. Census Fact Finder.  In the city, Hispanics comprise nearly 45% of the total population with Puerto Ricans comprising 77% of the Hispanic population.

As my daughter would say this is an "epic fail."