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Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa — Page 5

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#102

re: Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:38pm

Actually LeeFowler, this talk about class and such has me a bit confused. Since when is it classless to talk about work you think should be better. It'd be classless if personal attacks were made which they weren't. Wagner attacked I don't know how many composer. Either way your point doesn't fully hold up because Britten wrote operas and Berlin didn't. I've heard on several occasions in print and in person people like Hal Prince and Stephen Sondheim critique other composers work. For instance, it's no secret that Sondheim is not a fan of the lyrics of Lorenz Hart. He has pointed out what he finds faults in them. I think that's totally valid and that's what LaChiusa did. It has nothing to do with success or failure. Sondheim is one of the most artistcally successful composers of musical theatre.
#103

re: Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:39pm

I guess it's always more acceptable to be critical of the dead. They can't fire back!
"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."
#106

Aw hell no!

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:45pm

Child...I'm like Florence...Nobody's side and all!

Mama learned a loooooong time ago that it's best to watch a catfight from the sidelines...preferably holding one of the participant's baby...or earrings, at the very least!
"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."
#107

Aw hell no!

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:47pm

I love you too, 'Nardie.

If we can't disagree about musicals on broadwayworld--where the hell are we supposed to go?!?
#109

re: Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:50pm

I think people are too quick to clump shows together, and should instead look at shows individually. There are also different groups of people that different things appeal to. There isn't just one broadway audience giving everything a thumbs up or down. For example, I didn't find Light In the Piazza to move me as much as it moved some others, however it did affect someone and therefore the writers were successful. Every show is going to have someone who likes it and someone who is bored out of their mind.
Personally I am kind of sick of the "musical theater is dead" arguement. There have always been good shows that haven't made it and bad shows that run for years and years. I think writers should be more concerned with creating a piece that does what it sets out to do and uses the theatrical setting to its advantage. That said I highly anticipate both Mr. Shaiman's next work and Mr. LaChiusa's next work
#110

re: Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:51pm

Marc is displaying what class is all about. He responded to attacks on his artistry, but didn't bring anyone else into it -- even when someone asked him what he thought of another composer. La Chiusa COULD HAVE made his point about the funding of new projects without bashing other shows / artists that have been successful. It is a shame that getting new works heard is a difficult venture, but unfortunately it's a reality; especially when some of these works will not be embraced by a large segment of the population. Anyone who is successful in reaching a wide audience should NOT be attacked.
". . . POP . . ."
#111

re: Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:52pm

Only a big theatre queen would misspell the name of "Shea Stadium." re: Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#113

re: Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:57pm

Yeah, I'm sure you were referring to that "world famous" soccer stadium in Halifax Town, UK when you wrote "Shay" before. re: Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

Updated On: 8/8/05 at 04:57 PM

#114

re: Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa

Posted: 8/8/05 at 4:57pm

"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

Updated On: 8/8/05 at 04:57 PM

#116

re: Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa

Posted: 8/8/05 at 5:07pm

"Not to mention the fact that he was able to get along with just 2 names."

Lee, that statement is more offensive than ANYTHING LaChiusa has said about Shaiman/Wittman.

I am not a fan of LaChiusa's work either - and I admit to be being bored by MARINE CHRISTINE (haven't seen the others). And I think HAIRSPRAY sounds better and better with each passing season. But I know there are people who really love the score to MC (WILD PARTY even more so) just like there are who like Phillip Glass, Charles Ives or other composers I don't care for.

To give him credit, LaChiusa is writing exactly what he wants, even if most people don't like it or are bored by it. He's following his own drummer. And to rag on him because he hasn't had a hit show and is bitter (and yes, he sure sounds that way in his article) would be like an art dealer saying "Hey, Van Gogh - you haven't sold one friggin' canvas! Why don't you get hep and be like Bouguereau and paint some big-eyed kids or big boobed nymphs? THAT'S what the public really loves!"

And Thank you Joey, but I honestly don't think LaChiusa hurts the others because "nobody liked Wild Party" - One could say that about most Sondheim shows, too. "Yeah, yeah, the Musical elite loves them, but they don't make a dime." I don't think one has to do much with the other.

But It's funny...for many years I was bored by a lot of Sondheim too. And paintings by Poussin elicited big yawns from me. Then one day I actually find myself actually liking them - they both got under my skin in positive ways. That's what some art does - sometimes ones first exposure just annoys the sh*t of you. I don't totally understand Sondheim all the time, but now I look at Sodheim and Poussin and pictures and scores that I used to think were cold and overly cerebral I think are now passionate and exciting. Maybe in the future I'll find myself listening to MARIE CHRISTINE and loving it. Or maybe I'll still be bored senseless.

And just maybe, LaChiusa might have a PIAZZA in his future.
"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"

Updated On: 8/8/05 at 05:07 PM

#117

re: Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa

Posted: 8/8/05 at 5:12pm

Well put, Master.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali
#120

re: Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa

Posted: 8/8/05 at 5:16pm

Definitely well put, Master.

I just honestly think both of these men deserve our respect. They obviously pour their heart and soul into their music. I think it's completely rude and unfair to start knocking LaChiusa because he hasn't had a hit musical. It's obvious to me, that he puts his heart into everything, and I can only wish him success in the future.

I am also so glad that PIAZZA found it's audience. It's a shame LaChiusa's shows didn't find an audience like Piazza did.
#123

re: Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa

Posted: 8/8/05 at 5:22pm

Are they selling tickets to the Shubert Alley Slapfest?
'Try not to have a good time...this is supposed to be educational.' - Lucy Van Pelt
#124

re: Marc Shaiman responds to Michael John La Chiusa

Posted: 8/8/05 at 5:37pm

While I wholeheartedly agree with what Mr. LaChiusa said in general, I don't think it was necessarily the best way of arguing his statement. While I really love both composers work I find that Mr. Shaiman would have taken the higher road by not publicly responding to him. I feel that Mr. LaChiusa's sting hit home a little to hard for Mr. Shaiman and that is why he felt the need to reply. Childish behavior, foolishness and ego are terrible things but unfortunately they do indeed run rampant in this business. I look forward to both of their new works in the near future.
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds." ~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns

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