No Blockbuster Musical This Season

Doesn't seem like we will see another Billy Eliot or Wicked this season. Despite the rave reviews for some musicals, there is no "must see" show. The economy, as we know, is down the hole and the article in the Times last week stating that tourists see the same long running shows over and over because they are known commodities does not bode well for the future of musicals. Or are people just tired of paying top price for getting less-($135!!!???? ) like cheap sets, smaller orchestras in the pit? I believe more people are getting hip to all the discount sites on line and the fact that the TKTS booth is packed with shows this month also is a bad sign. 5 years ago, if 3 or 4 musicals were on the board during holiday time, you were lucky. Then there is the Jan- March downturn. Are producers really willing to lose millions to hang on till Tony time in hopes of getting the exposure? Not every show has Dreamworks behind them to flush 25 million down the toilet. We don't need helicopters that don't create wind (boy was that copter noisy in Saigon- but not one hair from any of those fleeing refs blew from their scalps)...or even chandeliers that plop like a lump on the stage...but at least give audiences something to go wow about-aside from brilliant performances.... won't be Addams Family from what I have been reading. It seems like the era of the angels is returning- with lots of individuals putting their names on the Playbill. It is really sad, but methinks we are in for some hard times till the economy turns around. ....Gonna see Memphis this week- looking forward to it-great word of mouth from those I know who saw it.

He will stop flying when Wildhorn has a hit.

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Maybe they can just combine the two and have THE FIRST WIVES CLUB characters be Mary Jane Watson, Lois Lane and Superwoman.

I have a feeling The Addams Family will be a HUGE hit.

Whoa. That was cruel.

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No crueler than saying ADDAMS will be "a HUGE hit," Roxy.

P

P.S. I counted 1/2 of 1 good song in the score. 2 1/2s if you count the concept behind Mann's squid number and his selling of it, but that's really only 1/3 since both the music and lyrics are drab.

Spiderman is next season.

"Come Fly With Me" and/or "American Idiot" could both prove to be strong box office draws.

MusicSnob - I don't think it was a bad analogy at all! You really are living up to your username, aren't you?

I think it was a very sensible analogy, Winston :)

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My new rule of thumb: If a show needs to put "the musical" after its title, I'm not seeing it no matter who wrote it or who's in it. The faux musicals, to steal a term from LaChiusa. need to go away.

Come Spring AMERICAN IDIOT will be a smash along the lines of SPRING AWAKENING, RENT and the original HAIR [nothing wrong w/ the revival, possums]. Not the traditionalists cuppa, but reviews/word-of-mouth will be very positive and box office will be very strong. Personally, I consider it a new American modern musical classic. It broke all box office records in Berkeley Rep's 41-year history, was extended twice and had many sold-out performances. I attended twice, the second time with my theatre group, numbering 20. All my attendees were ecstatic over the production.

I'm still not sure Green Day is relevant with today's youth. They were hella boring on the VMA, but the idea of the show seems interesting, but all of those songs are so played out, I'm not sure I'd want to sit through them all again.

Come Fly With Me could be a nice change, and don't forget Million Dollar Quartet. Everyone says it's doing great business in Chicago, so who knows?

And I agree, if there has to be the tag line "the musical" then you know it's probably crap. I hate how it says "Memphis the musical" - what are people expecting? The actual city?