Jerry Springer - The Opera forced to stay off Broadway- Page 2

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:04pm

I played Mr. Applegate in our community production of Damn Yankees and was actually harassed by name on a Christian Radio Station. My integrity was questioned because I made people like and laugh at the Devil. These people are out of control.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:06pm

that's really sad.

[Broadway Style]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:13pm

I can't say I'm disappointed b/c I hated the show!!!! and honestly I don't think it would have done that well on Broadway anyway...I don't find a man in a diaper singing about how he needs to poo in his pants to feel good very entertaining, and I doubt the middle aged women who make up the majority of the theater-going population will either.

[Plum]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:19pm

I'm pretty sure middle-aged women don't make up the "majority" of theater-goers; they just make up the largest group when you divide it up by age and gender like that.

Avenue Q, show of "You Can Be As Loud As the Hell You Want," is still going strong. And some of the nicest people I met at the lottery there were female senior citizens who'd seen the show and loved it. Not everyone fits into little stereotype boxes. Updated On: 2/27/05 at 01:19 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:20pm

I think it would be a smash hit. Good reviews or not, it would run for years. Personally, I've only seen a video and heard the recording and I thought it was fantastically, amazingly hysterical. I don't understand how someone can find a fat man in a diaper singing about poo NOT funny. My favorite part is:

Chorus: Jesus is gay! Jesus is gay! Jesus is gay! Jesus is gay!

Jesus: Actually, I am a bit gay.

[Broadway Style]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:29pm

Forgive me, I wasn't trying to say that all middle-aged women somehow fit into these archetypal roles...only that I believe many might find it a little stupid-I know I did. I still don't think it would have done very well, but hey that's just me. BTW: I adore Avenue Q so that is not a valid marker as to whther or not one will enjoy this show.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:38pm

Everyone would find the show stupid. That's why it's hysterical. Same with SPAMALOT and THE PRODUCERS, to many.

[EdnaSings]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:43pm

When JSTO was aired on television, a number of people's lives were threatened.
Now that was just this countries reaction to it, I think they're also scared of the reaction of such a larger country.
It was absolutely ridiculous how many people compained that hadn't even seen the show, heard any of the songs or anything. They just knew what they'd be told by other people. I will never understand how people can do that. If you you think it's ofeensive then don't watch it, you have a choice. It's just like if I turned around and said I hated chocolate biscuits and wanted them banned without ever trying them. Alot of people would be extremely pissed of no doubt.
Never mind. I just hope that Broadway gets a chance to make it's own mind up.
It really is a good piece of theatre. So good I brought half the merchandising (I'm ashamed of how easily I am talked into parting with my money).

[Loge]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 3:47pm

It's stories like this that make me really question my faith! I find it disgusting that a charity was pressured into rejecting a gift. I hope that Christian group who is responsible replaces the funds that I'm sure are much needed. It's really revolting.

It is also disappointing that the show is facing so many road blocks. I love the cast recording. The book, lyrics, dialogue, and performances are all first rate. I can see why it won so many awards in London.

To the person who commented about a man wanting to poop his pants not being funny - is it any less funny than Gary Coleman selling his stuff on Ebay or the use of an Asian-American accent to generate a large portion of laughs - no. It's funnier! The story is very clever and it fits with the TV show. It's great. I hope it finds a way out.

To Christian Fundies - I have one thing to say: Jesus Loves You. Everyone else thinks you're an asshole!

Updated On: 2/27/05 at 03:47 PM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 4:09pm

I'm actually glad. We've got enough trash on Broadway these days.

[Plum]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 4:12pm

Oh, the irony. Anyone looking at this guy's username? Please tell me you're being sarcastic. Updated On: 2/27/05 at 04:12 PM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 4:23pm

Hahaha. I know, I know. But that's not what I mean by my username. The username means theater gossip. Like trash-talking and stuff like that. Am I making sense? I *just* started my day an hour ago. I'm a little out of it.

