Disney on Broadway

[Mermaid2]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 4:30pm

For the past thirteen years Disney has been dominating Broadway with stage versions of their animated movies (Beauty and the Beast and Lion King) and now non-animated movies (Mary Poppins). The shows are entertaining, inventive, and spectacular. This is shocking in comparison to much of today's show business that has terrible language and sexual humor. Why does this wholesome Disney theater appeal to both adults and children? And if shows can be this popular and clean than why do Broadway creators and writers seem to think that language and sexual content is necessary for a successful production?

[WaitingForKathy]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 5:09pm

Wow. This sounds like an essay assignment.

[jake6970]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 7:05pm

Because Broadway is about diversity. You can't have ALL family friendly shows on Broadway or you would lose the adult and teen demographic.

[scott68]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 8:54pm

A. What WaitingforKathy said, and
B. The majority of sexual content and language in Broadway productions isn't simply to sell tickets and be risque, it's a matter of artistic integrity. LIFE is a lot more inappropriate than any Disney show would have you believe, and a lot of good theater emulates that.

[lovelyspotlight]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 9:06pm

Seconding what Scott said, if you want reality to be more prevalent in your production, you don't create a huge spectacle-oriented Disney-esque show. You might need language and sexual content to better re-create real life and make the piece easier for the audience to relate to.

It all depends on what you're going for. Sure, spectacle is fun, but the world surely shouldn't be expected to thrive on spectacle alone. Soon enough, our minds would essentially be numbed and almost unable to process anything else.

Scary prospect, eh? I think so.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 9:09pm

Are you kidding me?

Hairspray, Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, CATS
The shows I just listed don't have any sexual content nor language and are/were massively popular.

[lovelyspotlight]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 9:32pm

I'm not saying they won't be popular. And each of those plays you just listed has something controversial in it, by the way...not just a happy, Disney fluff ball. I was referring more to the reality of human suffering, as opposed to big, idealistic Disney smash hits...not necessarily exclusively in regards to language and sex.

[ElphofOz]

Posted: 11/22/07 at 1:20am

As much as we need to portray "real life" (just look at Les Mis), there is absolutely no need to shove sexually explicit or offensive material in people's faces. I'm tired of producers, writers, whoever thinking that a "real picture of life" is necessary for good entertainment. It's not and there are plenty of us out here who don't want to see or hear that stuff!

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 11/22/07 at 2:15am

lovelyspotlight, did you think that I was commenting on your post? I was just commenting on the original poster.

[lovelyspotlight]

Posted: 11/22/07 at 2:48am

Hah, yeah, I totally thought you were commenting on mine. Sorry about that.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 11/22/07 at 7:16am

Elph, there is actually very little "sexually explicit or offensive material" in Broadway shows, and it certainly isn't 'shoved in peoples' faces'. What shows were you thinking of that do this? The beauty of Broadway, and off-Broadway for that matter, is that there is something for everyone. All kinds of shows, with all kinds of themes, all levels of seriousness or comedy. This is what art is, and censorship is anathema to artists. There's an easy solution if you don't want to see a particular type of storyline onstage - don't buy a ticket to that show!

[jake6970]

Posted: 11/22/07 at 12:15pm

Seriously. Elphofoz, theatre is about variety. Great if you are offended by that, but lots of people aren't. Simple solution, DON'T GO SEE THE SHOW.