Marc Shaiman's on the board! — Page 3

Congrats on your benevolence in Chicago and I hope your endeavors there are able to bestow TONS of money on your special projects in Chicago. May I ask, which songs, performances, etc. are you most excited about presenting that night at your benefit with the touring cast of Hairspray? besides the ever-magnificent "Bruce Almighty"!? Have you enjoyed being with this first tour? We have enjoyed this awesome cast and your "taking the risk" with this show from the beginning. God Bless you all!!! now.... "give you the flowers, give you the crown, and everybody start bowing"!!

A Message Board is a place to share your comments, good and bad. To share your OPINIONS about a piece of theater. They are simply OPINIONS. My opinions mean very little in the grand scheme of things. As little as you all want to believe it there are many shows that I love and I post about them HERE as well. The recent production of Henry IV was simply brilliant, I Am My Own Wife was a wonderful evening of theater, Avenue Q was a JOY, Wicked has it's moments of greatness...all of which I have said on this board...and yet the only times there are comments made to postings are when they are negatively geered toward Hairspray or some other show. I find that the problem on this board isn't the people who state their minds about the shows they see, but the people who automatically jump on any negative comment about there dear blessed show that they've seen twenty million times. Just because it's on Broadway doesn't mean everyone has to think it's great theater folks. Debate is what makes this board interesting. Opinions are what make us different people. I am not going to be one of the people on this board who posts every time they go on a trip with there mommy and daddy and say how brilliant every little thing that they saw was.
Simply because I don't care for Hairspray makes you feel sorry for me, Mr Shaiman? Really don't be. I have found joy in many other musicals and plays over recent years. And why do you read the boards exactly, Mr Shaiman? Is it just to see people talk about how wonderful you and your work are? Or do you read them to listen to criticism and try to see what the theatergoers are saying (not simply the ones who love your work.) If it is the second one than that's great! You don't have to listen to me or anyone else but I think as an artist you would realize that not everyone is going to love everything you do. And you can take my opinion with a grain of salt, but just because they are "negative" towards your show doesn't make me a joyless person or make the comments unjustified.

And if we are talking about the worked that I loved off yours...okay. I loved your work and everyone else's work on When Harry Met Sally which I regard as one of if not the greatest romantic comedy film ever made.

And now I am certain that someone will find something negative to say about me posting something positive. I mean I have a reputation to live up to here...I say something nice about Jack O'Brien's production of Henry IV and I am told that I probably can't decide whether or not to stand or sit while peeing (very classy by the way) because I can't say that I either love or hate ALL of his work. Things aren't as black and white as all that folks. But I'll tell you one thing that is black and white- I did not care for Hairspray. Maybe it was the day that I saw it, maybe it is the fact that I see very little to be desired in Marissa Jaret Winokur's performance, maybe I didn't care for the story, maybe I didn't like some of the songs, maybe I didn't care for Jerry Mitchell's choreography, maybe I didn't like some of the jokes, maybe I found the style of the piece obnoxious...whatever it is the show did not gel for me.

I truly wish you the best of luck on your future works and hope that one day I find your work as exciting as the vast majority finds Hairspray.

I hope we aren't going to be giving you the twenty questions every time you post. I think everyone is just excited to hear from you and hopefully it'll die down some not all the way I like getting asked questions some too but of course I am only 18 so there is a difference. I have to say I am always excited to have any new member on the board and I would like to welcome you. Anyone who can help any of us learn more about live theatre is a friend of mine. And you are one of the best resources of the current scene out there imho. (And of course theatre is always evolving so we're always learning.) Once again welcome.

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Updated On: 1/26/04 at 11:27 PM

I'm not an English teacher. And my post was very much on topic. If you are going to post on this message board AND condescend to the younger members AND I choose to point it out, that is ALSO my decision

"A Message Board is a place to share your comments, good and bad."

"effG- here we go. Are you one of the millions of bitter English teachers on this board? Your post and my spelling errors have nothing to do with Broadway, Marc Shaiman, or anything else. It's sad that that is all you could say to my post. "

And I quote you: "They are simply OPINIONS."

sorry.. I ran into Adam along the way...........


I agree.. there is pointing out that you don't like a show.. there is making it CLEAR you don't lieka show.. then you have "bestofbroadway"ing a show... it crosses into pathetic

I am not going to be one of the people on this board who posts every time they go on a trip with there mommy and daddy and say how brilliant every little thing that they saw was.

Can I ask what's wrong with that? Honestly, if I wasn't right here in the middle of it all and able to see a Broadway show whenever I wanted, I'd be pretty damn excited when I did see one. Not to say that because I live here, I'm *not* excited to see a Broadway show, but it's a bigger deal for someone who isn't as accessible to Broadway as a lot of us are.

Are you trying to say that just because these posters are younger and haven't seen as many shows as most of us, that their opinions don't count?

And personally, I love to read those posts.. it's wonderful seeing young people SO incredibly enthusiastic about live theatre. Even I can be a little jaded in my reviews sometimes -- it's nice to hear from someone who's still compltely enthralled in all the glamour.

Not ripping into you, but I think you should clarify your post a little.

~Heather

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Updated On: 1/27/04 at 12:07 AM

Never say NEVER

"hmm...I really don't know what to say back to you. This is a truly ignorant view. Sure she has "some" talent. She can sing with her tongue hanging half out of her mouth...if you call that a talent. "

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Why BOB of course. Let's see him backpeddle now. This should provide us with some decent entertainment at this hour...

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Like I said I NEVER jumped on anyone who liked Hairspray. Did I say anything about Marissa Jaret Winokur fans. Maybe I should be more clear....I NEVER jumped on anyone for liking Hairspray. Now jumping on people who think that everyone on Broadway is the most talented person in the world is a different story.

Updated On: 1/27/04 at 12:39 AM

Very simple Namo- Millie has a good story, Millie has good choreography, is based on good Source material, has a stellar cast, an excellent director, one of YOUR favorite composers...

Updated On: 1/27/04 at 12:49 AM

I enjoyed Caroline, Or Change. I know nothing else of the woman's work. She only wrote SOME of the music for that show you love. There is a lot of interpolated music in Millie, the source is -- OH MY GOD -- a movie ... it just seems you're willing to overlook the very things you hold against other shows. Perhaps you can understand why others are willing to "pull" for shows, just because they work for them, the way the LCD sugar rush of Millie works for you and causes you to overlook the very criteria you uphold. PARTICULARLY the "taking theater someplace new" and "never been done before" aspects!

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Updated On: 1/27/04 at 12:55 AM