MADISON SCOUTS 2016

[MikeD]

Just so we're all on the same page. Huge number of narrative pitfalls to stay away from with a corps show around Judas.

• Judas has historically been played by a black actor, simply becuase of American racism. Judas was no more black than Jesus, who was in all likelihood black. Don't cast Judas with a black performer.
• Tyler Perry is doing a (white Judas) version for Fox starring Daughtry-- is it the same show as Madison? Probably not.
• Judas hangs himself from guilt. Yay! Sorry, way too heavy an element to depict in a corps show. (Juliette's seppuku worked because she was self-empowered to do it.) Even worse if he's black performer and hangs himself-- that just doesn't work.
• The Judas story is inextricably tied to Jesus, an impossible character to feature in a historically accurate context in a drum corps show. Robes and crosses and drums and bugles? Sorry, that's way too on the nose. That would look like a children's passion play at a church rummage sale. No robes, no crucifixes, no last supper, god help us.
• Let's be frank. This Middle Eastern myth created by a male dominated culture just doesn't translate any more in its original form. The whole myth is based on people not having cell phones to say "Where Jesus at?", Jesus not being a clear communicator, having no skill at public relations or politics, the whole nomadic society being disorganized and having limited language skills, and Jesus' sudden shyness about pulling out some magic tricks for the political elite, and frankly the whole story just doesn't make any sense. The religion just doesn't translate any more to modern audiences whose language is hundreds of times more sophisticated and painfully aware of clunky stories of Middle Eastern male domination and paternalistic monotheism.

Only way to produce Judas:

• Do a modern take on it. Godpell like. Two friends, one politically radical, the other sells him out. Only a hint of the original story.
• Focus on the personal betrayal, not on the historical religious crap.
• Avoid the nasty suicide by hanging, and only hint at it. It's too grim.
• Be creative with Judas's madness after the betrayal-- maybe have a hundred Jesuses surround him and make him go mad.
• Cast a white guy as Judas, or else face insurmountable crevasse of racial questions. All. Summer. Long.

Good luck!

On the original 2-album recording, Murray Head (white singer/actor) played Judas. It was given to Ben Vereen (who had been on Broadway in "Hair") for the original Broadway production (Tony nomination), and then Carl Anderson for the film (who had taken over for Vereen on Broadway), hardly due to racism, IMO. The three subsequent revivals in NY all had white actors play Judas.

[Shempy]

Just so we're all on the same page. Huge number of narrative pitfalls to stay away from with a corps show around Judas.

• Judas has historically been played by a black actor, simply becuase of American racism. Judas was no more black than Jesus, who was in all likelihood black. Don't cast Judas with a black performer.
• Tyler Perry is doing a (white Judas) version for Fox starring Daughtry-- is it the same show as Madison? Probably not.
• Judas hangs himself from guilt. Yay! Sorry, way too heavy an element to depict in a corps show. (Juliette's seppuku worked because she was self-empowered to do it.) Even worse if he's black performer and hangs himself-- that just doesn't work.
• The Judas story is inextricably tied to Jesus, an impossible character to feature in a historically accurate context in a drum corps show. Robes and crosses and drums and bugles? Sorry, that's way too on the nose. That would look like a children's passion play at a church rummage sale. No robes, no crucifixes, no last supper, god help us.
• Let's be frank. This Middle Eastern myth created by a male dominated culture just doesn't translate any more in its original form. The whole myth is based on people not having cell phones to say "Where Jesus at?", Jesus not being a clear communicator, having no skill at public relations or politics, the whole nomadic society being disorganized and having limited language skills, and Jesus' sudden shyness about pulling out some magic tricks for the political elite, and frankly the whole story just doesn't make any sense. The religion just doesn't translate any more to modern audiences whose language is hundreds of times more sophisticated and painfully aware of clunky stories of Middle Eastern male domination and paternalistic monotheism.

Only way to produce Judas:

• Do a modern take on it. Godpell like. Two friends, one politically radical, the other sells him out. Only a hint of the original story.
• Focus on the personal betrayal, not on the historical religious crap.
• Avoid the nasty suicide by hanging, and only hint at it. It's too grim.
• Be creative with Judas's madness after the betrayal-- maybe have a hundred Jesuses surround him and make him go mad.
• Cast a white guy as Judas, or else face insurmountable crevasse of racial questions. All. Summer. Long.

Good luck!

lol

[tesmusic]

On the original 2-album recording, Murray Head (white singer/actor) played Judas. It was given to Ben Vereen (who had been on Broadway in "Hair") for the original Broadway production (Tony nomination), and then Carl Anderson for the film (who had taken over for Vereen on Broadway), hardly due to racism, IMO. The three subsequent revivals in NY all had white actors play Judas.

Now now, MikeD, the truth and facts shouldn't be spoken. Nonsense filled agendas about the meaning of a drum corps show can, and MUST be used and taken seriously.

