I can accept the fact that some people simply don't feel Wildhorn is a credible composer...and you are entitled to that opinion, though I think it's unrealistic to overall trash his music as worthless junk, as many have done. The fact remains that he has written some very recognizable songs that are popular enough to be performed by some very credible people, internationally for years. And he has gotten his chance on Broadway four times now, regardless of how his shows are received. An enviable feat for many.
I am the first to agree that his shows,
all of them, have had their share of troubles on Broadway. But no one is more aware of that than his collaborators, as well as his supporters. Wealthy investors are not usually blind to a potential client's track record. I'm quite sure that all of his investors including the European 'money folk' for Dracula do their homework and make their choices voluntarily.
Frank Wildhorn may be a wealthy man. Oddly,I didn't ask him. I did ask him if he considered his work to be a success? His answer is found in my interview.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=953 In a nutshell, he told me that "he loves writing music for theater and that theater goes beyond the several blocks in Manhattan. Having a show succeed and endorsed in NY is without a doubt a bonus, but knowing others will enjoy his work nationally and intertnationally as in the case of J&H & Pimpernel is just as important to him. He also is grateful that he can do what he loves to do and earn enough money to feed his family and many others who work alongside him with his projects"
Personally, I don't know how others measure success, but I think that a pretty balanced and fufilling attitude.
www.pbentertainmentinc.com
BWW regional writer "Philadelphia/South Jersey"
Updated On: 9/18/04 at 02:23 PM