Andy Mientus Tweets — Page 2

Loved Mientus. Don't anymore. So disrespectful to publicize these thoughts.

I don't think there was anything so horrendous about the tweet. This reminds me of the time Aspen Vincent threw a fit because John Gallagher Jr tweeted apologizing for being out of American Idiot one night.

So, if a couple has two kids. One of them writes a Tony Award-winning musical, and the other cures cancer. People would say they both dedicated their lives to truly important work?! 

Scarywarhol said: "Please. Someone make a compelling argument for most musicals being important. I love good musicals, otherwise I wouldn't be here. But I don't think it's controversial to say that well over half of them are fluff, not good, or both. I'd say that about most forms. "

For me, I don't see the opposite of important/truly important as being fluff, but I get your basic point.  Doesn't this all come down to the different ways we can define important?  Creating a shared entertainment experience is important in its own ways and most, if not all, musicals (and other forms of art) do that.

But if we are talking about art forms and performances having a greater impact on individual or social consciousness, many do not.  And I think that's OK. However, we have several on the boards right now that can/do, not just Spring Awakening.  After seeing The Color Purple, I had lengthy conversations with friends about slavery, race, and misogyny.  The King and I offers opportunities to have all kins of discussions about globalization, class, and more.  Fun Home opens our eyes to sexual and gender identity and family dynamics. And of course, then we've got Hamilton.  And other examples exist.

What makes this production of Spring Awakening truly important in my eyes is that it is amplifying attention on a population that traditionally is very under-served in mainstream theatre, both on stage and among the audience members.  I sat among primarily hearing impaired and deaf individuals when I saw the show last week, and the joy on their faces was overwhelming.

Updated On: 11/29/15 at 07:08 PM

indytallguy, I agree with all those productions you mentioned being socially significant, and having worth outside of a few hours of entertainment. And I think we have an unusual amount of truly exciting stuff on right now. But I do still think they're exceptions to a general rule on commercial Broadway. I don't mean to bad-mouth good fluff...I just don't think it should be controversial to call it unimportant almost by definition. I just think it's very silly to construe this tweet as something hateful. 

seahag2 said: "So while I still am not a fan of the with the way he worded the tweet (if anything, it was just shocking to read at first glance--also the wording was horrendous, not the tweet itself), he did clarify and was able to justify his words. But I will post the thread word for word tomorrow morning for anyone interested in it!"

Saved you the work:

https://twitter.com/andymientus/status/670751522154790912

And here's the link to the original tweet that you screencapped:

https://twitter.com/andymientus/status/667128109347549186

c0113g3b0y said: "sad that the moderators deleted my juicy post here."

They probably scan the boards for words that rhyme with dock.

Scarywarhol said: "indytallguy, I agree with all those productions you mentioned being socially significant, and having worth outside of a few hours of entertainment. And I think we have an unusual amount of truly exciting stuff on right now. But I do still think they're exceptions to a general rule on commercial Broadway. I don't mean to bad-mouth good fluff...I just don't think it should be controversial to call it unimportant almost by definition. I just think it's very silly to construe this tweet as something hateful. "

Agree. I saw little wrong with his Tweet.

Oye. I understand what the majority of posters here think he was saying, but his known persona of self-importance and pretentiousness begs to differ. I don't think he meant what you all are trying to defend. I think he meant "My musical is truly important. More so than yours! #blessed".

Then again, not looking to get into a fight. It's all subjective anyway. This thread probably shouldn't have been started. But to put in my two cents, I think "true importance" is highly subjective, too. I think any musical can be truly important if it touches one person. The revival of "Side Show", although not being well liked here, is truly important to me because it touched me and inspired me. That being said, so did this production of "Spring Awakening", before the self-important tweets from cast and crew alike started popping up. Now that, paired with some deaf friends saying it isn't accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people at all - quite the opposite actually, I view it as a gimmicky show that represents sign language poorly. Despite that, it is AMAZING how many deaf, hard of hearing, and disabled people are getting to live their dreams and perform on Broadway, and I'm thankful for the show for that reason and that reason only. Once again: subjective, subjective, subjective.

If I may ask, Cinders, what about this production isn't accessible to the deaf and hard-of-hearing? (Not being sarcastic, I'm genuinely wondering, having not seen the show but always hearing about how the sign language makes the production accessible and open.)

Art is incredibly important.

As a couple of people have mentioned, musicals can inspire people. They can reassure, they can validate, they can literally save lives, as all art has the potential to do.

How many gay kids have found salvation and hope in cast recordings?

I know we all hate on Wicked, but it has clearly touched a lot of people with its message. That's just one random example.

Besides being obnoxious, the tweet, and the sentiment demean the power of the art form.

With all the cuts in funding for the arts in public schools these days we, as a community of artists and patrons, should not be downplaying musical theater's importance. We should be nurturing it.

smidge said: "Andy Mientus' sole important contribution to Spring Awakening is his ass"

Parse his language to whatever Tumblr depths you all want, but I think everyone can agree on the fineness of the booty.