BE MORE CHILL (Broadway) Previews — Page 11

_(•_&bull_/ said: "40 year old white people? Okay!"

I don’t know who made that comment but I’m a 50 yr old Hispanic woman and I completely understand that comment. When I started going to the theater in my early 20s, there were many people who didn’t look like me. I know for myself, cost was a huge factor and I can only imagine that is one reason why we don’t see a lot of diversity in the audience. If it not were for RUSH seats, I wouldn’t have seen 90% of the shows that I did back then and even now. If you are not a person of color, you may find the comment off putting but it isn’t. It should make you pause and try and understand how someone feels. If we can have more shows that bring out the youth and or minorities, I’m happy about it. We need a variety of shows and not all need to be classics or that familiar old school theater vibe. Theater is art and as we all know very well, art is subjective.  I am happy that I do see more people of color at shows but it’s still not where I’d like it to be. Ticket prices aren’t all to blame. Growing up in the “hood (as I did), theater wasn’t something people spoke of. It was also something many people thought wasn’t for them. Our schools and after school programs need to introduce theater to our children and let them take it in and dream. 

I guess my point is that I wouldn’t want anyone misunderstanding the “white” comment. It’s a reality for people of color. We take notice when we are the only or one of the very few. We also notice when audiences are more diverse. It makes a difference and it makes me happy to see. 

Updated On: 2/27/19 at 08:15 PM

YvanEhtNioj said: "Troy should take over as the principal for Michael. It wont skyrocket ticket sales, but it's a start."

I heard George was out again last night-Tuesday. Everyone seems to prefer this Troy dude over George maybe they should replace him?

 

 

Bk wrote:

"Is forty supposed to be old now?"

Not only now. Remember the mantra of the unlamented hippie era, "don't trust anyone over thirty?" (Real charmers they were, right?)  Well, we've certainly seen how well that has played out.

 "Young people throughout history have come to Broadway shows."

Yes, indeed. And to far superior ones, for sure.

"You think you're the first generation to see Broadway shows at a young age? "

Right. Everyone thinks they're the first person to invent the wheel. Such is the prevailing mindset of our self-centered age.

"The difference NOW is that shows are pandering to your age group - THAT is the difference."

Exactly. Imagine, young people once went to musicals about people other than themselves, and enjoyed them, no less! Unthinkable, Molly Brown!

But in truth, as far as this old timer is concerned, I find the teen musicals --- at least the innocuous ones --- easier to sit through than today's so-called "adult" fare. Sure, they may be mediocre or worse, but sometimes you can hear a passable tune or two, and perhaps even get a couple of laughs along the way. (Of course, I'm not talking about the "serious," foul-mouthed howls of teen/twenty-something angst like Rent or Spring Awakening which are absolutely impossible.) But to me, shows like Clueless, Be More Chill, Mean Girls, etc. are far more palatable than such dire and dismal ordeals as Once, Hamilton, Fun Home, The Band's Visit, etc. 

Updated On: 2/28/19 at 02:38 AM

Annette170 said: "

I don’t know who made that comment but I’m a 50 yr old Hispanic woman and I completely understand that comment. When I started going to the theater in my early 20s, there were many people who didn’t looklike me. I know for myself, cost was a huge factor and I can only imagine that is one reason why we don’t see a lot of diversity in the audience. If it not were for RUSH seats, I wouldn’t have seen 90% of the shows that I did back then and even now. If you are not a person of color, you may find the comment off puttingbut it isn’t. It should make you pause and try and understand how someone feels. If we can have more shows that bring out the youth and or minorities,I’m happy about it. We need a variety of shows and not all need to be classics or that familiar old school theater vibe. Theater is art and as we all know very well, art is subjective. I am happy that I do see more people of color at shows but it’s still not where I’d like it to be.Ticket prices aren’t all to blame. Growing up in the “hood(as I did), theater wasn’t something people spoke of. It was also something many people thought wasn’t for them. Our schools and after school programs need to introduce theater to our children and let them take it in and dream.

I guess my point is that I wouldn’t want anyone misunderstanding the “white” comment. It’s a reality for people of color. We take notice when we are the only or one of the very few. We also notice when audiences are more diverse. It makes a difference and it makes me happy to see."

Thank you so much. 

YvanEhtNioj said: "Troy should take over as the principal for Michael. It wont skyrocket ticket sales, but it's a start."

I saw Troy in his first performance off-Bway and couldn't believe how good he was, especially during "Bathroom." I've since seen many videos of George performing it, and IMO there's more to Troy's, plus he's more believable as a teen. Nothing against George, but I think he'd be a great choice to take over.

