Commercialized Broadway?

[Eliza0114]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:29pm

Who else is sick of a bunch of movie/TV stars getting all of these main stream roles? Let's take the show Rent for instance. It is a total work of art...a show that will go down in history. Scary Spice as Mimi Marquez? I saw her, and she spoke with a British accent. I don't know how many New York strippers YOU know, but none of them I have ever had the pleasure of meeting have spoken with a British accent.

Now, I realize that they want to bring in more people to see the show, but is Broadway getting to commercialized? Again with Rent...when Drew Lachey took over the role of Mark Cohen for a while, they pushed poor (AND UTTERLY TALENTED!!!) Matt Caplan to the side until Drew's stint was over. Now, I love Broadway, but I am getting kind of tired of television and film stars taking over the roles of Broadway stars who are more than qualified for the job. Unless the stars *began* on Broadway, I'd prefer that they get in line and audition like the rest of us.

Updated On: 6/15/05 at 02:29 PM

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:32pm

Most of the strippers I know have accents.

[bunchamuncha]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:36pm

Scary Spice and Drew Lachey are movie stars?

[Eliza0114]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:37pm

They advertised Drew Lachey as "the Television Star from MTV's Newlyweds." But you are correct about Scary Spice. I should have added "pop bands," in there. Thanks for the correction.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:38pm

Unless the stars *began* on Broadway, I'd prefer that they get in line and audition like the rest of us.

Who's to say that Drew Lachey, Mel B, Christina Applegate, Joey McIntyre et al DIDN'T audition like everyone else? Your statement is narrow minded and ill informed.

[Eliza0114]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:42pm

They auditioned at some point for something, I am sure, and Joey did do some Broadway...I have no qualms with him. I was just making a statement. I apologized if I offended you...Christina Applegate, also had musical theatre experience. Drew Lachey and Mel B however did not. Joey Fatone from *NSYNC did, however, so again, I have no qualms with him.

Please don't take my statements out of context. We obviously all love Broadway, otherwise we wouldn't be here. I am just afraid that it is getting too, as I said, commercialized. I am sure that the Broadway stars such as Matt Caplan did not appreciate being pushed to the side while Drew Lachey played Mark Cohen for a while. I merely meant that these stars need to "wait their turn," just as the rest of us would have to do.

They are people too, and therefore should be treated as people, not gods.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:44pm

I have no problem with a long running show that is trying to extend its run by doing some stunt casting. I would have a problem with Drew or Scary or anyone C list star getting the lead in a Broadway show that hasn't been playing for years.

[TheatreDiva612]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:48pm

I agree. I do feel like some of the actors on Broadway are coming just to bring in more business. But, that is just my opinion. I don't like it when we say Scary Spice in a Broadway show, though. I saw her also, and she was not very good.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:49pm

It's show BUSINESS. How exactly can it be TOO commercialised?

[Eliza0114]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:50pm

It is losing its integrity. That's how.

[musicnmath]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:51pm

"I just don't want to see Broadway roles commercialized"
"Commercialized?!"
*** parade of stunt casting cross the stage ***

....couldn't fight the chorus of Beethoven Day going through my head...

[Eliza0114]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:53pm

I. Love. You.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:57pm

These threads are endlessly amusing.

I wonder if struggling actors in TV get all whiny that the majority of the NY theater scene heads to LA each year and tries to 'take work from established TV veterans' who just LOVE the art of TV.

[Eliza0114]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 2:58pm

That is true, actually. Nice spin.

Posted: 6/15/05 at 3:17pm

I think we need some sort of IQ screening for this board and no one who is dumber than the average parrot gets to post.
Updated On: 6/15/05 at 03:17 PM

[TheatreDiva612]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 3:19pm

JoeKV you are a genious.

[Eliza0114]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 3:19pm

It's sad when theatre-loving people can't just...accept that we all have different opinions and move on.

[QHDramaQueen]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 3:22pm

Too be perfectly honest... If they can do the role... They should be on the stage. No one said a actor or pop singer or anything else couldnt expand their horizons and try something new, such as Broadway.

[Eliza0114]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 3:25pm

Oh, I totally agree with you. But there are certainly less than qualified people getting roles on Broadway. But yes, I do agree with you. There are good people on Broadway. When Joey McIntyre took over the role of Fiyero, I saw him first when he had been playing the role a month. I saw him again in the same roles months later, and it was amazing how much he had grown into the role. To me, that is the marking of a true actor. Actors like him have now devoted their lives to theatre. Hugh Jackman, also, is someone who vasillates between theatre and film and does so with utter skill and agility.

I do agree with you that there are those who can, but there are also those who can't.

[grizzabella]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 3:30pm

Well put, JohnPopa! Actually, Eliza, I think you're mixing up "stunt casting", which seems to be your beef with "commercialization" which had better be part of the business of show or no one is going to make any money. Then, no shows get produced. Producers make decisions for economic reasons. Some are sound, some are stupid in the extreme, and some are ethically questionable, but from a producer's standpoint, the bottom line is the defining factor.
JoeKV, notice that Eliza is a "Swing." Eliza will learn.

Posted: 6/15/05 at 3:30pm

So..I'm guessing someone here is a BIG Matt Caplan fan and is still pouting he was replaced by Drew Lachey?

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 3:30pm

I just love the newbies that join BBW and immediately scream about the injustices in the theater........rather than calmly discussing their issues.......ah neophytes

[TheatreDiva612]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 3:32pm

lol...grizz..you are a standby.....don't talk. at least she is trying to defend what she is saying.

[Eliza0114]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 3:45pm

I think I'm extremely calm about what I'm saying...I am stating my points rationally and I am bringing up decent, if not good, examples of everything I argue. And Grizz, thank you for actually saying something useful rather than just trying to offend me.

As far as Matt Caplan is concerned, I do think he's a great actor, but the reason I continue to bring him up is because he is a prime example of what I am trying to say.

Come on people, stop making this personal.

[grizzabella]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 3:51pm

Sorry, Diva. I was trying to straighten out what I thought was a mix-up in terms. Maybe I got it wrong. I'm glad she's posting, and I'm fairly new too, as you point out. I just thought that Joe calling her "dumber than a parrot" was a cheap shot.