New Musical

#1

New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 2:17am

I was thinking today (there's a first time for everything): Are there any musicals today that havent either been a revival, a movie, or based on a certain music groups songs (on broadway)? The only one I can think of is Brooklyn and that isn't even out yet. i just think it would be a breath of fresh air to have a few new musicals that are completely new--new book, lyrics, music and orchestrations, and a completely new idea--anyone agree?

#2

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 2:19am

Urinetown WAS one...

Wicked, although it is a book...

What about Avenue Q?

Other than that, I can't think of any, LOL! Never realized how many shows now were either revived, based on other people's songs, or made into a movie!

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"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

Updated On: 9/5/04 at 02:19 AM

#3

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 2:21am

We should have more original shows, but it isn't a guarantee that they will sell well. Revivals and adaptations are a more safe investment for producers.

#4

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 2:21am

If I may play devil's advocate--I sort of think that there hasnt been much new stuff in a long time, and stuff that I thought was new really wasn't. For example, Les Miz was based on a book, and a lot of things done have been based on past writing, but I guess I want something like Rent, where it's not exactly revolutionary, just something different, but even that was based on La Boheme!

#5

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 2:22am

Agree? You betcha. Though some of my recent faves have been revivals and movie remakes, I would kill for something totally unique and new. Thank God for Avenue Q.

#6

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 2:22am

At the moment, there's also Avenue Q and Bombay Dreams.

#7

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 2:22am

Caroline, or Chan-Oh, well nevermind.


Avenue Q is original.

#8

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 2:23am

yeah I forgot about avenue Q--that's what I'm talking about. See what an original work can do?? Win a Tony for best musical and basically sell out every night!

#9

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 2:39am

We must get more shows like Caroline.

#10

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 2:42am

Avenue Q is based on sesame street, to an extent.

what aboouuttt...

Mamma Mia? The storyline is original.

orrr....

yeah that's all i've got.

#11

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 3:01am

We should have more original shows, but revivals are fun, too.

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Real men are tenors.

#12

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 3:16am

Avenue Q isnt really based on sesmae street. Mamma Mia's music is all based on ABBA's, so it's ruled out.

#13

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 5:27am

actually i was reading up on what "mamma mia" was based on before i decided not to go see it. not only does it use ABBA songs but it's "book" was lifted from an old 1968 Gina Lollobrigida flick entitled: "Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell"

Twenty years after their initial war-time visit three U.S. servicemen hold a reunion at an Italian village. They all have fond memories, especially of local girl Carla. But she has been telling each of them that they are the father of her daughter Gia, so they have all been paying well for her upbringing. As this dawns on the threesome old rivalries surface, but times have changed and complications such as wives, middle-age, and the need to protect Gia's future start to surface.

Updated On: 9/5/04 at 05:27 AM

#14

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 8:10am

Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell was also the basis for the Lerner-Lane musical CARMELINA that opened in 1979 and starred the wonderful Georgia Brown. Considered a flop by most, the score contains at least one beautiful song "One More Walk Around The Garden."

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#15

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 10:28am

Not to mention Someone in April.

As far as "originality" goes, what I've heard of BROOKLYN's score is numbingly banal and uninspired, indistinguishable from countless other pop songs, and more falsely sentimental than the hokiest of Victorian parlor ballads.

#16

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 10:55am

Hopefully some of the new stuff from the Fringe Festival will get produced... there were some quality shows out there this year...

#17

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 12:51pm

Wickedfan originally wrote a subject about this. Saying that there really isn't any TRUE original shows out. Of course that was before Avenue Q and Brooklyn. Urinetown is one, but that is one of the very few in the past decade. Parade is another one.

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When someone blunders, we say that he makes a misstep. Is it then not clear that all the ills of mankind, all the tragic misfortunes that fill our history books, all the political blunders, all the failures of the great leaders have arisen merely from a lack of skill in dancing. - Moliere

#18

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 2:11pm

They are not here yet, but BARE and BROOKLYN have orignal ideas (or so I think) and the music is original.

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"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2

#19

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 2:48pm

I was just about to say Bare. You beat me to it spider.

#20

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 2:49pm

Wait is BARE definately bwayifying?

#21

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 2:50pm

Just typing to say YAYYYYYYYYYYYY AVENUE QQQQQQQQQ!!!!!!!

#22

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 3:01pm

Hair was original...not anymore

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Deet: Shira, I Love You!

#23

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 3:13pm

Yeah, Avenue Q is definitely original. Just as Urinetown is a lampoon of Brechtian theatre and the kind of political works of the 1930s (the facist vs. socialist themes, etc), Avenue Q is a lampoon of children's television and parodies some of the characters we'd find on those shows. But the story and music are wholly original.

By "original," we have to clarify that this means original storyline and music.

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BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

#24

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 4:00pm

Even though Avenue Q isn't based on Sesame Street it still uses the same idea (puppets) and the same bouncy kind of song so in my book I don't consider Avenue Q very original.

#25

re: New Musical

Posted: 9/5/04 at 4:05pm

There have been some very good originaly musicals in the past that have not been able to succed and that is a shame.