Adults vs. Teens — Page 2

On the contrary. That was a great musical, fine structure/acting/development. Who knew Ned Flanders had that body to play Stanley?

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It was perhaps a mis-use of a phrase. Of course, I agree that "Broadway" refers to all theater, not just musicals. And I am both a writer and avid watcher of non-musical plays as well as musicals.

In the world of dramatic theater, my "gods" of writing are Tennessee Williams and Tom Stoppard - and I have recently become an admirer of Martin McDonagh.

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I'm fortunate, in that I get to be around a lot of young thespians (14-20). Some are serious theatrical students, other are not. The cream always rises to the top. The rest goes sour.
The serious ones really know their stuff. They read the novels , study the scripts, characters, composers, playwrights, attend various worshops. I respect these kids for the knowledge they have going into this industry. And I think that's the key... MUTUAL RESPECT, whether you are a theater fan or participate in the arts to whatever degree.

I may be older than some...well,OK most... here, but we can ALL learn and respect what others have learned and experienced in so many aspects of the entertainment world.

I have NO time for people who are full of themselves or flaunt what they know or in some cases "think' they know about this business on or off stage. Opinions are like belly buttons, everybody's got one. Sharing insight or facts is one thing..bragging or thoughtless putting down is another.

You can learn a lot by listening and getting involved with people who actually do have experience in any field. It's taken me almost a half century to learn from those who 'create' the world of theater. The smartest people are those who learn from smarter people than themselves. The day I stop learning is the day I stop breathing.

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Updated On: 11/17/03 at 09:48 AM

I think Bob8rich hit the nail right on the head. I am not going to preach, or write a long post, as he was so eloquent in posting what I basically feel, but there is some sort of behavior amongst some of the adults on this board that completely puts down others for expressing their love for modern musicals and plays, etc. However, I must say that I am one of those people who loathe those who go crazy over the latest craze in theatre. Yet, there are those who do feel passionately and have a genuine love for new musicals such as Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Wicked, and the sort. And I am glad that they are enthusiastic about those shows. I think it is time for them to experience some more shows so that they can discuss other works, but nonetheless, I support their active interest for theatre. I just think we all, older adults included, need to have a little more patience and understanding with those who are not as informed about other works, as we are. (steps off soapbox...)

Cheers,
The Balladeer

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I hate how some (certainly not all) of the "adults" on this board think they know more about theatre simply because they're older. I was born in 1982, so I really didn't start appreciating, or understanding theatre until around the mid 1990's. It's not my fault that I wasn't born sooner. I still have the capacity to appreciate a musical or play or reading. I am 21 years old and have seen quite a variety of shows; probably more than some of the "adults" who post here. I have seen both "teens" (and I am putting these words in quotation marks because I'm not quite sure where some of you decide the cut-off age between teen and adult) and "adults" post very incitful messages on this board, and I have also seen both "teens" and "adults" post complete rubish. It isn't right to judge someone based on their age.

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Wait a gall darn minute...did I miss something? You mean to say there are Musicals without music?


And Stevos, that was a reference to the Simpson's episode where Marge plays Blanche in a musical version of that play without music, not a reference to the Previn opera.

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You know what BwayTheatre11, I completely agree with you. When I first signed up, I thought that everyone shared information about broadway and could discuss things without having people beak at them just in case they made a mistake about the information of a musical or a play. I thought coming on here was going to be about having the same interest that everyone could relate to one another. But there has been only a few cases where I have seen people not argue within these threads.

