Don't be Maria, Be a Hero.

I’m sure there are plenty of good singers that are Latinas

As theatre artist aren’t we supposed to strive for authenticity? Where is the authenticity in having a white woman play a Puerto Rican woman? I’ve never seen a production of West. Side Story that wasn’t white washed. Shouldn’t we be passed this thing in 2018? Sierra Boggess is a fabulous performer but the wrong choice for Maria. She will have other roles and doesn’t need this one. Cast latinx actors in West Side Story.

Ok, question...WHY does her being a decent human being, and doing what’s right make her a hero??? It doesn’t!! She shouldn’t have said yes in the first place! And giving up her role won’t make her a hero, it’ll just keep her from being a completely terrible garbage person.

Tell the story correctly or don’t tell it at all. Common sense, people.

Amen!

Come on Sierra. Please honor your own words that this casting is inappropriate.

This is a simple thing to fix. FIX IT!

We need to do better

Lady. You are talented. We know this. But. This isn’t just a concert. It’s a statement. Back down and let a talented actress of PR background properly represent this story of love.

This is one of my favorite shows and as a professional singer/actor, will never play. I’m okay with that and you should be too. Recast according to authenticity.

As a white male, even *I* know what the right thing to do is. Please contact me if you need suggestions for an appropriate replacement.

it’s easy to do the right thing here

New Yoricans are already portrayed terribly in West Side Story. The least you could do to bring dignity to the role of Maria is to hire a Latina!

Sierra, you said you weren’t right for the part before. You know what the right thing is.

Representation matters.

United we are stronger....lets free Maria to be an authentic representation of a Puerto Rican Latina!

Latinx women are enough. They are so enough.

I am a white Puerto Rican. I'm so tired of non-Latinx people playing Maria. You said you were wrong for the part once and that hasn't changed. Do the right thing and step away from this. Representation matters. Stop erasing us.

Dear Ms. Boggess, Please keep in mind how many people that "West Side Story" is the living, breathing history of what our parents and grandparents endured. The message of this show, embodied by our Boricua heroines Maria and Anita, is all of our mamás and abuelas. Each time "pierced ear" is uttered to a Hispanic woman, it stings through generations of women dehumanized and treated as sex objects for their island of origin. This is a sacred story to us and we look to you as a human to realize that you singing this role is no different than Porgy and Bess being portrayed by white singers and actors. Please be our ally and show on an international platform how much this matters, especially in this Anniversary Bernstein year. Sincerely, -Alexandra Dietrich de Miranda

Lets be as true and as genuine to the character as possible and have a Puerto Rican women play a Puerto Rican women.