Question about "13, A New Musical"
Question about "13, A New Musical"
#1Question about "13, A New Musical"
Posted: 11/18/08 at 7:49am
Wife asked me a question about this one that I wasn't sure of. A friend of hers wants to bring her 12 year old daughter to see it. Is it appropriate for this age?
Thanks for any responses...
Ken
#2re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 8:07am
Totally appropriate!
Loved the show! Loved it. I'm going back on Sunday. I think those kids are insanely talented and the score is wonderful! :)
#3re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 8:23am
No problem! :)
Are you seeing a matinee or evening? If you see a matinee you see Corey Snide [Evan alternate] who is WONDERFUL.
But, Graham Phillips is also really amazing as Evan. :)
#4re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 8:39am
Wife's friends was asking about it - she has the 12 year old daughter. My "kids" are now 27 and 24... lol
Ken
PiraguaGuy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
#5re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 8:41amI don't see why there should be a problem. It's targeted directly at her age group.
#6re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 8:52amYou never know..... Some people think Ave Q is appropriate, others may think Spring Awakening is too. I was assuming it was, just want to confirm.
#7re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 9:06am
I watched a mother try and buy her two seven year old daughters tickets to see Spring Awakening. One of the funniest/ most disturbing moments of my life.
The box office man tried to convince her that it would be inappropriate, but the woman pushed "We've seen the show before."
I walked out after the night show and saw the two little girls holding Playbills.
Also, I once sat on stage at Spring with an eight year old girl and her father across the way from me. They made it to half way through Bitch of Living.
#9re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 9:53am
^Trust me, 13 is SO squeaking clean compared to Spring.
Scott Briefer
Broadway Star Joined: 5/3/04
#10re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 10:20amTotally appropriate? Excuse me. No show as boring as 13 is totally appropriate for anything! If you mean is their nudity or sophisticated themes? No, 13 definitely doesn't have anything intelligent or sophisticated to say. I fear that your 12 year olds would rather stay at home than waste an hour and a half bored out of their minds. 13 should just close.
#11re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 11:11am
^Oh please. That show is high energy and full of fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it! The kids around me who were 13-14 were having a blast and were begging their mothers to bring them back.
Just because it's not your cup of tea doesn't mean it isn't someone else's. Plus, I assume you're not the target demographic for it.
Scott Briefer
Broadway Star Joined: 5/3/04
#12re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 11:32am
Okay, I am sure demographic does have something to do with it, but still, the themes in 13 are so tired. I mean let's be honest, how many books, movies, TV shows, plays, musicals, personal drama, etc. are about adolescents learning that it's more important to be true to oneself regardless if it's not seen by one's peers as "hip". 13 is tired. 13 has been done to death. 13 adds absolutely nothing to the overly long list of material regarding this theme. Watch Aladdin. Watch Finding Nemo. Watch about any Disney anything. All of them are about a zillion times more interesting.
Honestly, I have listened to my friends drama and it's been more engaging than 13. There is nothing in 13 you haven't seen - or heard - amongst your friends at school. Think musicalized, who's dating whom, or who's going to who's prom with whom, and you're going to be more entertained than 13. Dull... dull... dull...
#13re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 11:50am
Well, I'm not as interested if an adult finds it entertaining, as long as the 12 year old enjoys it. Were the 12-13 year olds in the audience looking bored or entertained?
Ken
jacco
Stand-by Joined: 7/29/05
#14re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 12:04pmDon't worry, your kids will love it. It may not be a masterpiece, but it's very well done. Being a high school teacher I thought the whole experience was uplifting, funny and touching.
Scott Briefer
Broadway Star Joined: 5/3/04
#15re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 12:29pm
I so try to have an open mind about other people's taste in theater. I'm sorry, but 13 was boring. It played like a bad after school TV special. What was most surprising was how mediocre most of the cast was. Generally speaking, Broadway kids tend to be an amazing lot. 13's cast was about on par with an okay high school production. In fact, I believe that 13 was written more for the subsequent royalties it will surely generate when it's available for high schools to produce.
The performance I saw the audience was mixed. Most in attendance - including kids - were bored and squirming. There was a scattering of people who were screaming as if they were at the hottest rock concert. I assumed that they were friends of the cast as the theater is mostly "paper" (comps).