[Rufus67]

Just so we're all on the same page. Huge number of narrative pitfalls to stay away from with a corps show around Judas.

• Judas has historically been played by a black actor, simply becuase of American racism. Judas was no more black than Jesus, who was in all likelihood black. Don't cast Judas with a black performer.
• Tyler Perry is doing a (white Judas) version for Fox starring Daughtry-- is it the same show as Madison? Probably not.
• Judas hangs himself from guilt. Yay! Sorry, way too heavy an element to depict in a corps show. (Juliette's seppuku worked because she was self-empowered to do it.) Even worse if he's black performer and hangs himself-- that just doesn't work.
• The Judas story is inextricably tied to Jesus, an impossible character to feature in a historically accurate context in a drum corps show. Robes and crosses and drums and bugles? Sorry, that's way too on the nose. That would look like a children's passion play at a church rummage sale. No robes, no crucifixes, no last supper, god help us.
• Let's be frank. This Middle Eastern myth created by a male dominated culture just doesn't translate any more in its original form. The whole myth is based on people not having cell phones to say "Where Jesus at?", Jesus not being a clear communicator, having no skill at public relations or politics, the whole nomadic society being disorganized and having limited language skills, and Jesus' sudden shyness about pulling out some magic tricks for the political elite, and frankly the whole story just doesn't make any sense. The religion just doesn't translate any more to modern audiences whose language is hundreds of times more sophisticated and painfully aware of clunky stories of Middle Eastern male domination and paternalistic monotheism.

Only way to produce Judas:

• Do a modern take on it. Godpell like. Two friends, one politically radical, the other sells him out. Only a hint of the original story.
• Focus on the personal betrayal, not on the historical religious crap.
• Avoid the nasty suicide by hanging, and only hint at it. It's too grim.
• Be creative with Judas's madness after the betrayal-- maybe have a hundred Jesuses surround him and make him go mad.
• Cast a white guy as Judas, or else face insurmountable crevasse of racial questions. All. Summer. Long.

Good luck!

For some reason this clip came to mind. Not sure why...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQCU36pkH7c

[HockeyDad]

The comedy stylings of Channel3. Another instant classic. So confident. So ignorant.

[BRASSO]

Just so we're all on the same page. Huge number of narrative pitfalls to stay away from with a corps show around Judas.

• Judas has historically been played by a black actor, simply becuase of American racism.

Lol!.. I can always count on tuning in to Channel3 to get Comedy Central laughs. Thanks CH3 !

Edited March 15, 2016 by BRASSO

[Channel3]

Too bad the non-offensive trolling wasn't working anymore.

Don't go away mad. Just go away.

Respond to the content of the post. Focus. The historical context. The casting of a black person in the role of Judas. Avoiding the stark violence of the hanging. Go ahead. Can't wait to hear your thoughtful commentary. Lolz.

Edited March 15, 2016 by Channel3

[Channel3]

These responses are so provincial and dimwitted, it's frightening.

Tyler Perry is coming out with a White Judas/Black Jesus production. Perry's approach is focused on reversing the trend of portraying Judas as a black scapegoat throughout the centuries. Biblical scholar Stanford comments in his book on portrayals of Judas throughout the ages. Judas has been depicted in everything from stained glass windows to Jesus Christ Superstar. Judas as having leprosy. Judas as a Jew. Judas as a black man.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/judas-the-troubling-history-of-the-renegade-apostle-by-peter-stanford-book-review-10120100.html

This research is critical to Madison's thoughtful portrayal of Judas. We're talking about a performance troupe, a drum corps, portraying the historical figure of Judas, and avoiding stepping in a huge pile of racist crap. A portrayal in the age of cultural enlightenment, and in an age where interpretations of the bible are shown to have been mired in racism, sexism and fascism. How will they cast the part? It's a huge deal.

[Channel3]

Now now, MikeD, the truth and facts shouldn't be spoken. Nonsense filled agendas about the meaning of a drum corps show can, and MUST be used and taken seriously.

Vereen's is the most well-known portrayal in the 20th century, and it conveniently furthered the black Judas myth, regardless of their saying "he was the best peformer for the role". (If he was the best performer, why didn't they cast him as Jesus?) His wasn't the only portrayal that used Judas as a cultural scapegoat. http://www.amazon.com/Judas-Most-Hated-Name-History/dp/1444754726 It's been going on for centuries.

Cultural scapegoating must be avoided in this production because it throws the focus off track. The focus should be on the friendship, breach of loyalty, and ultimate betrayal. This is just one aspect of Mdison's production that needs to be handled with care.

[Channel3]

For some reason this clip came to mind. Not sure why...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQCU36pkH7c

Seriously? You respond to a thoughtful post about cultural scapegoating in the portrayal of Judas with this link to a film that I worked on? Are you out of your mind? This is so ignorant it's painful.

Edited March 15, 2016 by Channel3