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

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.

---

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

"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

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

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

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.

---

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.

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!

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

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.

---