How long is a musical new?

[wickedfreak]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 11:38pm

I saw that Wicked is still billed as a "New Musical". It has been out for two years and has three productions. I hardly think it is new. How long does a musical keep that title of new?

John

[greenegirl87]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 11:42pm

Well, a lot of people outside of the theatre world are just starting to be introduced to Wicked, the tour has not been going on for even a year yet. To most people on the site, it doesn't seem new at all. But since Wicked is one of the first musicals in a long time to be SO humongous ( since Cats/ Phantom, etc), many people will consider it new, just in comparison to the other shows they are familiar with.

Updated On: 1/5/06 at 11:42 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 11:43pm

As long as the producers think they can get away with it and it'll make money for the show.

[wickedfreak]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 11:45pm

Thanks, geengirl.....margochanning........BLAH BLAH BLAH.......Get a lesson on talking nicly.....lol...jk

[WalveMalve]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 11:46pm

Shows are new until they close. After that they're revivals. The Producers (almost 5 years now, right?) is still The New Mel Brooks Musical. Occasionally the producers of a show will decide to bill something else under the title of the show, take for instance the terrible campaign for Phantom, "Remember your first time?" which tends to be entertaining to perverted teenagers everywhere.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 11:50pm

Excuse me, dear, but THAT is the criterion. Producers will call a show "new" as long as they can get away with it. Only when "new" starts to sound ridiculous (5-7 years into a run) is when they remove that word from the advertising.

And as far as lessons are concerned, please learn to spell properly before you attempt to give advice to others.

Updated On: 1/5/06 at 11:50 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/6/06 at 2:01am

touche margo.

That's the one problem with marketing I don't like. I hate when everything single musical that opens is "BLAH BLAH BLAH: the new musical" I dunno, it just ridiculous. I'm glad RENT hasn't gone that route --- yet.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/6/06 at 2:13am

What'd you mean, "yet"? It's celebrating its 10th anniversary on Broadway this spring; if they threw "new" up there now, it would look ridiculous.

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 1/6/06 at 3:17am

I can see it now... Rent: the old musical that spawned a new movie.

Eh, not that funny, but it's all in a day.