Broadway Season 03-04, Who should get kicked off?

[AvalonSkysStudios]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 9:56am

This past year has been filled with great and pitiful shows.

Who do you think should stay in the spotlight and
who should get kicked out the stage door?

[VivLaVieBoheme]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 10:28am

Avenue Q and Wicked were definitely the two that shined the most in the spotlight this year!

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 1:40pm

I wonder how long Wicked and Avenue Q will be on Broadway.

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 1:43pm

Wicked will probably be the next Les Mis. Avenue Q is good enough to last that long, but I wonder if it's too dated. I don't think so, but that's the only thing that I wonder. In ten years, will audiences even know what a tape is?

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 1:49pm

AQ could be revised in a few years to keep it freash. I SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO agree on what you said about WICKED!

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 1:58pm

I don't think Wicked can or should be seen as the next Les Miz. The next Phantom, maybe. Notice the difference.

I think the general themes and storyline of Avenue Q won't be dated; college grads will always come out into the real world disillusioned and confused. There are certain details, however, that will need to be revised. Most immediate is the Gary Coleman character; not many people will remember who he is. I don't think the mix tape will be that big a problem; people still get the idea of a mix tape.

[Thoroughly Modern Cara]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 2:22pm

No I think if you want to relate "Wicked" to anything it would have to be something like "The Lion King". I think that fits it better just because it will be a show that is not known for it's incredible theatrical accomplishments but rather it's recordbreaking box office numbers. It will forever be a flashy touristy show and Phantom and Les Miz are more than that.

[Emutional]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 3:24pm

I disagree. I dont know what people are talking about when they say it's just a visual show...I was surprised at how small the set was. Yes yes i know...biggest theatre in Broadway...that's GREAT but i live in DC and if you want a big theatre, go to the Kennedy Center. The set was not what stood out the most in Wicked...It was the story. I listen to Wicked almost every day and I own the OBCR for Lion King and have seen the show, and the Lion King is PURELY visual. I never listen to that. Wicked's OBCR is doing so well when it comes to sales, how can you say it's just visual? it's not.

[TheGirlinTheFrock]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 3:34pm

I dont think Cara was referring to WICKED as a visual show. She was comparing the ticket sales of the two.

She says "I think that fits it better just because it will be a show that is not known for it's incredible theatrical accomplishments but rather it's recordbreaking box office numbers."

The Lion King will be running for a long time. This is not the best show on Broadway IMHO. Yet, it will continue to run because it is a kid friendly show, and a major tourist show. Les Mis and POTO on the other hand have more substance to it. WICKED fits more into the "The Lion King" catagory. It is a major tourist show and people bring their kids to it. Its a touching story, but it doesnt have alot of substance to it. Read the book, THATS where the substance is.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 3:37pm

Q and Assassins are the ones that deserve(d) to stay in the 'spotlight' (As did 'Never Gonna Dance'...I love Karen Ziemba)

Bombay Dreams should be sent back to London, or India, immediately

I also feel that Wicked only deserves a run of about 2 to 2 1/2 years at most

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 3:41pm

It'll depend if the show can keep playing to fully-packed houses. It has a rediculously high running cost.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 3:45pm

I think OLDEST LIVING CONFEDERATE WIDOW TELLS ALL should be kicked off Broadway.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 4:11pm

Wicked stays.
Bombay Dreams goes.

[little_sally]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 5:20pm

"Read the book, THATS where the substance is."

I could not agree with you more TheGirlInTheFrock.

[Thoroughly Modern Cara]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 5:25pm

I was in the middle of responding to this when my wonderful computer shut itself off so I'll try it again...

I think TGITF got my point...I never said that it was a visual show or anything about the sets. I was referring to it's ability to continue it's run financially. I think there are many components that make it a flashy marketable show but that doesn't include an incredible script or score. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed myself when I saw Wicked I just don't think it has the obvious substance that others contain.

[jo]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 5:27pm

I also think that LES MISERABLES and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA have greater worldwide appeal - their stories come from famous literary works and have been the subject of a number of non-musical movies.

