Statement on Non-Traditional Casting

In the original Broadway production of Harvey, the entire cast was white, and the movie was cast the same way. However, given a different time setting other than the 1950's, I can see the entire cast being of a different race. My show is set in the 1950's though, so I have to take the particular time period into consideration. 

Unfortunately for America the 1950's were tainted with racism towards nonwhites, particularly the African Americans. It wasn't until 1960 when African-American's gained complete equal rights in the eyes of the national government. To say that an African American family could be at the same socialite status as the Dowd's, throwing big social parties, being parts of many country clubs, being raised with old money, etc..., would be quite a long stretch. Also, Veta makes references to her grandmother coming over by ox team and establishing the Wednesday Forum.

While the Dowd's are a little out of the question in my opinion, I feel that every other character in the show could be cast could be cast as a minority. Everyone else is merely a pawn in the Dowd's world, so the particular details about how a black man or hispanic man is a doctor. The same rules apply for the nurse, the maid, Wilson, and the other ladies that chime in on occasion. And when it comes to casting a female in a male role, the only place that could occur is with the character E. J. Lofgren. All we know about the character is that he drives a cab and has a brother. Everyone else is in some sort of romantic endeavor, and I don't think I would want to switch any of the genders due to that fact.