Specifically to the high school teacher... I wonder if you're reference for comparison is high school musicals. If so, I understand your post. Otherwise, I just don't get it.
Updated On: 11/18/08 at 12:29 PM
#16re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 12:34pm
Some people like it. Get over it. It's called a difference of opinion.
I'm a little older than their target audience (I'm in college). It's very far from a masterpiece, but it was a fun day at the theatre.
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
pdjennings
Stand-by Joined: 2/3/06
#17re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 12:47pmOK -- we get it -- you didn't like it. Why keep ****ting all over it with every post? Many of us enjoyed it immensely. Personally, I'll be going back again in the coming weeks, and I'm 20 years outside the demo.
#18re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 1:02pmMy response to the initial question would be - no, take her to a good show.
Kitzka
Chorus Member Joined: 10/5/08
#19re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 1:09pm
I took my 13 year old niece to see this and she loved it. Admitedly she has not been to see many shows (2not including 13) but she thought it was fun and thought that the cast was good.
I don't think it's suppose to be high theater but will a kid 10-14 love it? I think so and i think it's a great show to introduce kids to musicals.
Lara
Scott Briefer
Broadway Star Joined: 5/3/04
#20re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 1:11pm
I didn't write that!
Honestly, I appreciate that some people might enjoy 13. I don't understand why, but...
What I don't understand is the mediocre quality of talent on the stage. The two lead boys were okay, but the rest of the cast was dreadful. And, unless singing off key and upstaging are new forms of Broadway talent, I don't think this is a matter of taste.
The performance I saw the female lead (not an understudy) barely could hit her notes. In fact, that's kind, she didn't hit many of her notes. Most of the acting unmotivated and stiff, or stereotypical when good, and the staging no more challenging than what is common fare at many high school productions.
This is Broadway! There is a standard of excellence to uphold. Tickets are expensive. Even if you enjoyed it, did you think it worthy of Broadway and Broadway prices? Did even a little part of you think, "I could have waited until next year when this is playing at about every high school in the country?"
Updated On: 11/18/08 at 01:11 PM
mwill
Swing Joined: 11/11/08
#21re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 1:16pmIt's hardly Broadway material. I can't see it lasting much longer.
Scott Briefer
Broadway Star Joined: 5/3/04
#22re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 1:19pm
Kitzka: "the cast was good"
I must have seen an off performance. The night I saw it, the show was as off key as it was on. In all honesty, there were many - and I mean many - moments where I cringed because the cast member singing didn't hit their note. Performers make mistakes. That's part of the live theater experience, but this wasn't a moment or two. This was as constant as any other element in the show. The score - not that interesting to begin with (my opinion) - was poorly sung (not an opinion).
Updated On: 11/18/08 at 01:19 PM
srgan2
Swing Joined: 9/28/08
#23re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 8:20pm
Hey Scotty the question was "is it age appropriate" Rather than answer the question you go off on a litany of complaints. I believe we all know by now that you don't like this show. Who licked the red off your candy?? Did you get turned down for a part or something? Someone, not to long ago, said "I'am not one to randomly take a swipe at a show because it's popular to do so" Who could have said such a thing? Hummm YOU DID in the 13 understudies thread 10/19/08 Why don't you take your own advice. Start your own thread "Who hate 13" and go talk to yourself.
I've seen the show twice with my kids once in Conn. in its pre Broadway run and once in NYC. I've said this once and I'll say it again if you want to expose your child to the theater in a show they can relate to and all the while being performed by extremly talented an expiring actors their age then this is the one.
Updated On: 11/18/08 at 08:20 PM
srgan2
Swing Joined: 9/28/08
#24re: Question about '13, A New Musical'
Posted: 11/18/08 at 8:45pmOne other thing Scotty my boy. I seem to recall you saying way back around Oct.19th "13 hasn't closed I was surprised that this show "opened"" If you want people to give your opinions any weight leave out the overbeaing aversion which appears as the underlying theme of your comments. By the way I said long ago that this show would have a good run on Broadway so even if it closes tonight I still beat you by 4 weeks.
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