CAMP - It Could Be the Next RENT!

[Sleeth1]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 9:40am

If you love theatre, you'll love the movie CAMP (2003). I can't think of anything more exciting than CAMP - the Broadway musical. It could be the next RENT! It doesn't have the depth of RENT, but I think it would be a hit with younger theatre goers, as well as familes with tweens and teens and people who love theatre. It's a touching story about determination and acceptance.. and most of all... figuring out exactly WHO you are, and why that's so important. It's certainly got a broader audience range than something like The Drowsy Chaperone. CAMP features many different great theatre moments, including scenes from performances of Fosse, Dreamgirls, Promises, Promises and countless others. I've seen it more times than any other movie. It brings great joy to my heart. If you've never seen it... you must. If you've seen it and didn't care for the entire film, but liked aspects of it, then may I suggest? Change it a bit to fit the Broadway stage. The film has a bit of a cult following, but we'll take any number of changes to see a play made from it. It's a hell of a lot more creative than turning Mary Poppins into a broadway play.. and the songs, both original and adapted are just incredible. Just to see the Turkey Lurkey musical number would be worth the admission alone. Honestly, wouldn't you rather see a young, energetic cast performing a new, original and touching version of CAMP more than another tired, old revival of GREASE? It could be the next best thing since Spring Awakening. Think about it! AND, if you're reading this and can start the wheels of seeing if it might could really happen - God bless you!!
Chason

[Josephine2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 9:46am

I hope this does not offend anyone, but I was not a fan of CAMP, and I hope it does not become a Broadway show. If for some reason it does, then I hope it gets some HUGE re-writes.

[mattonstage]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:00am

I fall somewhere in between Sleeth and Josephine2, I liked the movie, except for the main storyline. No offense to the straight people, but with every other male character except Vlad being gay, did it really need to have the only love story in the film be the straight love story. I assume the filmmakers were going for a wider audience, but between the love story, and having the gay character sleep with a woman, in one of those "just to see" scenes, all the gay characters were once again marginalized, for the sake of "mainstream" success. Okay, off my soapbox.
If it were to come to the stage, I hope they focus more on the sidelined characters and less on the love story. And, unfortunately, I don't think they would be able to get the rights to "Turkey Lurkey" and the other numbers from the film for a stage version. That would probably cost too much money. But more new songs would be great anyway. And I think off-broadway would be the way to go initially.

[Sleeth1]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:04am

Okay, so tell me why? WHY would people who love theatre not want to see a musical about teenagers experiencing life-altering events in their lives at a THEATRE summer camp? You just need to watch it again. It gets REALLY good after 5 or 6 times... even BETTER after 12. I'm determined not to have to try to defend the film. LOTS of people my age, most truly into theatre, proclaim it one of their favorite films ever. Plus my MOM even loves it! So it's not JUST for young people; she's hasn't been young for quite a while.

[camp_actor]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:08am

I enjoyed the film. Not a great movie, but enjoyable. I don't see that it would translate to the stage - it is definitely a movie in the way it was conceived.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:11am

The movie was pretty good, but not the best. I think if they had better actors (overall) it would have been a lot better of a movie. Also, the script needed to be tightened up a bit.

[keely2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:12am

"You just need to watch it again. It gets REALLY good after 5 or 6 times... even BETTER after 12."
Please. If I have to watch a movie 12 times to like it, I'm not going to bother. How old are you?

"I'm determined not to have to try to defend the film."
Too late.

[WSS2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:15am

Maybe a good musical needs to come from a good movie. CAMP is not that good. Over rated.

[Sleeth1]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:17am

"And, unfortunately, I don't think they would be able to get the rights to "Turkey Lurkey" and the other numbers from the film for a stage version. That would probably cost too much money".

Matt! They apparently sold the rights for the MOVIE! If they would sell the rights to musical numbers and play scenes for a low-budget movie... don't you think they would happily accept a small fee for the rights to put it on stage?
And the comments about the Gay characters? Just be careful.. and I'm sure they would. I think the Gay characters were quite well-rounded, and left me with a lot of positive thoughts. Even RENT wouldn't let the two MAIN male characters be Gay... though I'm betting that Jonathan Larson was, don't you think? I don't really think of CAMP as being a movie about heterosexual romance, anyway. What an incredible frienship is built between the cute straight guy and the curly headed guy who went to his prom in DRAG! Very touching.

[antonijan]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:18am

The movie was pretty good, but not the best. I think if they had better actors...

like Zac Efron! :P

[Sleeth1]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:23am

"You just need to watch it again. It gets REALLY good after 5 or 6 times... even BETTER after 12."
Please. If I have to watch a movie 12 times to like it, I'm not going to bother. How old are you?

"I'm determined not to have to try to defend the film."
Too late.

LOL! Keely! TOUCHE!

[camp_actor]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:24am

I'm pretty sure Jonathan Larson was straight. What does that have to do with anything?

There's a lesbian couple and a gay couple in RENT. Out of 3 couples and probably 4 individual story strands, that's quite a lot of stage time for gay character development.

I'm so confused as to what point you're making.

