"Fans" of Musicals Who Don't Like Golden Age Musicals- Page 3

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:34pm

Em clarified RENT's legacy, and Wicked can't be forgotten with so many people going to see it in that huge theatre.

I think you misread, or at least overextended what I wrote. Rent, for what it is, is going to be part of the significant cannon of musical theatre history; for its structure, for its themes and how revolutionary it was when it opened, even if ten years later, it's less revolutionary in the ways it was originally. But what I mean is to say that Oklahoma! was, say, for its help in transitioning the evolution of musicals into having music that was plot and character driven, plus the incorporation of the dream ballet -- it had new things to offer. Hair was revolutionary in a totally different way. Rent followed in those footsteps, but was again, revolutionary in a new way. Saying that Wicked is going to be remembered for its sheer popularity is not at all on the same level. I was speaking specifically about Rent, not about contemporary popular musicals in general.

Updated On: 5/13/06 at 01:34 PM

[Buddy Kiss]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:37pm

While I absolutely agree that you cannot be considered a musical theatre fan if you don't like anything older than Phantom, I'm of the opinion that, for the newest generation, older musicals are an aquired taste.

If you grew up in an age where the "best" music was NSYNC and Mandy Moore, it would be very hard to adapt your ear to a genre of music that is so unique and different as Golden Age musicals are. If they are into musicals like Rent and Aida and stuff, they should be praised for searching for music that is slightly different than what is popular on the radio.

I believe that it is the older generations responsibility to teach younger musical theatre enthusiests HOW to love the older shows. I believe that there are plently of teens out there who could develope an appreciation for older shows but they need to be TAUGHT first. It's like learning a second language. Unless you have someone with you and speaking the language with you, its very hard to learn the language on your own.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:38pm

BAH! You can absolutely love musical theatre without really liking many of the GOlden Age musicals. That's like saying "How can you love classical music without liking Mozart". The answer is very easily. Personally I think it's an integration thing. I love what Sondheim took and built upon. Could he have done it without Rodgers and Hammerstein? NO. But I'd still rather sit through 10 productions of Merrily before I'd sit through 1 Sound of Music. Do I hate all classical Broadway? No I like a lot of it but I've always said, I don't think I'd be a musical actor if I grew up in that time period ( of course I don't really know if that's true). If I'm going to go classic Broadway, I'd rather turn to Bernstein, Blitzstein, and Weill (that sounds like a law firm).

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:43pm

I feel like I want to reiterate that to me, there's a difference between the people who are just like "well, it's not my taste, I like ___ better," and the people who are like "psh, it doesn't matter AT ALL," and thinking it's useless and dumb because it's not Wicked. I think you can be a legitimate fan by recognizing the importance (and existence!) of older shows, even if they aren't your favorites or they just don't do it for you. It's the people who fail to acknowledge them that I think fall into this "imposter fan" thing. If you love something so much, I think you should at least familiarize your self with its predescessors and the like.

Updated On: 5/13/06 at 01:43 PM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:48pm

No, I'm sorry, I kind of combined two different things. I agree with you about Rent, but it is incredibly popular as well, and part of contemporary musicals. Sorry, it was two different points, I should have kept them separate.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:13pm

"Well I don't love every Golden Age musical but I don't think theres anyone who likes musicals who can't pick ONE Golden age musical that they enjoy."


^quoted for agreement

[Patronus]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:22pm

To totally say that everything recent is pointless and won't at all be remembered is as bad as dismissing all the Golden Age musicals.

Did someone actually say that?

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:22pm

To this day Guys and Dolls is my favorite show and always will be.

[Weez]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:39pm

Heh, I love classical music but am not a fan of Mozart. XD Although if we're being pedantic, I actually love Romantic music and am not a big fan of Classical. :3

I also love the 'RENT's and the 'Wicked's but c'mon! The older shows are brilliant too! I may have somehow not actually discovered 'Camelot' or 'The Sound Of Music' or 'The King And I' until I was 18 or something, but that doesn't mean I don't love them any less. And I'd been listening to other Golden Agers for a lot longer before then.

I am VERY much into contemporary Broadway musicals right now, but if that ever means that I can't have my 'Camelot' any more, then I'll quit. Cold turkey. If the newer shows are truly great, then they'll still be around in that future time period where they're eventually considered Classic and I'm allowed to listen again. ^_^

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:41pm

I think it was ljay who said he grew up listening to older musicals and stuff; I think a lot of this has to do with that idea; I, too, grew up listening to R&H, and watching The Sound of Music. But if you're 16 and the first show you see is Rent or Wicked or whatever, it's going to happen differently for you -- or, maybe not at all.

[BluCat500]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 3:02pm

*bloviates*

[guitargeek0624]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 3:16pm

I actually got into theatre when I saw some productions of Golden Age musicals and performed in one myself. Now I love them all, both old and new. I think that you can like modern musicals but not like Golden Age musicals, but a lot of today's musicals have been influenced by older ones, so I guess you can say that you indirectly like Golden Age musicals.

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 3:33pm

Well, the recent slew of downright dull revivals Im sure doesnt help young people's appreciation any.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 4:11pm

I think the dislike of golden age musicals comes from the misconception that they are "corny", and not really about anything.

