#1
Posted: 4/30/16 at 1:36am
https://twitter.com/broadwayworld/status/726244685165916160
Updated On: 4/30/16 at 01:36 AM
MTI stops licensing of West Side Story in North Carolina and Mississippi
#2
Posted: 4/30/16 at 4:41am
Any guesses why this is true?
"WEST SIDE STORY has a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics byStephen Sondheim. It is the only musical by any of these three authors represented by MTI that carries this restriction."
#3
Posted: 4/30/16 at 4:56pm
Because the musical's message is lost on anyone supporting or passing discriminatory laws? I don't know, I didn't think it was a riddle that had to be solved. :P
Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05
Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05
Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28
#4
Posted: 4/30/16 at 5:20pm
I think it's a legitimate question. If the authors or their estates are against the law (as I assume they are), why aren't the other shows in their catalogues also blocked?
#5
Posted: 4/30/16 at 5:34pm
Why this and nothing else is being restricted to me makes no sense. I mean, I think that these shows should be restricted if these people are being jerks, but why this is the sole one confuses me. I think that it's only being restricted because its a show that is against discrimination, as discrimination is at the forefront of the conflict between the two gangs, and that people shouldn't be allowed to play that card if they're passing laws such as those. But maybe it's because that's the most popular out of all of their shows? It's really only Sondheim who can explain why this is, so maybe he'll explain sometime in the future why this is the only one that is restricted.
#6
Posted: 4/30/16 at 5:35pm
I had the same question: why this show? Obviously it's not up to MTI, but someone made the decision.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#7
Posted: 4/30/16 at 6:00pm
Oh, and how I longed to see a production of West Side Story in Hazlehurst, MS!
#8
Posted: 4/30/16 at 6:06pm
I think it's great that the message is going out that discrimination isn't going to be allowed to exist without voices being raised. I hope that this is just one of many, many actions that are taken until the good people of North Carolina and Mississippi decide to join the rest of us in the 21st century.
Of course, being "of a certain age" I can recall a song by the late Phil Ochs called "Here's to the State of Mississippi" which (sadly) is still appropriate today.
#9
Posted: 4/30/16 at 8:36pm
adamgreer said: "I think it's a legitimate question. If the authors or their estates are against the law (as I assume they are), why aren't the other shows in their catalogues also blocked?"
Well, I would wager a guess that West Side Story may be the most popular title out of the three authors' (MTI) catalogue.
Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05
Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05
Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28
#10
Posted: 4/30/16 at 10:32pm
g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "adamgreer said: "I think it's a legitimate question. If the authors or their estates are against the law (as I assume they are), why aren't the other shows in their catalogues also blocked?"
Well, I would wager a guess that West Side Story may be the most popular title out of the three authors' (MTI) catalogue.
Of course it is. So why not block the whole catalogue?
#11
Posted: 5/1/16 at 3:25am
It may be that, while Sondheim and the estates for Bernsein and Laurents agreed to this restriction, their respective collaborators on other shows didn't. Or if, for instance, it was instigated by the Laurents estate, Sondheim and the Bernstein interests could have agreed to go along with it without feeling compelled to approach the many co-creators of their other properties to do the same thing.
#12
Posted: 5/1/16 at 8:54pm
I understand 100% the whole "let's ban theatrical productions in places where religious freedom is put into law," but I wonder if it will actually do anything. Quite frankly, it's making the people (generally speaking) who are quite supportive of gay marriage suffer. I highly doubt high conservative members of office will be faxed by musicals and concerts being blocked. Maybe if it made any financial difference, then yeah.
In Georgia (where I live), it wasn't that the majority people were necessarily fine with gays. The actual reason was because of a ridiculous amount of commerce that Georgia would be losing out on like the growing film and TV industry, the NFL moving their headquarters and countless other companies that have expressed their disdain for the law. They had no other choice. North Carolina, as the close neighbor that it is, would have to have the same kind of situation. I highly doubt that theatrical productions bring that much revenue to North Carolina.
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