What happened to BWW?- Page 2

[Q]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 10:13am

If all the people who remember the 'good times' - and were supposedly a part of what made it that way - are now staying away, how is it supposed to be any different?

This isn't something created out of nothing for someone to just plop down in the middle of for their own enjoyment, it is a communally created affair.

If it isn't what it 'used to be', it's the fault of those who aren't participating and making it better.

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 10:15am

Random... but, what ever happened to Too Darn Hot?

[wexy]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 10:46am

We had a couple of picnics where I got to meet a bunch of BWW folks,it isn't the same.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 10:56am

Nothing ever stays the same.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 11:47am

I think one thing that no one has mentioned is that BROADWAY has changed. Realizing that the audiences were getting older and older, producers have been presenting works that appeal to the 'tweens-to-twenties generation. Those of us who are older--and have a certain perspective on the performing arts--are quickly being replaced by a younger crowd, for which so much is "amazing" or "multi-layered" or whatever the current buzz words are.

I know I find myself going to big musicals less and less because the quality isn't what it used to be and the amplification is much too loud. As a result, I post less here because I have nothing to say about shows I haven't seen. I also become more snarky because I have little patience for people who've seen 8 shows and think they know everything about Broadway.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 11:57am

Speaking as a person who once, along time ago, was a 'tween who had seen 8 shows and thought I knew everything about Broadway, I must ask you: Weren't you once a 'tween who had seen 8 shows and thought you knew everything about Broadway?

I'm glad producers are bringing in new audiences. Think how AWFUL the theater would be if it only appealed to those of us who are closer to death than to our virginity.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 12:43pm

Joey, when I was a 'tween, I didn't have an outlet like BWW to discuss my enthusiasm for the theatre. Besides, I wasn't the kind of kid who chattered madly about something he knew nothing about. I listened a lot and read a lot. The school system I was in didn't have much of a theatre program and the teachers weren't very helpful.

Oh yes, I'm glad that new audiences are being brought to the theatre, but if we're discussing what happened to BWW, we have to say the scene is changing and as a result the population on the message boards is changing along with it.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 12:44pm

I remember being at a dinner party as a youngster in the late-'80s and there was a diverse collection of queendom, as least as far as age went. And there were definitely dividing lines when the discussion turned to musical theater.

Amplification was a HUGE issue for the older guys. They particularly hated A Chorus Line, which just seemed inconceivable to me, because of the microphones. In fact, many swore that it was "the first show to use amplification" (not that it really was) and that it "ruined everything." It was implied that I really didn't know what I was talking about if I loved A Chorus Line.

HAIR was also a huge point of contention. I was a punk rocker at the party and somewhat reactionarily averse to all things hippie and had yet to see a production of the show. Among the queens of certain age, THAT was the show that "ruined everything." Of course, there were quite a few activist/aging hippie types who loved it. I remember most this doctor who, as I figured out the math, was hitting the books and not taking part in the counterculture in any way. He was somewhat incredulous when describing his experience of seeing HAIR. "I hated it. It just seemed as if they were yelling at me." I remember thinking, "That's because they WERE yelling at you."

Besides, everybody knows it was "Wicked" that ruined everything.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 1:19pm

Shows were amplified well before A CHORUS LINE only the mics were along the foot of the stage and you could hear the sets as they were rolling into place.

The first show I recall using personal mics was the original JC SUPERSTAR and Jeff Fenholt was whipping his mic around the stage as though it was a prop.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 1:31pm

I know they were amplified before Chorus Line, that's why wrote that in parenthesis. My point was in the imaginations of gentlemen of a certain age at the party I attended, A Chorus Line was the first and it ruined everything.

Besides, everyone knows Cats ruined everything.

[romantico]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 1:37pm

Are the moderators reading this? When you do not moderate a board and let it run wild, people go away and speak ill of that forum.I doubt they care or will listen,but I am glad people are speaking up.

[Q]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 1:45pm

"I doubt they care or will listen"

Well, who could resist such a pleasant and optimistic entreaty?

[tazber]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 1:51pm

It's not their place to censor every little thing that bothers you, romantico.

I imagine this site has grown huge in numbers of members, most of whom probably don't even post. And with more people you have more points of view. The mods are letting people express all kinds of ideas and opinions. And that's as it should be.

When someone pushes too far, as with Mark whatshisname, then they take action.

Except for CountA I haven't really noticed all this "running wild" you're talking about.

