As some others have mentioned, Disney shows and big hits like Phantom or Mamma Mia most definitely have a place on Broadway. For many young people, they are the gateway drugs that open their eyes to the magical world of the theater.
Seeing Wicked over seven years ago changed my life, and I would not be posting here if it weren't for that juggernaut. Had my first show been a piece like Passion, I doubt it would have made as big of an impact on me at the time. Personally, it took me a while to develop a palette for more intellectually-stimulating works, but I never would have learned to appreciate them without the help of the mindless fluff. I imagine many other theater fans my age feel the same way.
Updated On: 11/16/14 at 05:37 PM