Diversity brings more Asian-Americas to Broadway

New York's theatre district of Broadway is opening its doors to a
greater global audience.

Increased diversity among its cast and crew is helping to drive bigger
box office takings.

Broadway's longest running musical The Phantom of the Opera recently
announced its main female lead would be played by an Asian America, a
move that has sparked extra interest from locals and tourists alike.

Nick Harper reports from New York.

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TAKE PKG

UPSOUND MUSIC
The music of love and loss that's recognized the world over.
Phantom of the Opera is the longest running show on Broadway, enjoying
over 25 years of success.
But its latest casting has helped to attract a new audience.
Ali Ewoldt has taken the lead role of Christine, becoming the first
Asian America to star in this Broadway icon.

ALI CLIP 1 - "I think it's a great time…"

Ali first saw Phantom when she was ten and describes this as a "dream role".
Much has been made of her Filipino heritage.
But it marks a changing shift in the show, which now has five
Asian-American cast members.

DAVID CLIP 1 - "A lot of the diversity…"

Phantom's music director and conductor is David Lai, a Chinese-American.
He's worked on Broadway for more than two decades.
And during that time he's seen more and more Asian Americans excelling
in musical theatre.

DAVID CLIP 2 - "I remember when I worked on Miss Saigon…."

Over the years David has seen more Asian Americans and Asian tourists
coming to see Broadway shows. And the figures back that up - theatre
attendance among Asian tourists in particular is on the rise. New
York's Tourism board predicts of the one million Chinese who will
visit the city this year, a quarter of them will end up seeing a
Broadway show.
And with greater diversity both Ali and David feel those figures could
grow even further.

ALI CLIP 2 - "I think audiences what to see themselves reflected onstage…"
DAVID CLIP 3 - "The Chinese people, or the Asian people are really proud…"

UPSOUND MUSIC
If music is the universal language then Broadway's box offices are
sure to benefit.
This combination of both diversity and tourism growing will
undoubtedly be music to their ears.
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