~*Broadway Baby*~

Whenever there is this broad of a mixture of ages, backgrounds, and experience among people with a common passion, friction is inevitable. Someone my age going to irritate the younger crowd sometimes, and vice versa. Someone with a ton of theater history and experience is going to roll their eyes at some of the comments that I might make. I've been around a long time and have seen a lot of theater, but I've not studied it or ever acted and I would have to assume that some of my opinions might seem pretty pedestrian to someone more knowledgeable (that word looks wrong no matter how I spell it...). For the most part, I enjoy the bickering (oh, okay...and even some of the nastiness...preferably when its not aimed at me). Not only is there an astounding amount of knowledge and and humor on this board, but the sophisticated wittiness of some of the posts is awe-inspiring (I'm thinking Namo, Sueleen, papa...to name a few). Everyone here brings something different to the table. Some posts have a ton of substance, some contain snappy remarks just begging to be made, some are annoyingly self serving, and some are even flat out clueless. C'est la vie. It just makes things interesting.

I'll get off the old soapbox now, but not before I say that IMO, the bottom line is to embrace the fact that there is a forum such as this where posts are NOT heavily policed or censored. I've seen it happen elsewhere, and that site is much less rich for the loss of some of the more colorful, if argumentative, posters. I am fairly sure that some have migrated here, and I am very happy to be reading them again.

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Updated On: 11/17/03 at 03:30 PM

Google does not always work! Don't rely on Google to solve all of your problems!

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All the world is a stage. There is drama everywhere.
Can't we all just appreciate theatre, young and old, and just get along?

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My only beef with the under 25 crowd is their blind and *temporary* worship of shows and actors in them. *Hot* does not equal great and vice versa. It's a very MTV mentality. I'm afraid that in this day and age, a Merman or a Lupone, may not have even happened. That's why I always say, "think outside the box". Also, I was enraged when the long gone Luluhed said that I shouldn't demand that the yougsters expand their mental horizons. That I expected too much. How are you ever going to grow if you're not challenged.

I have to admit, that I am one of the "Broadwayworld Teens". I agree with a lot that has been said......I think that a lot of the older more expirienced board members would like the younger members to have more of a basis for their questions rather than to ask something totally random, and un-thought out! The first musical that I saw was Phantom of the Opera, and yes, to me it is the best. I know that opinions differ on the subject of European born musicals, but everyone has a right to their own opinion. In terms of loving straight plays, I'm all for it.....I love Neil Simon, Tennessee Williams, David Ives, and Michael Frayne, etc!!! Even though musicals are my passion, I leave myself open to all possibilities!

See Ya!

Phantom05

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To clarify a couple of things... First of all, not ALL teens worship RENT, or Les Mis, or some of the other musicals that seem to have become cult-hits. I'll tell you right now that I'm 15 years old and I can't stand RENT, partially because of the wide range of obsession surrounding it. My favorite shows range from Gypsy to Guys and Dolls to Into the Woods. I enjoy Cole Porter, Jerry Herman, Kander and Ebb, Sondheim, Rogers and Hammerstien. Some teenagers (people?) aren't nearly as closed minded as their stereotypes make them out to be.

I do agree that people (not just teenagers) should do their research before asking a question, but I also feel that if someone is confused they have the right to ask a question, provided they word it clearly. This forum is about a common love of the theatre, about sharing knowledge and opinions, not about fighting or disagreeing just for the sake of provoking negative emotions.

I also realize that some adults (and some teens for that matter) discriminate (I hate to use that word, but I can't find another one that really fits) against those who are younger, assuming that because we are young, we are stupid. I want to go into theatre professionally and I have done my research and I am continuing to do research. I believe that the amount we have to learn is always greater than the amount of information that we know. Now, not all teens are like that and I know that some of them only like theatre because it is becoming "the thing to do." But, despite these people who remain ignorant with no intent to become knowledgable, I think teenagers should not be discriminated against, just like we shouldn't discriminate against race, sex, or religion. It, to me, is very much the same issue. Just because I am a teenager does not mean I am a head-banging-hooligan-obessed-with-RENT (no offense intended). Nor does it mean that I am dumb or uneducated in theatree.

Okay, enough of the sermon, I'll shut up now. :)

Rachel

Updated On: 11/17/03 at 07:29 PM