STAGE

Equity Protests: In an echo of the “Miss Saigon” casting controversy, Actors’ Equity is protesting the lack of Latino actors--on stage or as understudies--in the Broadway production of Chilean playwright Ariel Dorfman’s “Death and the Maiden,” slated to open March 17. Glenn Close, Richard Dreyfuss and Gene Hackman will play Spanish-surnamed roles. The production’s general manager, Leonard Soloway, responded Wednesday by saying that roles were offered to Raul Julia and Hector Elizondo and said “many other Hispanics” were auditioned but author Dorfman “particularly feels this should not be an ethnic thing.” A spokeswoman for Elizondo said he was available but never got a firm offer.