Spider-Man musical needs female villain, preferably “foreign”

I didn’t know that Bono and the Edge had written songs and lyrics for an upcoming musical version of Spider-Man, directed by Julie Taymor, that’s scheduled to open on Broadway early next year. Open casting calls are happening in a number of U.S. cities, including Chicago (on May 7). The whole idea of a Spider-Man musical is enough to turn my stomach, but the requirements for the role of “lead female villain” are offensive in an entirely different way: “Female. 25-35 years old. All ethnicities encouraged. Must have an amazing rock voice. Think Sinead O’Connor with a Middle Eastern/Bulgarian/Greek twist. Foreign and/or world music types are great. Foreign accents are great.”

You can find the description on this page if you don’t believe me.

Now, the idea of Sinead O’Connor with a Middle Eastern twist is stupid enough, but it’s amazing that in this day and age a Broadway show cowritten by Bono–by many accounts the greatest human being in the world–would reinforce the xenophobic stereotype that foreigners with thick accents are evil. 

Thanks to Aaron Cohen for the tip.