[pdf-embedder url=”http://broadwayblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Leslie-Uggams-Arthur-Laurents-letter.pdf”] via leslieuggams.com

Sadly, Mr. Laurents died before his wish came true, but one year ago this July, Leslie Uggams got her turn in Gypsy at Connecticut Repertory Theatre.

“Mama Rose”, like many iconic characters in the American musical theater, was not written as a specific race. Therefore, everyone who is able to best tell the story should have the opportunity. This is not only essential for artists, but also for patrons attending the production so that all people get to see representations of themselves on stage. This awakening in the theater, albeit gradual, is refreshing and impactful because it allows a society’s art to parallel life. People of color are more than what centuries of mainstream America thought — in fact, we are nuanced and complex human beings. Our artists are capable of full and complex characters and stories, such as “Mama Rose” in Gypsy.

Hopefully, last year’s production wasn’t the last time we see Leslie Uggams in Gypsy, nor other artists of color inhabiting beautifully layered characters.

The post A Dream Come True: Leslie Uggams As Mama Rose In Gypsy appeared first on Broadway Black.