BBC Proms star Sierra Boggess quits West Side Story concert over ‘whitewashing’

Broadway star Sierra Boggess has withdrawn from a concert performance of West Side Story at the BBC Proms over claims of “whitewashing”.

Boggess, from Denver, Colorado, was due to sing the role of Puerto Rican character Maria at a concert in August celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer Leonard Bernstein.

The casting prompted a huge backlash, with many people complaining online that Latin American women are not given enough opportunities both on the stage and on screen.

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Boggess announced in a statement on Facebook that she would be leaving the cast, saying that denying a Latina actress the opportunity to play the role would be a “huge mistake”.

“After much reflection, I’ve realised that if I were to do this concert, it would once again deny Latinas the opportunity to sing this score, as well as deny the IMPORTANCE of seeing themselves represented on stage,” she wrote. “Since the announcement of this concert, I have had many conversations about why this is a crucial time, now more than ever, to not perpetuate the miscasting of this show.

“I apologize for not coming to this realization sooner and as an artist, I must ask myself how I can best serve the world, and in this case my choice is clearer than ever: to step aside and allow an opportunity to correct a wrong that has been done for years with this show in particular.

“I have therefore withdrawn myself from this concert and I look forward to continuing to be a voice for change in our community and our world!”

Boggess is best known for her for her role as Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera. She has also played Maria in West Side Story in the past but confessed to have mixed feelings about it, The Daily Telegraph reports.

In 2015 Boggess said she would not play Maria again, despite it being “a dream role”, because “I’m not Puerto Rican”.