When I discuss musicals by Rodgers and Hammerstein and Jerry Herman and the like with those who prefer the more modern, pop-rock musicals like Wicked, Jekyll and Hyde, and Rent, I get the idea that they feel the musicals aren't really "about" anything. Also, I find there are many musical theatre fans who appreciate the work of artistically direct musicals, such as those by Kander and Ebb and Sondheim, because they are "about something" - they aren't all smiles and lush music, but are about something under the surface.

Golden age musicals are looked down upon for being "corny" and "empty", when, in actuality, they have the same socially biting messages as modern shows.

I think this is to blame on technology. Before the microphone was invented, you had to overact and be corny and be loud, just so the audience could understand what was being said. I think many have decided that this is the way they were meant to be played, when in actuality, this isn't the truth. "Carousel" and "South Pacific" say just as much about dysfunctional relationships and racism as "Rent" says about AIDS.

I don't know if that made any sense, but there's my views on the subject.

[Chloe]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 4:22pm

I think it's natural to prefer the tastes of one's own time, unless like some of those here you've grown up hearing earlier stuff. Even some of the greatest art has been doomed to being considered hopelessly old-fashioned for a while. The transcendant musicals from the past will survive.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 5:32pm

Alot of plays/musicals become forgotten after a while, even the ones that were so popular until they had to close. This is why a reivival helps everyone out. Until I saw a production of City of Angels I didn't know exactly what it was. I really liked it! Revivials help everything stick in the front of people's minds, sort of like a "hello" to a friend you haven't heard from in months, so I don't blame people for liking revivals better than the OBC or anything.
But I mean, this thread is basically calling peoiple who aren't in love with golden age stuff less cultured than those who do. Maybe that is right, to a certain point, but it is ALL just opinion! we can't ALL think the same!
i, personally don't "get" old, or new british humor. A bunch of my friends do, so I can see where people are coming from with "not liking the old stuff" sort of thing.
Sorry if I rambled.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 5:44pm

Its an organic process I hope. We are not born with this primal knowledge of the broadway musical in all its stages. People see their first show and then hopefully check out another one from a star's rep or the composers.

For me it was Jesus Christ Superstar in London aged 16. I devoured as many recordings as I could of that show and quickly found Les Mis, Miss Saigon and Martin Guerre. Oh and entire ALW catalogue. Luckily most of these big budget shows were all running at the time in London or touring. I remember watching the LesMis concert with Ruthie which led me to Crazy for You...She Loves Me etc. Its a chain effect. At least thats how I was. I would go through stages and expand my appreciation knowledge. Its only in the last year that I had my Jerry Herman stage.

I know that sounds a bit late but my only experience of Herman was AWFUL amateur productions. Ditto for most of the golden age material. Although I was bitten by the R+H bug early by seeing Hugh Jackman in the West End

Hopefully the people who are finding musicals today aged 16 then move on to other material and expand their passion of the genre.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 5:53pm

I don't think a "fan" as to love everything about the genre of musical theater just like a fan of Stevie Wonder doesn't have to love every song he wrote. The first musicals I was exposed to as a kid were Chorus Line and Music Man. These shows turned me off of musical theater. Chorus Line just bothered me, as an 8 yr. old at the time, I was pissed that the only set was the mirrors. Anyways, about ten years later, I saw the tour of RENT and I was completley blown away. It was heartfelt, it was real, it was beautiful, it was everything I loved. It got me into musical theater. I wanted to effect people like that musical did to me. Looking back, I still don't like Music Man, it's too traditional and too fake. Everything is very "plastic" in it to me. I like the grittiness of RENT. After seeing RENT, I saw a local high school production of Fiddler and fell in love with that. It was just a beautiful score and great songs and a great book.

I can appreciate what the "golden musicals" have done for musical theater, but that doens't mean I have to put them in my CD player while I'm driving.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 5:55pm

They let you drive? Wow.

[bwaybabe3]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 5:55pm

Um, I like Wicked and like Guys and Dolls. And maybe the reason that people don't know much about the Golden Age Musicals is because they are more easily exposed to today's stuff. I have to admit I am a HUGE braodway fan, but don't know the majority of the older stuff. I know the really famous ones but not as many as I'd like to. Even if they did offer a musical theatre history course at my school, I don't think it would generate enough interest. One day I'll look up some old school stuff online though, I promise!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 6:00pm

I don't think it has to do with exposure. I was exposed to it. I watch the whole like 10 hr thing about Broadway musicals on PBS. They just don't grab me.

And the driving thing...better believe it.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 6:02pm

Maybe they don't grab you because you have BAD TASTE.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 6:04pm

It's all subjective. Tastes are tastes. Let it be.

I'm glad messing with me can put a smile on your face.

[singinswinga]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 6:05pm

I'm a teen, and last year I was SUPER into Wicked, but it got old quick and now I'm literally in love with Stephen Sondheim. I hate those kids who are like me, last year. I know it's hypocritical but I don't care. And though Stephen Sondheim wouldn't have fit in w/ the Golden Age composers I think he's better. Please don't crucify me for saying that.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/13/06 at 6:06pm

If you weren't so ignorant, I'd find it easier to resist...