Race and the Broadway musical

Listen

HR 2

Guest: Warren Hoffman

Broadway musicals depict many parts of the human condition, but our guest, Philadelphia-based author WARREN HOFFMAN, points out white actors and actresses have disproportionally been the face of most characters on the stage throughout the 20th Century. But as the past few decades have produced more diverse casts, Hoffman says we have a long way to go for the art form to be truly American. He joins us for music and conversation including Annie Get Your Gun, West Side Story, In the Heights and Passing Strange as Hoffman discusses his book, “The Great White Way: Race and the Broadway Musical.”

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal