Inclusive Casting Practices: Practices aimed at fostering equity and opportunity in casting underrepresented groups.  Example: Canadian Media Fund’s guidelines encourage diversity in hiring people who are LGBTQ, disabled, or racialized in any manner. Sources and Further Reading: “Inclusive Casting Guidelines.” Canadian Marketing Association, May 2023, thecma.ca/docs/default-source/default-document-library/cma-inclusive-casting-guidelines_2023.pdf.

Culturally Informed Casting: A practice of selecting actors with deep understanding/connection to cultures in the story. Example: Making sure that the voice actor of an Indian character has an Indian ethnicity. Sources and Further Reading: “Identity Conscious Casting Statement.” State of Texas and Texas Tech University School of Theatre & Continue Reading

Reimagined Casting: Reinterpreting characters or stories through innovative casting choices that go against traditional moods. Example: Swapping Hamlet’s gender with a female or non binary person. Sources and Further Reading: Gold, Sylviane. “What It Takes to Radically Reimagine a Classic Musical.” Backstage, 9 Feb. 2021, www.backstage.com/magazine/article/west-side-story-reimagined-what-it-takes-72627/.   Stout, Madison. “A Chorus Continue Reading

Integrated Casting: Casting decisions that incorporate diversity naturally. Example: Hamilton casting Black artists in their production without making their race the focal point.  Sources and Further Reading: Sierz, Aleks. “London: Integrated Casting.” The Theatre Times, 6 Sept. 2016, thetheatretimes.com/london-integrated-casting/.

Ethical Casting: A framework of casting practices ensuring fair representation while addressing Issues of equity.  Example: Productions discussing with advocate groups before casting marginalized persons, such as racialized people or with disabilities. Sources and Further Reading: Pham, Vicky. “Ethical Casting in a Racially Realized Hollywood: A Framework.” Markkula Center for Continue Reading

Authenticity Casting: Casting a performer who has lived experiences close to the character they are portraying. Example: An actor who is deaf or blind playing a character who is deaf or blind. Sources and Further Reading: “Best Practices for Authentic Casting.” NAVA, 9 Feb. 2025, navavoices.org/authentic-casting/best-practices-for-authentic-casting/#fullarticle.   “Authentic Casting – (Ethnic Continue Reading

Performative Diversity: Appearing inclusive by making surface level diverse casting decisions without meaningful support (ex. Black best friend). Example: In teen dramas and coming of age stories, a Black character will often exist to support the white protagonist, without having their own well rounded storyline. Sources and Further Reading: Leonie, Continue Reading

Cross Cultural Casting: Casting that deliberately involves performers from different cultures to create unique interpretations of traditional works. Example: Hamilton casting non white actors deliberately in order to provide a reframe on the Founding Father characters. Sources and Further Reading: Mondello, Bob. “The Only ‘new’ Thing about Cross-Cultural Casting Is Continue Reading