'Hamilton' No Whites Need Apply Casting Call Deemed Racist

Tara Dodrill

https://phoenix.playwire.com/en/publishers/1013074/videos/4739243

The Hamilton "no whites need apply" casting call has landed the Broadway show in possible legal trouble. The cattle call for only non-white actors has been deemed racist by some and in violation of the city's anti-discrimination laws.

The Hamilton Broadway casting call posted on the production's website called for only "NON-WHITE men and women, ages 20s to 30s, for Broadway and upcoming tours." The ad also stated the call was for singers who can rap -- no previous theater experience was required, the New York Daily News reports.

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) March 31, 2016

President Barack Obama is a fan of Hamilton and jokingly took credit for its creation when he introduced its producers and actors during a visit to the White House.

Fellow attorney and New York City employment lawyer David Wimms feels the Hamilton Broadway casting call is a race-specific job advertisement and notes it probably violates local, state, and federal anti-discrimination statutes. Wimms is currently involved in a reverse discrimination lawsuit that was filed against the New York City Fire Department.

"I would think it is illegal, in addition to discriminating, publishing discriminatory statements is also illegal," Wimms added.

Hamilton auditions are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles and San Francisco in April and in New York City in May, the Daily Caller notes.

— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) March 29, 2016

"It is advisable to take an affirmative approach, rather than an exclusionary one," Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts Interim Director Howard Sherman said.

Here's an excerpt from a statement released from by the Hamilton production company after the firestorm of controversy began.

"It is essential to the storytelling... that the principal roles — which were written for non-white characters (excepting King George) — be performed by non-white actors."

— Fusion (@ThisIsFusion) March 30, 2016

Hamilton is only appropriate for children age 10 and older due to "strong language" in the musical, according to the production website. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theater for any of the scheduled showings.

What do you think about the no whites need apply Hamilton casting call? Is it racism?

[Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images]

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