My humble take on the death of The Broadway Musical Debate!!

Well first off there's clearly nothing "humble" about starting your own new thread about this when it's been done to death.

I'd like to point out that (as they all said in Rick McCay's Broadway: The Golden Age Film), people have been saying Broadway was dying for decades. Broadway is no more dead now than it was 20 years ago. Sure we've had seasons stronger than others, but, I for one am quite proud to see this community where it's currently at.

Trends have changed, so what? So an audience is far more likely to go see something they don't want to have to think about...NEWSFLASH:That's Nothing New.

When Broadway was in it's infanthood, there would be 50-100 shows opening and closing in a season. The long-running shows? Those were the variety shows, the burlesque and the places where people could go to escape. And once in a great while a show that was a challenge to an audience would do really well-but it was rare. Hmmm...reminds me of...well...NOW. Look at DOUBT-it's hardly fluff, yet it's breaking theatre box office records hand over fist.

Of course HAIRSPRAY, SPAMALOT, etc...are going to bring in more money...that's always how it's been. If you speak to a larger audience, you will have a larger audience. If you speak to those who feel they need theatre to always be a challenge, your audience will be considerably smaller...it's common sense. Next season's writers and composers will do the same exact thing...some will want a commercial hit, some will want to challenge an audience.

Nothing has changed and No One is dying.

Updated On: 8/23/05 at 09:10 AM

Well said Dawg, and I so agree JoeK, the business of Broadway is doing robust business and the future truly looks bright. I just think some bitter people like a La Chuisa, voiceanth or people like her is that they have this tragic need to project their own creative failures onto the current state of theater. Broadway has always survived and it always will. It's been declared near death every year since the 40's....I'm sure they'll be putting a fork in it 100 years from now.

---

LaChiusa is an original in a world where everybody wants the same-old-same-old. I take my hat off to him. He's out there forging his own trail with daring, challenging works that demand attention and respect.

I also disagree with the implication that people who want lighter musicals want them so they don't have to think.

Turning on the news, driving down the street and reading the newspaper is typically filled with despressing thought provoking things. I go to work and think. Sometimes, I log onto the internet and think.

Is it wrong for me to enjoy a show like Sweet Charity for instance that is simple enjoyable fluff? If it gets me mind of unnecessary wars and genocide, it's worth it for me to go brain dead for a couple of hours.

I also thoroughly enjoy things like Wild Party and Piazza.

I see no reason to label one as less important than the other.

I just finished reading "Carpe Demon: The Adventures of a Demon Hunting Soccer Mom" and I think I am going to follow that up with finally reading "War and Peace". It is possible to love both the fluff and then cerebral.

BTW, I have both Shostakovich and Britney in my collection.

No, I am married to a wonderful young lady named Britney Shostakovich.

Updated On: 8/23/05 at 10:41 AM

...and they take all they have learned and join outreach centers in their local communities across the bleeping land!

MY GOD< It is a BROADWAY MUSICAL! Let's not go crazy here!

Do people leave Spamalot in search of a grail...well actually..knowing this bunch, I take that back!