BROADWAY 2012-13 SEASON. Hidden themes?

[NewYorkTheater]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 7:08pm

I just carefully combed the new shows with set opening dates and theaters -- by my count 19 in the Fall, six more so far in 2013 -- and I noticed a number of themes. For example, there are THREE musicals about young girls overcoming adversity! There are TWO plays each by David Mamet and Clifford Odets.
Etc.
Any other trends or themes?
Broadway Fall 2012 Preview

[tazber]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 7:11pm

I notice a theme of uninteresting musicals. Does that count?

[NewYorkTheater]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 7:15pm

Funny, Tazber. Are there none you're looking forward to?
Broadway Fall 2012 Preview

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 7:23pm

If you look hard enough, you can always find stuff in common. It's not even all that difficult.

[NewYorkTheater]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 7:27pm

So, dramamama what have you found?
Broadway Fall 2012 Preivew

[tazber]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 7:29pm

I'm very excited for Drood.

Otherwise, I'm a little curious about Rebecca because I love the movie and the one song I have heard I liked quite a bit.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 7:29pm

Elf and A Christmas Story are both about Christmas. Common theme. Yay. Bye.

[tazber]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 7:35pm

Last year there was a religion thing going on with Godspell, Superstar, Leap of Faith, and another one I think.

What about shows whose titles are the main character's name?

Annie
Chaplin
Rebecca
Matilda

[loliveve]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 8:10pm

Shows based on books:

The Heiress
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Rebecca
Matilda

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 8:56pm

Sorry if I'm hijacking, but I have some thoughts on this.

Remember last year, when a dubious columnist decided to notice the "trend" of eleven o'clock numbers featuring suddenly-appearing, palatably maternal, big-boned black ladies? In reality, that sorta subjugative trope has been around for a century. I think that it might be our perpetual cultural amnesia that allows us to see these tendencies as new. (I mean, think about the flashy way that most of our news is reported!) There are certain pop cultural interests that come and go, but the major cliches of Broadway have been pretty consistent. Personally, I wish that this weren't the case. For me? I don't see any big similarities across the board this season that aren't part of the normal Broadway margins that we have to live with as regular audience members.

But. That said, I do find it pretty interesting how many recent shows have been ostensibly faith-based, but quietly (yet pointedly) subversive. Book of Mormon and Sister Act are the most obvious examples (should I bother mentioning Leap of Faith?), but I think that this also extends to revivals. The short-lived Jesus Christ Superstar revival's most effective moments were chillingly dark and mortal invocations of familiar religious iconography. I think that it's fair to say that religious skepticism is one (glacially) changing aspect of American culture. People are tired of all forms of Christianity being used as knee-jerk political justifications, or as convenient badges of acceptability. And that fatigue is slowly appearing in our mainstream art. At least, it sure seems that way to me.

[SweeneyPhanatic]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 9:01pm

Rebecca is not the main character in REBECCA. In fact, she never once appears on stage at any moment in the story.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 9:08pm

Elf and A Christmas Story are both about Christmas. Common theme. Yay. Bye.

You're an unpleasant person.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 11:10pm

This is the first season I can think of in some time where there is not a transfer of an off-Broadway production. We've had an off-Broadway transfer each season since 2000-01, I think?

Which off-Broadway productions have had buzz about a transfer? TRIBES? DOGFIGHT? DETROIT?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 11:23pm

You're an unpleasant person.

Well sarcasm aside it IS a common theme.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 11:26pm

kdogg, No here's unpleasant:

There are no really interesting musicals opening up this season, as of yet. ANNIE I'll see for Katie Finneran. DROOD I'll see for Chita. Other than that, I'll be at the new Mamet and the revival of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, and to hell with the rest.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 11:35pm

Doesn't everyone inevitably becomes unpleasant on here? If I say the new Cammie production of Lei Miss is a piece of sh*t, a whole lot of ya who watched it and bought it will find me most unpleasant. Musto will create an unpleasant category inspired by my and other posters' unpleasantness in his off-day columns which are every day.

If I announce that I am hungry for some pork loin, those of you who don't get out more won't know what Chorizo is and assume I wallow in beastiality raunch and lust, and thus, find me quite unpleasant.

Telling someone they're unpleasant is redundant!

[jv92]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 11:39pm

Really though, some of the musicals this fall look putrid. Thank God Lapine had the good sense to cast ANNIE with some legitimate stage talent. I'm really looking forward to it.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 11:42pm

I'm looking forward to Annie as well. I feel like it's a show I've always known, even if the only song from it I know anything about is the ubiquitous Manana.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/25/12 at 11:47pm

annie will b good
bc ro not miz hannigan
wait...wtf did ro say that?

No, but seriously. Finneran is inspired casting. And Lapine always does family stuff very honestly. (Eg: FALSETTOS)

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 8/26/12 at 1:01am

jv92, have you ever seen Drood? It's a fantastic show that I think you'd like. And, of course, there's that fantastic cast!

[jv92]

Posted: 8/26/12 at 1:03am

I don't think DROOD is a bad show. I'm just bitter that Chita's not doing THE VISIT in New York for more than one night.

[NewYorkTheater]

Posted: 8/26/12 at 9:29am

I've created a poll (as I mentioned on another thread) of all the shows (musicals, plays, stand-up, concerts) set to open on Broadway before the end of December. The poll allows you to pick more than one show as what you're most looking forward to.
Poll: Which Broadway Fall 2012 Shows Are You Most Looking Forward To?