Wicked Saved Broadway!!! So did many musicals before Wicked! Cake!- Page 3

[iwearshoes]

Posted: 4/11/05 at 9:53pm

mm i like cake

[keggss23]

Posted: 4/13/05 at 3:55pm

I think Wicked is ok. Is it the greatest musical ever? Certainly not. These teeny-boppers that have obsessed over Wicked will soon forget about it and move on to their next obsession. Teen fans are very fickle. Will these Wickedheads (or whatever the hell we are calling these screaming, hormone-raging, bops) open their minds to other musicals? Unless Clay Aiken or one of the Backstreet boys is starring, my answer is no. As long as their are people out there that can appreciate the classics and brilliance of other shows for their lyrics, book and score and not how pretty the stars or their husbands are, Broadway will be ok.

[DefyGravity23]

Posted: 4/13/05 at 4:15pm

keggss23, haha you make it sound like all people who like wicked only like it because of the looks of the people that play the characters. I liked the show way before I had ever seen a picture of anyone who was in it. (besides kristen chenoweth, because I already knew who she was). I liked it strictly for its music. Yeah yeah, you can argue that the music sucks, but I love it! (besides the occasional not as good songs)

I think, if anything, the STORYLINE appeals to teenagers. I think a lot of teens like the whole, "the girl that doesn't fit in gets the guy" thing. Not fitting in is an experience that most teenagers can relate to...

But also, since, believe it or not, there are a lot of Wicked fans in the country that DON'T live in NYC (including me) - meaning a lot of them became fans before they saw it on broadway, it is the music that attracted them to Wicked. Some people hate it. But good or bad, I think it attracts way more teens than the "hot guys" or the "husbands of the women in the cast".

EDIT: But I've got to agree with you on one thing, Wicked isn't the best musical of all time. I think it's good, but definetely not the best.
Updated On: 4/13/05 at 04:15 PM

[MyDreamsRecurring]

Posted: 4/13/05 at 6:00pm

I'm a big fan of Wicked, but it's really not the thing that "saved" broadway. I think Rent brought a lot more teenagers back to the theater than wicked ever will.


"Are you serious? Please NEVER compare the genious of Sondheim to WICKED. Sondheim is a legend"
here, here!

[keggss23]

Posted: 4/13/05 at 6:20pm

Defy Gravity - I know that not all Wicked fans are that way and I am not knocking anyone who likes it. If it floats your boat, that's great. I was just using an extreme to make my point that for the most part these crazy, obsessed fans of Wicked are not going to be turned on to Broadway other than this particular show. Sure a few may be turned onto a few other of the contemporary rock shows, but will they educate themselves on the history of broadway or classic shows and composers? For the most part, probably not.

I just think it is incredibly ignorant to say that Wicked has saved Broadway. To prove my point, this is a quote from an earlier reply on this thread:
"It has power which scares older Broadway patrons who think that people like Sondheim and all were and still are amazing but what have they done recently..."

I think this quote is the best possible example to prove my point of how ignorant some people are. Sure, Wicked is the flavor of the moment, but the reason "people like Sondheim and all" are still around is because their works stand the test of time. In 20 years will people still care about Wicked? Sure, it's possible. What I do know is that I guarantee in 20 years, theaters all over the world will still be performing the works of Sondheim, Rogers and Hammerstein, the Gershwins, etc. It is ridiculous to dismiss them because a new flash in the pan has arrived.

Updated On: 4/13/05 at 06:20 PM

Posted: 4/13/05 at 6:27pm

Okay.... I did say that... but I never meant it in the way you put it... I meant that WICKED has a hold on young people that shows like of the Sondheim and older Broadway type shows had on people of that generation and it is kind of takes people a back alittle... But I never said they were horrible which they arent! There god darn legends... WICKED would hope to be like their shows one day and maybe it will but... Its just my opinon

[keggss23]

Posted: 4/13/05 at 6:49pm

Ok, I apologize for using your quote now that I see what you were trying to say. However, I still stand by my earlier post (minus using your quote). There are people who claim that Wicked is the greatest show ever, without really knowing any other shows. Without anything to compare it to, how can anyone say it is the best?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/13/05 at 6:50pm

I'm sure i'll be castrated by the many people on this board for this comment, but I prefer to listen to Wicked over any Sondheim or Andrew Lloyd Webber show. Like Rent, I think Wicked will capture many teenager's interests. I saw Rent about 3 years ago and that got me intrested in theater again, which I think is what Wicked is doing for many people. I'm all for it!!

