Get the Pop Stars Out of New York

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Get the Pop Stars Out of New York

Posted: 6/17/04 at 9:25am

More and more, shows with declining or just outright horrible box office numbers are bringing in these pop stars to fill in roles that will help to boost their sales. Is anyone else sick of this trend?? Joey Fatone was absolutley horrendous in RENT, Toni Braxton in B&theB and Aida (i had the honor of seeing her in both....) were two of the worst performances I've ever seen (regional, touring and broadway combined), Michelle Williams as Aida was passable. Maybe I'm judging based on 4 bad performances that I saw, but I'd rather see a true performer onstage then an out-of-their-league pop star...

And if she'll say, "My darling, I'm yours!" I'll throw away my striped tie and my best pressed tweed, all I really need is the girl...

re: Get the Pop Stars Out of New York

Posted: 6/17/04 at 9:28am

"I'd rather see a true performer onstage then an out-of-their-league pop star... "

So would I, but the sad truth is that a lot of the public, who for the most part are not "theater educated", loves to see musicals with big stars. It's a sad truth, but a truth nonetheless.

"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

re: Get the Pop Stars Out of New York

Posted: 6/17/04 at 9:34am

Wow, what a new and inspired topic! No one on this board has EVER discussed the pros and cons of casting pop stars in Broadway shows!!

This is going to be an awesome and amazing thread.

re: Get the Pop Stars Out of New York

Posted: 6/17/04 at 9:39am

So no Susan Lucci as Galinda?

" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

This may be a dead horse thread but...

Posted: 6/17/04 at 11:35am

the reason it is so persistent is that people who LOVE the theater...HATE the stunt casting. End of story. There is a box office justification in the minds of the money people but the audience is still being trained to expect watered down, unskilled theatrical performances that will threaten the theater for years to come.

WHAT is the attraction for a kid to come to New York and kill themselves, taking dance, voice, acting...spending all their time trying to improve their craft and then a BRITNEY freaking SPEARS comes waltzing in and gets the job? Sad but true. We are witnessing the dumbing down of America, theater, TV, literature, etc. I HATE THIS

"Life is a lesson in humility"

not just on Broadway!

Posted: 6/17/04 at 1:49pm

Alas we are suffering the same malaise over here in the West End

I guess in a large part its due to the high costs involved. The cost to the public to see a show and the cost of putting a show on to start with. Producers want a 'star name' to help publicise the show and put 'bums on seats'. Yet I don't think it helps the potential longevity of a show especially if the name isn't up to the part, it can do more harm than good.

Chicago here seems to be surviving largely on putting names into the show in various roles and using that to pull people in. Of course it can have the opposite effect if you don't like that person anyway!

Those of us on these and other theatre boards are the minority though of the audience, those who love theatre and will see a show because they love the actual show. Or perhaps see a show because a favourite performer is in that show . . . but that performer is only known in theatre-going circles.

In England we also have a lack of opportunities on light entertainment and chat shows for showing off new shows. At one time, getting on for 10 years ago now I guess, we regularly saw clips from new shows on certain shows. Publicity is often limited to posters on the tube and on buses in London and doesn't stray further afield.

We are at last getting 'The Producers' over here, but again with possibly stunt casting, Lee Evans and Richard Dreyfuss are, to my knowledge, not known for their singing! But at least RD is an actor!

"Well we can't all come and go by bubble"

not just on Broadway!

Posted: 6/17/04 at 5:06pm

We are at last getting 'The Producers' over here, but again with possibly stunt casting, Lee Evans and Richard Dreyfuss are, to my knowledge, not known for their singing! But at least RD is an actor!

Even DREYFUSS seems skeptical about his ability to fulfill this part. I really wonder.

"Life is a lesson in humility"

not just on Broadway!

Posted: 6/17/04 at 5:14pm

Hell, it's the same malaise all over the country! There is an awesome pool of talent here in Seattle that the local theatres never use, opting instead bring someone in from out of state who has more TV and movie credits on their resume. "Audiences like to see that the actors are coming in to do theatre here" is the constant refrain. It's such bull****.

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

not just on Broadway!

Posted: 6/17/04 at 5:15pm

Um, I remember that happening with 'Aspects of Love'.

Originally Roger Moore was due to be in the show, but he pulled out as he didn't feel he was up to the part. At least he was being honest and also its fairer on the audience to have a musical performer capable of playing the part.

That's what first brought Michael Ball to prominence, after Roger departed, MB appeared more on TV to publicise the show.

Now if only MC could do that with 'Woman in White'

"Well we can't all come and go by bubble"

#10

not just on Broadway!