Kad said: "

"The average age of the Broadway theatregoer was 40.6 years old, the lowest since 2000.

One quarter of all tickets were purchased by non-Caucasian theatregoers."

The Demographics of the Broadway Audience 2017-2018 Season"

 

MIC DROP. 

I'm honestly surprised that that comment triggered people so much as if minorities and younger crowds are making up 80% of the audience. Yeah. Okay.

I never saw a show or cared for theater until I was like..20. I always had the mindset that every show had the same style of music, only had white leads, [it's a very ignorant mindset but] I never thought i'd be one of those "Musical gays", my high school didnt have a theatre program, etc.. I randomly took a trip to NYC and saw "Bring It On: The Musical", and it completely changed my view on musical theatre. I loved the music, the diversity, the jokes, the dancing. I couldn't stop thinking about it even days later. Since then I've seen so many shows that I've lost count. 

No, Be More Chill isnt my favorite show but i can tell for a lot of younger theatregoers, it's their Bring It On: The Musical. You're focusing so much on one sentence that you're missing the main point of my post - shows like these are bringing a new generation and demographic into theater and I love that. 

Updated On: 2/28/19 at 02:07 PM

YvanEhtNioj said: "Kad said: "

"The average age of the Broadway theatregoer was 40.6 years old, the lowest since 2000.

One quarter of all tickets were purchased by non-Caucasian theatregoers."

The Demographics of the Broadway Audience 2017-2018 Season"



MIC DROP.

I'm honestly surprised that that comment triggered people so much as if minorities andyounger crowds are making up 80% of the audience. Yeah. Okay.

I never saw a show or cared for theater until I was like..20. I always had the mindset that every show had the same style of music,only had white leads,[it's a very ignorant mindset but] I never thought i'd be one of those "Musical gays", my high school didnt have a theatre program, etc.. I randomly took a trip to NYC and saw "Bring It On: The Musical", and it completely changed my view on musical theatre. I loved the music, the diversity, the jokes, the dancing. I couldn't stop thinking about it even days later. Since then I've seen so many shows that I've lost count.

No, Be More Chill isnt my favorite show but i can tell for a lot of younger theatregoers, it's theirBring It On: The Musical.You're focusing so much on one sentence that you're missing the main point of my post - shows like these are bringing a new generation and demographic into theater and I love that."

Right there with you!!! Agree. Whatever brings ALL people to the theater is something I can get behind. 

I saw the show on the first night of previews after a friend of mine, a huge fan of the show, took me since his fellow superfan who he planned on going with got sick. I didn't really love the show despite the fact I'm a 16 year old queer kid, aka the target audience and should've either seen something else or stayed home but that's besides the point. I had a ticket last tuesday night that I had bought in the "squip zone" right when they went on sale because I missed it off-broadway and didn't get the hype it got on the internet so I wanted to experience it and form my own opinion. Obviously I didn't know I would see it before my planned date so since, I couldn't sell my ticket and didn't want it to go to waste, I wound up in the Lyceum again, knowing very well that I probably would once again not enjoy the show. But I was pleasantly suprised at how much more I enjoyed it, all because of Troy Iwata. I had heard online that George Salazar was the big "not-to-be missed" performer in the show and thought Michael in The Bathroom was the only good song on the album so I obviously had high expectations for him. Underwhelmed would be an understatement. He reads so old on the stage and he overacted every action to the point where Micheal in The Bathroom almost seemed comedic. Troy on the otherhand brought the much needed youth to the charachter and was overall more realistic throughout the show. As to I didn't like the show as a whole, it felt very campy and tried too hard to push it's very basic message. I'm an old soul in the sense that I much rather have seen My Fair Lady or Mockingbird as opposed to this but it doesn't necesarily mean I hate modern shows as I enjoyed The Prom very much. Overall, the show would be significantly stronger if Troy was promoted to principal Michael but I can only imagine the fan riots that would cause. Also to those wondering, the "Squip Zone" is just a seat in the first two rows with an "exclusive" pin shaped like a pill along with a "certificate of authenticity" so yeah, not worth it.

I haven't seen the show yet, but from the preview clip I thought George sounded great but was going over the top with the acting. If Troy is giving a more realistic performance,that's great! I don't think he will replace George unless there's a medical need though, since George has been with the show since it began. And as for the age thing, George looks old but since the rest of the cast is around the same age it's not a dealbreaker.

I wholeheartedly think George should be replaced by Troy. Troy, Tiffany Mann, and the actresses who play Brooke & Chole stand out so much during the show.

I know that it's very unlikely, and I do feel bad saying it due to his loyalty, but I feel like Troy should be the principal in that role.

Updated On: 3/1/19 at 12:04 AM