Broadway 1979-1984: Mini Golden Age?

[magruder]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 4:45pm

I first started to get interested in Broadway during the late 70s and early 80s. The last few years on Broadway and on the road have seen a multitude of revivals of plays and musicals that originated during that five-year span of 1979 to 1984. I’m wondering if I was living though a little Broadway Golden Age and didn’t know it! Just consider:

Recent/Upcoming Broadway revivals of:
La Cage aux Folles
Nine
‘Night Mother
Amadeus
Glengarry Glen Ross
42nd Street
Reckless
Whoopi Goldberg
The Elephant Man
The Real Thing
Noises Off
On Golden Pond
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Master Harold and the Boys
Betrayal

Recent/upcoming Off-Broadway revivals of
Crimes of the Heart
Hurlyburly

Recent/upcoming road tours of
Evita
Dreamgirls
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

London production of
Sweeney Todd

Add in the Kennedy Center’s revivals of Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George and Merrily We Roll Along, and just about every major show of that five-year span has been revived. I’m struck by the strength of the straight plays that appeared during that time period and the relative dearth we have of new plays, particularly new AMERICAN plays.

Meanwhile, of our crop of new (or recent) shows, what do you think we’ll see revivals of in 20 years?

Updated On: 12/3/04 at 04:45 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 4:55pm

Bobbi Boland starring Mary-Kate Olsen

[magruder]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 4:57pm

I think I'd pay good money to see that.

Even the early 80s flops were better. Oh, Brother!, One Night Stand, Carmelina, the legendary Moose Murders . . .

[jmaclover]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 4:59pm

AND 1987 - Les Mis.

[robbiej]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 5:00pm

Jesus, Mary & Joseph...are we gonna have to sit through a revival of MILLIE in 20 years????

Ya think they'll cast me as Meers?

[magruder]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 5:08pm

I kinda kept the Brit musicals out of it, as in many ways, their dominance over Broadway from the mid to late 80s into the early 90s was considered a bit of a dark age. Broadway musicals during that period (like Grind, Rags, Big Deal, Legs Diamond, Leader of the Pack etc.) couldn't seem to do a thing right, while many of the finest American directors and choreographers (Fosse, Champion, Bennett) passed on, with AIDS wiping out additional promising talents.

Updated On: 12/3/04 at 05:08 PM

[magruder]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 5:12pm

I also think the triumph of those '80s Cameron Macintosh-produced Brit musicals has led to the unfortunate development of corporate-produced theatre.

[Amy Archer]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 5:32pm

Ah! Millie in 20 years. I feel a song coming on ...

Forget about the ... recoupment!
Forget about the ... national tour!
Forget about the ... profit margin!
Forget about the SHOW!

[robbiej]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 5:36pm

How did know that the very mention of MILLIE would bring out our lovely Amy.

As they say, once in love with Amy...

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 6:30pm

1979 to 1984 was terrific period as Magruder points out. I saw the original production of most of the plays he lists and so many are treasured memories for me. Smart challenging innovative work the likes of which we simply don't see anymore.

In 20 years, it's unclear what there will be to revive from our current era of shows, epecially of the nonmusical variety. Generally speaking, producers aren't interested in reviving flops and just how many new Broadway plays in the last few years ended up turning a profit? Four? Five?

Say Goodnight, Gracie
Tale of the Allergist's Wife
Proof
Side Man
Art
Metamorphoses?
Dirty Blonde?
Beauty Queen of Leenane?

I have a feeling that in 20 years we're going be reviving the same old chestnuts from O'Neill, Miller, Williams, etc...

Updated On: 12/3/04 at 06:30 PM

[magruder]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 6:37pm

Of that list, I'd bet we'll see Proof again. Some hot young miss from TV land will want to do it to prove she's a serious actress.

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 12/3/04 at 11:20pm

Good stuff, magruder.

I moved to NYC during the fall of 1984, and was around to witness the fall of the Broadway musical. 1985-1987 were really the worst years for the art form ever.

But your other point is extremely valid, and it's one I'm just now coming to terms with: the overwhelming effect of AIDS on the Broadway musical. As Harvey said in "Broadway: The Golden Age," we lost an entire generation of talent. Although I was around to witness it, it didn't sink in at the time. I just felt lucky to have lived through that time, when so many of my friends didn't. It's only in retrospect that the full weight of the AIDS crisis on the Broadway musical has become depressingly clear to me.