Considering Nontraditional Casting in All Directions

Perhaps we should broaden the range of the plays considered for nontraditional casting.

(L–R) Beneatha (Diana Sands), Walter Lee (Sidney Poitier), and Ruth (Ruby Dee) in “A Raisin in the Sun.” The film was traditionally cast with an almost all-black cast. Columbia Pictures

In 2022, the Public Theater in New York City presented “Richard III” with a nontraditional casting twist: The role of the villainous king was portrayed by black female actor Danai Gurira. Speaking about the appropriateness of this choice, Gurira reasoned that great writing “transcends culture, it transcends the specificity of the color of your skin or even gender.”

“It transcends those things,” she said. “It’s about the human experience.”