Is Wicked the New Cats?- Page 2

[misschung]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 8:24pm

I agree - Wicked is well known, but not up there with Chorus Line, Oklahoma, etc.

I love Wicked, but I have to admit that I am suprised at how popular it has become. I think it will take a few revivals to see whether or not it will become a legend or not

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 8:25pm

There are plenty of musicals with an unconventional plot. Company, Follies, Sunday, etc etc.

But CATS isn't of the quality of those.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 8:26pm

I don't think CATS is the caliber of those shows, but I don't think it's as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

[[e-mail]]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 8:37pm

I don't like Wicked very much at all, but compared to Cats it looks like Sheer Perfection!

[Paulyd]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 8:42pm

Cats has always been an easy target for people to hate, but i think what people hate more than ever is that its an Andrew Lloyd Webber show,and how dare he have a show that runs years after others seem to fail at the first hurdle.

Not a huge fan a Wicked myself, but i can appreciate it's following, but i think it's gonna have to go some to beat Cats, or Phantom for that matter.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 8:44pm

Well, we have to wait and see ! Cats, while it was, in my opinion, a very boring show, was very well known around the world ! Wicked doesn't have the same name-recognition worldwide, yet ! It is popular only in the U.S.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 8:45pm

I was first surprised that the NOVEL of Wicked did well. Imagine how surprised I was that Wicked the Musical turned out to do well.

If Wicked dominates the ticket sales the way it has been...eventually it COULD be as well-known as Chicago or Oklahoma. Imagine in 20 years how many high schools will be trying to do Wicked. Imagine how many high schools are trying to do Wicked right now. Wicked should never be made into a movie musical, but Oklahoma and Chicago both have, and so has a A Chorus Line, so the fact that they get popularity through the film industry make a difference too.

Posted: 4/22/07 at 10:03pm

While I'm not a huge Cats fan (let me say again:P ) but I agree--I think the way critics attacked it (a huge hit show that ultimately is about nothing is often the criticism--so was 42nd Street about much more? like why is that such a prob?? why does it even need a "central dramatic question"?) is pretty insane. It's an easy target but there's obviously something in the material that appeals to audiences and it's not just cuz they're all uncultured or can only speak Japanese :P

[Fosse76]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 10:07pm

"The Producers did not have the teenage girl demographic."

Once again, misinformation being construed as fact to make a point. Wicked, according to research done by the show's producers nad published in the New York Times, does not have an audience that skews any younger than the typical age of a Broadway audience (which I believe is in the late 40's). If you can find the article, ou'll note that even the show's producers were a bit surprised. So please do not make assumptions based on speculation because of a show's fan base.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 10:10pm

Because you have the teenage girl demographic does not mean that you are the teenage girl demographic.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 10:11pm

I've always considered CATS to have a premise. Not a plot.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 10:13pm

Have I created a meowster?

[musicman_17082]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 10:21pm

Alrighty... I live in a VERY rural EXTREMELY non-theater community and Wicked is actually extremely well known! A Chorus Line? Are you kidding? I can't think of a single non-thear person who knows anything about it. Wicked, on the other hand, is rather well known.

Wicked is one of the few modern shows most people know about... in my neck of the woods anyway. And with time... I have no doubt it will reach Cats. (not to mention deserves it!)

[misschung]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 10:23pm

Eric is right - I mean musicals, in terms of plot - for the most part- aren't exactly Shakespeare. Saying something doesnt have an interesting plot in the musical theater world is kind of a weak criticism. The thing is, I know what you mean - usually if something has a pretty superficial plotline, you rely on the music and performances to carry it through. But if you also don't like the music, then it basically sucks

[jpbran]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:22am

Funniest thing I've read in a while:

"There's a bunch of cats, and one of them is real sick adn tired. So, they put on a show to cheer her up. Then, they put her on a tire and shoot her through a roof."
Updated On: 4/23/07 at 11:22 AM

[kasim]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:46am

musicman >>

you are absolutely correct about wicked in rural to even midwest or anyhwere.

i've seen what i consider quite a few good musicals. The only ones my sisters friends were jealous of were spamalot and wicked.