[Bohoboy]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 5:46pm

didn't oldest living confederate widow close on opening night?

It'll be interesting to see if Wicked will be able to sustain it's current box office totals. The Gershwin is incredibly hard to fill... not many shows last very long there... besides Riverdance, no show has lasted longer than a year there in the past few decades... and Riverdance had alot of name recognition going for it for the tourists.

Wicked is interesting... I haven't found many people who liked the show in the theatre without first hearing the cast recording or a demo, etc. Much like The Secret Garden, this show seems to benefit from it's cast recording despite it's lackluster lyrics and simply decent music. Now that the original leads are trickling out, it'll be interesting to see how the show fares.

My favorite quote from a critic about the performances, which are lauded by the fans of the show, but-with the exception of Brantley-failed to blow away many critics is:

"Kristen Chenowith is as cute as a button, but makes you wish for a zipper." -John Simon

HA HA HA HA HA HA... Hope her replacement has a less obvious spin on the character... I doubt I'll ever find out as I don't plan on attending the show again... even if it's still free.

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 9:51pm

OK, that last post PISSED ME OFF!!!!!!!!!!!! That gril can SING!!! And you dident even say anything about the AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING Idina Menzel!!!! KNOW ONE can say anything about that girl!!!! I know you are heled to your own opinion, but still!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
I must agree that it will be interesting to see what the outcome of WICKED will be when they get new people in.

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 10:00pm

Idina on the CD is nothing that special. Idina on stage is something unparalelled. I think the lyrics of Wicked are it's strongest asset other than Kristin and Idina (I haven't seen it since Jennifer, so I wouldn't know about her). They are incredibly meaningful, full of social commentary, and extremely touching. The music is some of the best that I've ever heard, and everytime I listen to the CD, I like it even better.

[insomniak]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 10:04pm

I think that Wicked is a decent musical (decent= good and mediocre songs, a few standouts, nice techically) that was excellently acted. Kristin I don't love, but she fits Glinda very well.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/25/04 at 3:21pm

Wicked will last much, much longer than Avenue Q. Avenue Q is NOT a family musical, while Wicked definitley is. People also know that Wicked deserved to win the Tony, so it will get more attention. I mean it already won like 4 or 5 awards for Best Musical.

Wicked will be on Broadway for at least 10-15 years. It has great staying power.

Avenue Q will probably stay for 5-10 years. It was a great show, dont get me wrong, but families arent rushing to see it like they are with Wicked.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/25/04 at 3:57pm

Maybe so, but compare Q and Wicked's running costs.
And the size of their houses.
The Gershwin is mammoth and hard to stay open in unless it is a stellar show, which, unfortunately, does not apply to Wicked.

[Plum]

Posted: 7/25/04 at 4:03pm

Idina Menzel must have the charisma of ten women. I've listened to her in Rent, listened to her in The Wild Party, and listened to her in Wicked, and came away unimpressed every time. I kind of want to see Wicked just to solve the mystery of why she has such a big following.

[Bohoboy]

Posted: 7/25/04 at 5:37pm

There's a woman who waitresses at the Duplex on Sunday nights. Her "Defying Gravity" is, without question, superior to Idina Menzel's version. That being said, I like Idina Menzel. I think Brantley clearly overlooked the better performance of that production. I just didn't think that Wicked met my expecatations. I saw it prior to hearing anything other than a bit of defying gravity from a friend who was involved in the workshops, but that was just a capella. I was hoping for a score like Children of Eden (albeit hoping for a better book than that show.) I wasn't moved. And I'm that over-emotional theatre-goer who cried during Hairspray.

I'm glad that the show is doing well. It is keeping a lot of theatre people employed (even if it has already gone to stunt castings.) I think it will probably be the Gershwin's longest running show. I'm not sure about 10 years though.

Updated On: 7/25/04 at 05:37 PM

[brdwaybaby17]

Posted: 7/25/04 at 5:43pm

I have a question... If Kerry gets elected in November (please God!) will they change the line in Avenue Q "Bush is only for now!"??