What is Nontraditional Casting?
By Taunya Lovell Banks Jacob France Professor of Equality Jurisprudence University of Maryland School of Law The phrase “nontraditional casting” refers most often to “cross-racial” casting—placing a non-white in a role not specially written for a non-white actor. (New York Times 1993) A more comprehensive definition of nontraditional casting is the “use of actors of any race, sex, ethnicity or degree of disabilities in roles for which such factors are not germane to the development of stage characters or the play.” (Washington Post 1987) But even this definition might seem too limiting for some proponents of nontraditional casting. For many in theater and film communities, nontraditional casting simply means fair hiring. Historically European or American whites were cast to play all characters including Asians, Blacks, Latinos and American Indians. For centuries in some countries men were cast to play male and female roles, while few women were cast to play male roles. Often casting di