Plum, anyhow, I don't think there should be censorship. I just don't like the idea of having an opera of Jerry Springer using a Broadway stage when there are other pieces that should be there. I'd rather see another revival. Granted, it's funny. The score isn't awful. I just would rather see so many other things.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 4:34pm

You obviously don't know the show if you're saying it's crap - it's fantastic.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 5:35pm

I... Okay. You're missing my point. I don't think it's crap. I think it's inventive, different, something new. I LOVE THAT IT'S NEW. I just... Okay. I'm a firm believer in the old hat kind of way that Broadway is classy. I love the classy shows. I think it should stay that way. Not be about the KKK or sex with midgets... You know?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 7:58pm

That's very strange, you sound like you're 85 years old. The only shows on Broadway that fall under your guidelines are THE LION KING and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Well, THE LION KING does feature shirtless males, does that not count?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 8:02pm

Broadway has not been classy for awhile

Since Fosse,Bennett & Champion died

Since pagers & cell phones

Since people come dressed in T shirts & shorts

Broadway is to entertain & move you. If it does that it is classy

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 8:14pm

No, see, you're taking what I said and exaggerating it. I adored Caroline, or Change. It raised questions but it wasn't raunchy. It wasn't filled to the brim with cuss words.

I don't know. I'm an old far. An 18 year old fart.

[dapapabear2]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 12:15am

"They" didn't really stop it from coming. Fear of the monetary impact of bad reaction and protests would more likely be the reason for a backer to um, back out. Why this one? Jesus saying "Talk to the stigmata" is enough to cause convulsions in some people. Yeah, there's been plenty of shows with swearing, nudity etc., but how many combine that and some rather out of the ordinary sexual practices, scat and God, Jesus and the Devil? Or, how many try to bring that to Broadway? Personally I would love to see it and wish I'd scraped the money together to go to London to see it.

Re: fundies flying into buildings - there are many ways to kill and destroy. Whether it's one by one or thousands at a time dead is dead. Anyway, since this is a theater board I'll refrain from further comment.

So, has anyone seen Shockhead Peter. Nevermind I bet there's a thread for that I was just bringing my head back to theater.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 3:27pm

There are a lot of things I don't like in this world, so I just stay away from those things. I mean, is the show really killing or physically hurting anyone? Censorship is wrong!

[dapapabear2]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 1:08am

It ain't dead yet!

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/91440.html

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 1:20am

Yea, I was gonna post about that earlier, but it didn't seem like anyone was interested. IT's definitely coming to Broadway - HA!

[chasgoose]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 2:16am

Where is it going to go? There seem to be a lot more big shows planning to open this fall and spring than there are theaters to have them. I know a lot of the star-studded play revivals will be gone, but where are the big musicals going to go? All of those theaters seem to be booked indefinitely.

[javero]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 9:35am

Tax the Fundies!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 11:14am

can anyone say Maplethorpe? Reminds me exactly of that issue. This entire thing is ridiculous. If they don't want to see it, DON'T GO BUY TICKETS. But they have no right to shove their supposed "christian" vales down my throat and deny me the freedom to see it. Hypocrites!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 12:09pm

"Your saying Christian Fundamentalists are the same as muslim fanatics might be a valid arguement but for 1 thing: I have yet to hear of fundamentalists beheading people & flying planes into buildings & killing thousands. Once they start doing this, I will agree with you 100 %"

Well, before we had commercial airlines, there were the lynch mobs and regular executions by the KKK supposedly in the name of Christ. We still have hate crimes which are encouraged by religious fanatics (the cases of Matthew Shepard and Jasper, TX). Heck, in Buenos Aires in the 70s, Christian fanatics literally BOMBED the theatre where Jesus Christ Superstar originally opened. Then of course, you have the Spanish Inquisition, the Third Reich and the Catholic/Protestant war in Ireland that has been waging for God knows how long. The motivation and actions can certainly be compared, though the frequency of these actions probably cannot.

The main point is, why would any producer be influenced by one minor religious group as if this is the first attack on a Broadway show deemed offensive? There is probably a lot more to the story than we can assume.