UPDATE 2: Patinkin told Tbe New York Times today that he was cancelling his plans to appear in The Great Comet because of the diversity issues. “I would never accept a role knowing it would harm another actor,” Patinkin said. “I hear what members of the community have said and I agree with them. I am a huge fan of Oak and I will, therefore, not be appearing in the show.”
UPDATE 1: In an Instagram post this morning, Onaodowan confirmed that he is leaving Great Comet August 13 and will not be returning. “I am grateful to have had the time to bring this character to life with a remarkable cast that truly make the Imperial Theatre a sacred place every night,” he wrote. “My work is just a reflection of what they bring, have brought and will continue to bring, be it me, Mandy or whoever is co-pilot to Denee (Benton, his costar).”
Mandy Patinkin is coming back to Broadway! Great news, right?
Well, maybe not.
Yesterday the producers of the hit musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 announced that the Tony winner and Homeland star would appear in the show for three weeks only. Patinkin is scheduled to play Pierre from August 15 to September 3.
Theater fans initially rejoiced at the news—Patinkin hasn’t appeared on Broadway for five years, and hasn’t had a lead role in a musical since 2000.
But talk inevitably turned to the future of the actor currently playing Pierre, Okieriete Onaodowan. The Hamilton alum just joined the cast of Great Comet on July 11 (a week later than planned) and his contract was supposed to run through Labor Day. He will now leave the show on August 13.
Fans quickly focused on the fact that Onaodowan, an actor of color, was being replaced by Patinkin, who is white.
https://twitter.com/RafaelCasal/status/890238270612877312
https://twitter.com/RafaelCasal/status/890244560324096001
https://twitter.com/RafaelCasal/status/890259284944179201
https://twitter.com/wrightmywayout/status/890241275609403394
he "graciously agreed", right. because what else could he possibly have done without destroying his career @GreatCometBway ?
— 💫 (@asyaxnoelle) July 26, 2017
Casal and others lambasted Great Comet for abandoning diversity to increase ticket sales, noting that the show’s three current leads are black (notable for a show set in 19th century Russia).
https://twitter.com/RafaelCasal/status/890282475586551809
so you literally RT that tweet about having 3 afri-americans and then right after that you tweet that one of them is being replaced ???? pic.twitter.com/tuHh2r0O3q
— sophie (@jemappellelaf) July 26, 2017
Broadway Black, a site which highlights the achievements of minorities on Broadway, reported critically on the news. The site’s Twitter account also retweeted criticism from black Broadway stars.
https://twitter.com/ArianaDeBose/status/890236883086737409
Also… thank you @BroadwayBlack for covering this because everyone else just says, YAY MANDY PATINKIN. (Whom I also love and respect)…. https://t.co/UVBzUeC1Zl
— Adrienne Warren (@adriennelwarren) July 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/CynthiaEriVo/status/890330830043742208
Fans also denounced Great Comet producer Howard Kagan for his framing of the situation.
“Oak, who was scheduled to appear as Pierre for this period, graciously agreed to make room for Mandy, and we sincerely hope that Oak will return to us in the fall or winter,” he told Broadway.com. “He is a terrific Pierre.”
Many people critiqued Kagan on social media for using the phrase “make room,” suggesting that it had racial undertones. They used the hashtag #makeroom to show their frustration.
https://twitter.com/RafaelCasal/status/890285915591110657
https://twitter.com/fairndebonair/status/890290633029468160
https://twitter.com/bluelalburn/status/890295417992347652
https://twitter.com/Martian_Bae/status/890289564757118976
https://twitter.com/dearhamastasia/status/890298429280313345
https://twitter.com/LilRedUmbrella/status/890305091340836864
Onaodowan has not yet publicly commented on the casting decision. Patinkin did not comment on the racial aspect, though he told Broadway.com that he was excited to “(learn) the words and music of this amazing piece.”
