How do you guys do it?

I don't know everything about every single show, and I'm sure not a lot of people here do. We might know a lot, but not everything. A lot of people here are really passionate about theater, so they do research on shows, the history of shows, flops, hits. etc. I actually learn a lot everyday about shows from here.

---

I agree with the other two... I havbe learned the most here :)

When I first visited this board, I was like, "Who is Carol Channing?"

I think this board taught me tremendously about everything related to Broadway. And how to make snide remarks.

---

When I joined in October, my favorite show was Legally Blonde and I would get mad when people dissed it. I also loved Wicked.

Now, my favorite musical is West Side Story, and I dislike Wicked, very much.

---

I don't think it's necessarily a good thing to say you were 'brainwashed' to hate Wicked, lol. (Unless you mean you found other shows and now you can't look at Wicked in the same way)

I enjoy both shows.

The issue becomes when people *only* like/have seen Wicked and maybe a couple of other shows, and then start proclaiming it's the best show EVVAAARRR, IMO.

---

How can someone learn an entire show from the "Arts" section of the NYT?

---

Not an entire show, I just think it's more important to be aware of what's going on in the theatre rather than learning every line to a show for the sake of learning it.

My first real exposure to Broadway musicals was the national tour of 42nd Street. I was really fascinated with everything that I had a desire to see more shows. I was younger, so it was difficult for me to just pick up and see a show.

I would visit a lot of the show websites and research shows I wanted to see, as well as buy the cast recordings. Additionally, I tried to see as many national tours as I could. I also posted a lot on Broadway World and read other theater-related websites such as TheaterMania and Playbill. When I got older, I started seeing more shows by myself.

---

Jordan Catalano- where'd you get all the music from? It's really hard for me to find music!

---

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/ A great resource.

I go to my local library.
I found out that they have a whole section about theatre/Broadway and I'm there most of the time and usually I am the only one in that section.

My friends even left me at the library alone and I was there reading their books since I don't own a library card. I could never get bored.

As a kid: I didn't ONLY do the shows at my high school, I did community theatre, I went to theater camp, I went to see any community theater I could. I borrowed every cast album (yes, I'm that old to actualy have owned albums) I could from anyone I could. I read the liner notes extensively and over and over again. I read the arts section of the NY Times. I read plays from the library until my eyes bled.

I was a theater major and learned about the history of theater, and musical theater, and talked to more and more people that were involved with theater. I began to take day trips into NY with my college friends to see whatever show we could scrounge the money up for.

As an adult, I go to NY easily once a month. I never only see one show. It's a minimum of two and in some weekends as many as five. When I have a vacation, I often go to NY for 3 to seven days...seeing as many as 11 shows. I also follow individual favorite performers...thier caberet shows, their websites -- to learn of what's next in store for them professionally.


We talk, we learn, we listen, we read....good lord how we read. I find it hard to believe that your local book store has so few OBC's that you didn't already own considering you know so few. But if that's the case...play around at Sh-k-boom.com and even Amazon.com to learn about available recorded shows. Amazon has over 1,800 cd's in that category -- granted some are collections but that's not terrible either. Find books on b'way -- again on amazon or at your local bookstore. If buying on line is a problem for you, LOOK at amazon and then ask your local store to order it for you.


If you want to learn (about anything) you must take the time to do so. The most beautiful thing about Broadway is that it's a community and there's always room for more.

---