Dont get me wrong i really like it actually ... but heck i liked Lestat .... so i am really not one to get opinions from :)

[Crapgame13]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:53am

"Thing about Wicked is if it ever starts to slump its kinda hard to stunt cast, because the 2 leads are pretty hard to sing"

there aren't many shows on Broadway like Wicked, a show that has two female leads with large meaty parts, which makes it very appealing, or at least tempting.

Lea Salonga was practically begging in her 2005 Carnegie Hall concert to be in Wicked. That alone would spike ticket sales for a good 6 months.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 12:10pm

I feel that Wicked has gotten to the point where It doesn't need to be stunt casted. "Light in the Piazza" just left here (Denver). We have the world premiere of "The Little Mermaid" this summer and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" coming in. And all anyone wants to see is "Wicked". When I got my block of seats for "Mermaid", people were asking me if there was any way to get tickets for Wicked, which will be here in May/June. I think the show, and not who are playing the two leads, is selling itself.

Updated On: 4/23/07 at 12:10 PM

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 12:28pm

I think Cats definitely beats Wicked when it comes to choreography! I mean, when I saw Wicked in London, the choreography was all over the place, extremely messy and distracting... just poor!
Anyway, both shows have great costumes, makeup, catchy music/tunes BUT both shows lack depth and plot (in Wicked's case, its much better but not THAT much better imo!).

The difference between the 2 shows is that I Cats is generally dull and Wicked is more enjoyable, i mean... there must be SOMETHING which suits you... the costumes, the set, the songs, the people singing the sh*t of those songs, the monkeys, the lightings...
Here in UK, Wicked's pretty much well known in London and the musical theatre people, it certainly attracts alot teenage girls and non-theatre people. But you come out feeling you had a gd night unlike Cats which you come out feeling 'God, I should have watched ____ instead or stayed home or bought myself ____ with that money!'

[Tom1071]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 12:46pm

Wicked very much like Cats requires no stunt casting. The spectacle and the fact that it is linked to The Wizard of OZ sales itself.

No one but musical theatre geeks are going to see it because Julia Murney, Shoshanna Bean or Kendra Kasselbaum are starring in it.

[theactorsociety]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 12:57pm

Though I think both shows are great in their own way, Wicked is going to stay because everyone is drwan to it. Kids in highschool and college know the songs. The style of music hits the new age audience that listens to people like Kelly Clarkson and other pop belters.

[whoisquilty]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 12:58pm

Isn't the point of the thread is...will Wicked become the longest-running show in Broadway history?

Shows don't run because they're good or bad. Shows run because people will sit in the seats and subject themselves to them, no matter how good or bad they are.

The Producers' box office dropped after Nathan and Matthew left. Wicked's box office has remained fairly steady.

We'll have to see. But being 3.5 years old and still selling out? That's pretty good.

I'd say it'll run at least 10 years.

[scooter38432]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 12:59pm

"sing? who said anything about singing? don't they just scream on pitch? (i use the term "on pitch" loosely) "

LOVE IT!

I couldn't agree more...

Please stop the Idina-like screeching!

Updated On: 4/23/07 at 12:59 PM

[Crapgame13]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 1:03pm

Wicked is the new Les Miz, the musical tortured high school girls know by heart

[Kevinoes]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 1:57pm

I predict WICKED running about 10 years or so. Unless a movie comes out in the next few years, then it will be doing immensely well.

And to whoever said WICKED is only doing well in the U.S. Have you been under a rock the last six months? WICKED opened in London to ecstatic fans who have been waiting for years to get to the UK. There was a 30 minute "promotion" of the show in Japan's Universal studios that is sturring a lot of buzz and a Japenese production is set to be realeased. That AND a German production is set to open later this year. I beg to differ that many people outside of the US don't know about WICKED.

A funny story, one of my roommates lived in China all her life and moved to Toronto to study. Last November she said she was excited because she was seeing WICKED at the Canon Theare. She had seen the Letterman performance in China on TV way back in 2003 and had always wanted to see it. The funny thing? She had never seen or heard of THE WIZARD OF OZ.

I'll say it again, I beg to differ that many people outside of the US don't know about WICKED.