[Sleeth1]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:26am

"Also, the script needed to be tightened up a bit".

Spider! Done deal! We'll hire you for that. Would you tighten up the script for 5000? Now, it has to go through me first. LOL

[BreakingTheCircle07]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:27am

I'm not one to threadbash, but this thread is so odd. Sleeth's enthusiasm and inaccuracies about Camp being the "next Rent is just annoying. Just because a show contains issues doesn't make it the "next" anything. There is no edge to Camp and it's script was loopy and weak.

Weird thread.

[Sleeth1]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:31am

"Maybe a good musical needs to come from a good movie. CAMP is not that good. Over rated".

To those of us who love it, it's not over rated at all. The mere fact that you would state that it is over rated, means that you know that lots of people like it! No problem... you & I can watch it together sometime and I'll point out all the good stuff.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:35am

okay im sorry but WHAT?

Camp was a lot of fun but really badly directed and acted and the way they handled the kids stories was awful.

Rent is a show that highlights and address issue's and has a genuine score.

Camp kinda mentioned some issues but then said "f**k it lets dance" and burst in to Turkey Lurkey or Ladys Who Lunch.

Yes Camp was fun but to mention Camp and Rent in the same breath is wrong.Maybe Camp could be the new Fame

[glimpseofstocking]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:42am

^Agreed.

While I thought that Camp was an enjoyable film (I have to admit that I love the scene where they sing "Losing My Mind" on the bus. I need to find myself a theatre camp), it is in no way the next Rent. I don't understand why you would even make that assumption.

[Sleeth1]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:43am

["I'm pretty sure Jonathan Larson was straight. What does that have to do with anything?

There's a lesbian couple and a gay couple in RENT. Out of 3 couples and probably 4 individual story strands, that's quite a lot of stage time for gay character development.

I'm so confused as to what point you're making"].

CAMP actor??? The very CAMP we're talking about? Now I'M confused.

RENT is pretty Gay... I give you that! Unbelievable that a show with those characters can run over 10 years! That's the kind of acceptance the United States has come forth with in the last 10 years! Of course they'll still HUNT YOU DOWN in Alabama and Georgia! In my post I just meant - let's not turn CAMP into something "campy". The best ensemble shows are those that work within a variety of character sexual sensibilities... RENT works (Oh boy! Does it!) because it gives audience members a NUMBER of characters to identify with. And BESIDES - sexual preferences has very little to do with the "big picture" of life. I LOVE the Gay characters in CAMP (and I'm Gay), but I've never once wished that their story was a bigger part of the film. It's about so much MORE than that.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:47am

sleeth1 you are missing the point- They are no Characters in Camp just a bunch of stereotypes.

And just because Rent and Camp have gay characters in does not link them.Camp is a poor version of the film Fame (amazing film very dark , very graphic which dealt with the kids issues and didn't hold back)

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:53am

CAMP was a horrid ABC After-School Special. From the original score to just about every plot-line. Seeing those kids try to recreate magic moments in musical history totally fell flat for me (yes, even the watered-down "Turkey Lurkey Time").

I found it tragic that people embraced this lame piece of cinema. Especially anyone over 16.

My niece (at 20) couldn't even sit thru 30 minutes of it. She thought it was cheesy and not in a good way, either. She was hoping it would go into grounds like THE RULES OF ATTRACTION or something more teen-realistic.

Not the case with this kiddie fest.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:58am

agreed

I think i was 25 when i watched it and i just thought "wow missed opportunity"

[mustard]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 11:00am

I enjoyed the movie, but the acting and script were pretty brutal. I rewatch it only for the musical numbers (esp. Century Tree) and a couple of the younger side players (the little blond boy and the little dark haired girl, Brittany is her name I think). They're too cute, but the rest is dismal, ESPECIALLY the adult acting.

Oh wait... the MAIN reason I rewatch this thing? That HILARIOUS piano player, who is bobbing his head and grinning in the corner of nearly every scene. I can watch that guy and giggle for hours.

None of this warrants a stage production, IMO.
Updated On: 7/21/07 at 11:00 AM

[Sleeth1]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 11:01am

"sleeth1 you are missing the point- They are no Characters in Camp just a bunch of stereotypes".

Well you are certainly entitled to your opinion - as we all are. I LOVE the characters in CAMP... and I thought the actors did just fine, thank you. Aw, come on! Surely to GOD someone that loves theatre and loves CAMP will write SOMETHING!
I'm not 12, okay? I'm 20. I know CAMP is not a brilliant film (like Badlands or Apocalypse Now), I'm only saying that it would be a great theatre experience! Good LORD - they actually put a stage version of Xanadu on Broadway. I guess that pretty much means that ANYTHING is possible! :)

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 11:07am

XANADU is a pure enjoying camp-fest with a non-realistic plot. The film was campy (and took itself this way) as is the Broadway musical adaption. It's a joke and that's the point.

CAMP is trying to present itself as a serious and touching drama. It isn't -- and THAT'S the joke.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 11:11am

agreed again

Camp is the kind of film that stuck in a gay character and said "look we are dealing with issues"

As a gay man i kinda find that annoying