[keggss23]

Posted: 4/13/05 at 6:56pm

Not at all, RentBoy. You are absolutely entitled to your opinion! At least you have educated yourself about other shows and composers. I am strictly speaking about the insanely obsessive fans that will start threads to give us the time and date Idina last went to the bathroom, etc. I am also only speaking of the Wicked fans that are so quick to say that Wicked has saved Broadway and that it is the best thing ever without really knowing any other shows.

Posted: 4/13/05 at 6:57pm

See... I love Wicked but I know there are things better... like I know Miss Saigon or CATS are huge iconic shows... Plus there are other amazing shows on Bway that are just as good or better than Wicked.

My message to my fellow WICKED fans who have only seen Wicked and a nothing else---

SEE ANOTHER SHOW AS WELL!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/13/05 at 7:08pm

Oh, well I've never seen Wicked, i'm simply speaking of the music. I actually put off buying the recording for a year. I went out and bought Avenue Q first and thought it was a great show, but then I heard defying gravity and i was like "i have to hear that song again." So i bought the CD and now i'm going this summer to Chicago to see Wicked. I guess that's the same way i was with Rent. After the first song in Rent, i was like "this is going to suck," but then I was just amazed by it and now it's my favorite show on Broadway - or ever.

[keggss23]

Posted: 4/13/05 at 7:20pm

Rent is one of my faves too =) I can't wait for the movie!

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 4/13/05 at 9:40pm

I actually partially agree. I was interested in Broadway earlier - we always went to TKTS, and so I saw a few shows. However, me going on a theatre trip in August of last year got me really into Broadway by seeing Wicked and Hairspray, and both gotten me interested in other shows. Let's take Norbert Leo Butz for example.

I saw Wicked, loved it. Bought the Wicked OBCR. I really loved Norbert's voice, and so found out more about him. Bought the Last 5 Years CD. I just went to see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for the sole reason of seeing Norbert.

This goes with a lot of Broadway shows and stars. It all really depends. But I am trying to see almost every show on Broadway now. I really want to be exposed to all of it, because I love it.

My mom told me once before I saw Wicked that she thought that the concept of Broadway would end and most shows would start closing down and there would be eventually no more Broadway before I died. After she saw Wicked, and how many people loved it, she took back her statement.

So, please don't think that every fangirl that sees Wicked will think it's the only show in the world. It's made a real Broadway fan out of me.

[Jera]

Posted: 4/13/05 at 9:55pm

I don't think what I said was "ignorant". I am obsessed with musical theatre. I've been to dozens of shows, researched shows and composers, and I know more that the majority of people my age about musical theatre. Why can't people just have a favourite show without people calling them naive or ignorant? I started this post because I noticed alot of hostility toward people who like Wicked. What's the big deal? Wicked is bringing alot of people to NYC. Yes, I know it's not the only show to ever do this, but I can't see why it creates such a huge emotional response in some people on this board.

Whatever, on with the debate!
jera

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 12:26am

Well, to commment on the whole Sondheim will stand the test of time. I dunno about other people on this board, but as a 19 year old, Sondheim just doesn't appeal to me. I'm not sure why, I've tried to get into him, but i think since pop culture as changed so much since his first Broadway show, so have teens tastes - if that makes sense. I'm more drawn to the 'popper' sounds of Wicked and Rent than I am to The Frogs, but that's just me. I think with Wicked & Mamma Mia, more teens are at least looking at the theater as an entertainment outlet. For instance, i showed my sister a video of Wicked, a clip from a website, and now she is pestering my mom to take her to NYC to see this musical and now she wants to hear more songs and hear other Broadway shows. So, bascially, I think Wicked works.

[Derek]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 1:20am

I somewhat agree. Broadway was being crashed by revival after revival. Wicked was def. a big brand new broadway musical. I think it will become a legend and possibly...eventually....the longest running show. I think it did bring many people to the theatre. I mean if you want to see, check their website. Look at how many celebs alone have seen Wicked. I agree with both parties.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 2:35am

totally agree. I think it will run for a long time because more and more teens will catch onto it. I mean eventually it will fizzle out, but not for a long time.

