Composer’s daughter weighs in on ‘Proms row’

Composer Leonard Bernstein’ s daughter has weighed in on the “whitewashing” row surrounding the BBC Proms concert performance of West Side Story, saying her father may have thought people were “overcompensating with their political correctness to the point where it could become ridiculous”.

The production drew complaints earlier this year over the casting of Broadway star Sierra Boggess as Maria, who is Puerto Rican. Boggess quit the role after the backlash in the US and BBC Pro ms announced Mikaela Bennett would lead the cast.

Bernstein’ s daughter Jamie said“I think he’ d have appreciated the fact the whole industry, musical theatre and the performing arts, is becoming more mindful of issues having to do with diversity, and race and tolerance.”