Is this season exceptionally depressing?

Is it my imagination, or is this turning out to be one of Broadway's 'off' years? Aside from Namo's picks of CAROLINE, OR CHANGE and THE LONG CHRISTMAS RIDE HOME, the raves for Jackman, Kristin & Idina Menzel (but razzes for the shows they all star in), there is so little that sounds worthwhile or 'must see'.
Aside from the already-here AVENUE Q or the soon-to-reopen I AM MY OWN WIFE, what is on the horizon --- and NEW ---that has a modicum of positive buzz?

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Yep, it's turning into the season of the performance, not the show. Not the first time (remember Bernadette in SONG AND DANCE anyone? Liza and Chita in THE RINK?) We've been through the "is the Diva worth the price of the ticket?" syndrome. My fear is, a year fromnow we'll be stuck with a revival-heavy season (gee, that's never happened, has it?) because everyone will be gun-shy re new material. And THAT's never happened before, either, has it?

But it is early, as astute minds here have noted. And hope springs eternal, especially in the spring, when Tony winners tend to open.

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I think, with the exception of that Farrah Fawcett vehicle, that it's turning into a pretty strong season for plays. Despite some flaws (what show doesn't have them?), I found The Retreat From Moscow to be an incredibly riveting play; one that doesn't attempt to create something completely new and avant-garde, but rather takes a well-known story (a son struggling with the dissolution of his parents' marriage) and making it seem new and exciting.

Despite more backstage drama than All About Eve, The Violet Hour is also an amazingly good show. Greenberg may be the next playwright to look out for as a future Miller. If anything, it's fascinating to see his progression from Take Me Out to The Violet Hour.

Golda's Balcony was absolutely breathtaking, especially for a one-woman show (I'm generally wary of one-person shows).... And who can't wait to see Kevin Kline play Henry IV?

Right now is the perfect time for those of you who have seen Millie 49 times to go see a play....

The kiddies around here, they ain't interested in the plays what don't have singing.

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I think it's actually pretty exciting to have all these theatre open! A depressing season would be when nothing opens or when everything that opens is a revival. This season we even have shows that are not based on books, films, fairy tales, whatever. They are simply original. Taking chances in the theatre -- what a concept!

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This is an interesting season, if ten years ago you told me we'd have musicals about, Peter Allen, Boy George and the witches of Oz I'd of laughed you out of Joe Allen, but indeed we do, I only wish they were a little more successful in their execution.

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Wicked would of been (or could still be) a classic if only certain music and book changes actually had taken place.

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11, point taken, but I actually didn't mean chronologically aged "kiddies." Although, the reference about musicals over plays was something that has stuck in my memory after Billy Lawlor posted it. Will try to be clearer next time.

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I am glad you understand!

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I liked plays way before I liked musicals, it took me a long time to warm up to musicals but I did. When most people think of Broadway they think of musicals not plays. But yea this past year has been ok, But definetly not life changing or anything, and I am happy because I am finally going to see RENT on Sunday. It's about damn time, since it opened in 1996 right? haha lol. But that's what I had to say and btw I am 18.

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