[keggss23]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:58pm

I am not knocking the show or anyone who likes it. In fact, I used listen to Wicked all the time. I am knocking the teeny boppers: the screaming kids who pee their pants because Idina just waved at them. They are so quick to label Wicked as the greatest show ever without really knowing any other shows. I just think that Wicked has been given waaaay too much credit.

Also, I don't think that basing your prediction on how long a show will run by how many celebrities have attended is very accurate. Of course tons of celebrities have attended, it is the flavor of the moment. The Yankees always have celebs in the stands, but that doesn't mean that they are going to win though does it?

Rentboy - If you don't like Sondheim, there is no need to apologize or explain, at least you have opened your mind to other shows and composers. To each his own! I am a huge Sondheim fan and I didn't quite get "The Frogs" either!

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 4:35pm

We have been talking about teen girls seeing Wicked and possibly not seeing any other shows or a few of the pop/rock based shows. I would like to throw another scenario into the mix. The evening I saw Wicked, there were very few African Americans period in the audience. (I am African American) Where Wicked is drawing all of these teens, based on what I saw that evening at the Gershwin and at the stage door, they are predominently white. It is very hard to get African Americans to the theatre unless the cast is all African American or the storyline pertains to us and has some African Americans in the cast. My family does not go to the theatre unless this is the case. But they did see The Wiz, Dreamgirls and last year's revival of A Raisin in the Sun. (AS did I) As some of you know from my posts, I am active at the Denver Center Theatre Company. The organization I chair was formed to get the African American community into the theatre to see more than shows like the above mentioned. Yes, it is great that they took the time to hop a bus to NYC to see a show (and good shows at that), but you won't see a ton of African Americans at Assassins, Scoundrels, Pillowman, Doubt or a lot of other shows running. So even though a show appeals to a certain demographic and draws them in, it does not always mean that it will make them go back and see more shows. I really wish it would. I tried to get my ex, who is African American, to see Sweeney Todd with me and he asked me why would he want to see this show? And were there any black people in it? I told him that "there weren't but why should that matter. You go to be entertained. It is not a black or white thing. Whether black or white, you should be able to follow the story that the show tells. And no matter your color, you can relate to the stories being told on some level. And even if you can't relate you can be entertained. Open your mind. Not everything can be "You're Arms too Short to Box With God starring Patti LaBelle"!

I saw Sweeney Todd alone and the only show we saw together in 8 years was "Your Arms too Short to Box With God"!

Just my 2 cents.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 4:37pm

I find what you're saying TOTALLY true. And sad.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 4:39pm

I'm sure every theatre generation has their "Wicked". Mine at the time happened to be the original production of "Annie". It was my first broadway show. I had never experienced anything that "magical" before in the theatre. That sense of excitement, joy, etc. are what keeps me returning to the theatre as an adult.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 4:46pm

Here is my .02 cents: Broadway always needs saving...all the time. Yes, there are those who act as if live theater is one of the most superior art forms available. However, its consider to be rather boring by many people. Many, many people. So we need shows like Lion King, Wicked, Rent, B/Beast to generate interest for a younger audience...in hopes they would carry that interest into adulthood and repeat it for their children.

What do you think?
Updated On: 4/14/05 at 04:46 PM

[lizheartsu]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 5:01pm

I agree AC! When my dance studio went to LA last year we did dancing thorugh life. TONS and TONS of kids from ym studio are now into Broadway because of that show. They heard the music, bought the cd and now are hooked on many other musicals! Even my friend who was "too cool" for that kind of stuff, and we all know the type of people I'm talking about. Theres my 2 cents!
<3liz

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 5:09pm

WICKED helped save Broadway from what? I don't understand what this thread is about. People have been talking about the "demise of Broadway" since 1917. In A CHORUS LINE from about 30 years ago one of the characters says, "I don't wanna hear that Broadway is dieing, I just got here!!"

This foolishness about Broadway dieing or anything saving it or helping save it is as silly as it has always been.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 5:29pm

Sorry. SAVED: as in , keeping the interest alive to those who aren't particually inclined to see a show (general population). At least, that's how I take it.