[gotham girl]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 2:21pm

well, i'm not a tween but i guess you could say i am the typical Broadway fan who sees 8 shows a year or thereabouts. i certainly don't claim to know everything about Broadway, and that is precisely why i go to BWW and other similar sites. the older...or um, shall i say, veteran posters, are a great source of information (and snark) about performers, shows, recordings that i should check out, past and present. that's my 2 cents.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 2:25pm

Everyone knows THIS was the show that ruined everything.

[romantico]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 2:30pm

Its not about censorship Taz, its about conduct.Yeah, conduct like the Counts DOES BOTHER me and everyone here. I agree, they are not required to censor but obviously they suspended him for 3 days because of his conduct. I think the reason was he bumped his own thread(s). Well, he has not just started doing that. In fact, he has done that since day one and all of a sudden they take action.

I am all for different views and opinions. By saying I am against that is just not true. Hell, I have ignored posts plenty of times when I read something I disagree with.Do you really think that's what I am complaining about? If so, then I am not the only one.

All I am saying is what they did Sunday was the first "action" we have seen. It's as if Count A just appeared Saturday night,they noticed, and took action. I am passionate about this because I like this forum and the people. I would think the mods would welcome this type of criticism/feedback.It's difficult to be optimistic when you see one person trash a forum. Opinions and different views having nothing to do with this. However, I will try to be optimistic. Let's see when the Count returns if they take further action.I'm willing to look at Sunday's suspension as a start.

[Q]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 2:34pm

"conduct like the Counts DOES BOTHER me and everyone here."

You could at least start by not speaking for others. I, for one, simply don't have the issues you seem to.

[romantico]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 2:47pm

I apologize. I was not aware there was anyone here who actually liked the Count. I was mistaken.I assumed I was not the only one he annoyed. If there is anyone else who feels the Count is not a burden to this forum,speak up.

[Q]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 2:50pm

So, it's either 'he needs to be banned!' or 'I like him', huh?

How very Bush/Rove of you.

[romantico]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 2:53pm

Um, no. You and I disagree. I do not think you should be banned at all. As a matter of fact, we may agree on many other issues. I did not think I was out of line when I said I thought everyone here felt the same as I about Count A.I was mistaken. Apparently you do not mind his posts or conduct. I apologized to you. Now what?

[Q]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 3:20pm

The 'he should be banned' thing was in reference to the Count, as was the 'I like him', which seemed to be what you were getting out of the fact that I am not wielding a pitchfork and torch over this.

I'm afraid you lost me when you posted in another thread something like, "This is supposed to be a safe haven for liberals."

This is a theater fansite created by an individual who wanted to use and share his passion. The off-topic boad was created primarily to keep the various thoughts and postings other than theater contained to one place. It actually isn't germaine to the running of the site at all. If anything, it's maintained simply to keep it away from the true intent of the site.

And the notion that it's here as a 'safe haven' for anyone, even liberals, is kind of ludicrous. Why is a 'safe haven' needed or desired? That sounds more like a job for Huffpo or Daily Kos, not here.

In any event, you are as welcome to your thoughts, feelings, and expressions as anyone - my comment was simply to point out that you don't speak for me, so you might want to dial back the 'I speak for the board' attitude that is pervading your posts. Obviously, many here agree with you, but they've shown no difficulty in expressing their own viewpoint.

[romantico]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 3:33pm

WHAT?! I have NEVER POSTED "This is suppose to be a safe have for liberals!"NEVER! That is a LIE! I have never even hinted as such crap. SHOW ME WHERE I SAID THAT!You lost me right there! You are mistaken or making things up. I NEVER SAID SUCH A THING! PLEASE, Post where I said that,or even hinted at that.I'll be waiting!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 3:48pm

Yeah, actually, I think it was CountA who said that, Q!

I do think we have learned a valuable lesson here the past couple of days: the board is more fun when people talk ABOUT thespis148 than to him.

[Q]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 4:00pm

If it wasn't Romantico, my apologies. I thought it was, but the thread it was made in was deleted. Again, my mistake, and I do apologize.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/7/10 at 5:30pm

I thought a lot about this issue over the summer and I think a number of things are going on.

1. Last year was a lackluster season, not giving us much TOO much to talk about. Add to that the long wait for THIS season to begin.
2. I think that the board has become incredibly young. I don't mean this a direct criticism, per se, but it seems as if young people don't want to DISCUSS things, but rather just want to be 'agreed with'. And if you DON'T agree, then it's taken as criticism or an attack.
3 Thanks to fb, twitter and the fact that 'stagedooring'
is part of the theatrical experience, WHAT they want to talk about is more about the social rather than the artistic. It's more about documenting experiences rather than living them.