I miss the old-fashioned Broadway musical... — Page 2

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#26

re: I miss the old-fashioned Broadway musical...

Posted: 9/27/04 at 5:01pm

"Not crap like Wicked or Hairspray..."

Well that "crap" is making Broadway millions of dollars.

"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

#27

re: I miss the old-fashioned Broadway musical...

Posted: 9/27/04 at 5:51pm

I too miss old-fashioned musicals. I have no problems with Wicked and Hairspray...however, I just wish they would consider reviving musicals like West Side Story, or Crazy For You, etc. I am extatic that they are bringing Sweet Charity back and even though I hate the show, Im happy theyre bringing Pajama Game back. I just worry that the old-school broadway musicals are going to be completely forgotten and overtaken by new pop/Disney oriented shows.

You've gotta have heart AND music

#28

re: I miss the old-fashioned Broadway musical...

Posted: 9/27/04 at 6:05pm

As someone else here posted, I miss 'good' musicals...not old-fashion, not new-fangled...just good. Well written. Well produced. Well performed.

As for RAGTIME, I would argue in no way is it an 'old fashioned' musical. One of the problems I had with it is that it toes the line between something that is involving like CAROUSEL and distancing like CRADLE WILL ROCK (use of types, some of the staging). I didn't think it worked completely, but appreciated the effort.

"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."

#29

re: I miss the old-fashioned Broadway musical...

Posted: 9/27/04 at 6:10pm

Nice thoughts robbiej and I love your S. Booth avatar. :)

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

#30

re: I miss the old-fashioned Broadway musical...

Posted: 9/27/04 at 7:02pm

"I just wish they would consider reviving musicals like West Side Story"

It's being revived sometime next season, I believe.

#31

re: I miss the old-fashioned Broadway musical...

Posted: 9/27/04 at 7:15pm

Take a ticket for missing old-time Broadway musicals,

What ever happened to tryouts in Boston, Philly, New Haven?
Rehearsals in the women's lounge until the wee hours of the morning?
Whatever happened to songs in and out of the show?
Whatever happened to producers caring about the quality of the show instead of saving the most and making the most?
Whatever happened to good-time musicals that were good because they were actually good instead of having pretty costumes and gigantic sets and tons of SFX?
Whatever happened to openings at Sardi's?
Remember when producers would stay up all night waiting for the papers instead of getting them by palm pilot before the curtain went down?

AHHHHHHH, YES!! Those WERE the good ol' days! Whoever said history repeats itself better be talking about Broadway.

#32

re: I miss the old-fashioned Broadway musical...

Posted: 9/27/04 at 7:16pm

That's what I hear. I don't really know how well it will do. That's another show that has never really found much success in it's revivals.

"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."

#33

re: I miss the old-fashioned Broadway musical...

Posted: 9/27/04 at 9:46pm

I've never doubted the quality of Gypsy only that it has never been particularly successful on Broadway. As for Hairspray, I'm not sure how the book is so "deeply flawed" (an expression that is commonly thrown about, but seldomly ever supported). The book reflects the campiness of the film while still addressing some hard-hitting issues all the while remaining witty and clever.

Ragtime was pretty far-removed from being old-fashioned. I love the score, but the show never knew whether it was minimalist or spectacle and its story was told through many different narratives that weakened its focus.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#34

re: I miss the old-fashioned Broadway musical...

Posted: 9/28/04 at 2:43am

'Old fashioned Broadway' to me is represented by book shows. A few years ago I would have said where did it go? These were the days when Broadway was over run by the likes of Cats, Miss Saigon, Jekyl and Hyde,Les Miserables, Phantom and Joseph... all shows with little or no spoken narative. Thank God we have allowed the music to stop and allowed the actors to speak again.

That said, there seems to be almost a generation of musical performers who have difficulty handling music and dialogue.

#35

re: I miss the old-fashioned Broadway musical...

Posted: 9/28/04 at 11:47am

I really do not know what I meant. It just looked like those actors were having so much fun up there. Today, some look like they are doing it for the money and because they can. I guess I was wrong...sorry.

CCM '10!

#36

re: I miss the old-fashioned Broadway musical...

Posted: 9/28/04 at 11:47am

I do not even like that explanation of my feelings. Just ignore them. It is hard to write them down.

CCM '10!

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