Posted: 6/17/04 at 5:15pm

Did anyone see Jason Alexander on the Wayne Brady Show this morning? He was talking about doing The Producers, and touched on film and television actors moving into theater. It was interesting.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

#11

It was a rerun

Posted: 6/17/04 at 5:18pm

Yes, I saw it. He talked about starting in theater and having his roots there...as did Martin Short who starred in the L.A. production of the Producers with him.

Though I've never thought Alexander was right for the stage, he has done a lot of work there. It's the people who try to cross over from TV or movies with NO skill and no understanding of live theater that really irk me.

"Life is a lesson in humility"

#12

It was a rerun

Posted: 6/17/04 at 5:24pm

Oh, I absolutley I agree.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

#13

It was a rerun

Posted: 6/17/04 at 5:42pm

I actually did start a thread about this a few weeks ago. But anyway, I agree with you. Pop music and Broadway need to be separate.

#14

It was a rerun

Posted: 6/17/04 at 7:33pm

I saw Alexander in "Broadway Bound" back in the 80's and in several roles in "Jerome Robbins' Broadway" and he was terrific in both (he won a Tony for Best Actor for the latter). With all of his Seinfeld money (and KFC money), I doubt he has to take on tv and film projects for the money anymore. I wish he would devote more time to theatre -- he's very talented and he'd be a huge box office draw.

"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

Updated On: 6/17/04 at 07:33 PM

#15

It was a rerun

Posted: 6/18/04 at 9:49am

This must be a worldwide problem, it happens in Australia too.

#16

It was a rerun

Posted: 6/18/04 at 11:36am

In spain is worst... we have making musicals Tv stars and horrible singers of the 60's...

Nobody expects the spanish inquisition!

#17

It was a rerun

Posted: 6/18/04 at 11:56am

Wow, Sam, easy with the Britney hate - she is not part of this problem.

I think it's sad that the days are over when people came to Broadway to see true Broadway performers - back in the day, Donna Murphy, Karen Ziemba and the like would be revered and sought out for those starring roles. Now, they aren't even considered for most shows because they don't sell tickets (beyond their fan bases of those relative few who really follow Broadway).

Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

Updated On: 6/18/04 at 11:56 AM

#18

Britney

Posted: 6/18/04 at 2:11pm

I was merely using Britney as an example, but if you think she won't be offered a role on Broadway, given the current stunt casting environment, you are being naive. In the meantime, we have more than enough of these problem children on Broadway.

Yes, theater is a BUSINESS just like any other form of show business, but we have begun to forget our roots and what makes the theater a different experience and if we're not careful, all these old houses will end up being 10 theater cineplexes

"Life is a lesson in humility"

#19

Britney

Posted: 6/18/04 at 2:16pm

Ignoring that Britney did theater as a kid, if anyone thinks being the most trained, hardest working or the best at anything is going to mean a lick of anything (or that it EVER HAS) while trying to make it in showbiz, do us all a favor and quit while you're behind.

#20

Britney

Posted: 6/18/04 at 2:45pm

Hehe once again, come to Canada. The biggest star we have is Sean Cullen.

#21

Britney

Posted: 6/18/04 at 3:38pm

I'm not saying she WOULDN'T be offered a role, but I haven't seen that happening yet, nor have I heard her going after any roles, and at least she does have some theatrical experience - not that that makes her a good candidate necessarily. I'm just saying if you're going to use an example, use a relevant one - Melanie Griffith, Susan Lucci, etc. Don't blame people who have not taken part in the problem.

Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

#22

for the love of money

Posted: 6/18/04 at 3:40pm

Well, I don't think the names really do matter as much as we think, at least for this example. In Baltimore, these old Jewish women with money to burn just subscribe to the local theatres that bring in the Equity and Non-Equity tours and just sit there and bitch the whole time because they expected to see Carousel when they bought tickets to The Full Monty. So, as long as we keep the old hags cluelessly buying the tickets-- we can keep the real talent and get rid of (finally) Toni Braxton. Although, in terms of Pop Stars on Broadway, I would KILL to see Olivia Newton-John in Mamma Mia!

And if she'll say, "My darling, I'm yours!" I'll throw away my striped tie and my best pressed tweed, all I really need is the girl...

Updated On: 6/18/04 at 03:40 PM

#23

for the love of money

Posted: 6/18/04 at 3:44pm

Not to start an irrelevant discussion, but if mics had never come into the equation, this never would have been a problem. It would be Karen, Bernadette, Patti, Donna, Kristin, etc., all people who are trained to sing to the back of the house, and not in a recording studio.

Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

#24

for the love of money

Posted: 6/18/04 at 4:09pm

Amen to THAT, rathnait...you just said a mouthfull.

"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!" Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!

#25

for the love of money

Posted: 6/18/04 at 4:27pm

Oh, god, there's always someone with the microphone problem.

Yes, if only this were still the 19th Century, Broadway would still be thriving.

And people trying to keep Broadway in the 19th Century are one of the many reasons it ISN'T still thriving.

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