Shows that deserved a shorter run.- Page 3

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 7/23/04 at 10:15pm

Delphine, that's an honest and respected opinion... thank you... i can say the same about schwartz and wildhorn...

[Delphine]

Posted: 7/23/04 at 10:29pm

Thank you JoeyJoe, and I too dislike the works of Schwartz and Wildhorn. Updated On: 7/23/04 at 10:29 PM

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 12:27am

I think that Beauty and the Beast and Lion King deserve their long runs because they bring young kids into the wonderful world we call musical theater. For me, Beauty and the Beast made me love Broadway and without it, I'm sure I still would of loved Broadway, but it just has a special place in my heart.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 12:30am

Beauty & The Beast was the first show I ever saw on Broadway so I hold a very special place in my heart for it. I have seen it numerous times since than and can say that kids who attend that show are spellbound by it, while the kids at The Lion King are bored out of their Pampers Pull Ups. That's why they go around screaming and yelling. The Lion King needs to close and let another show into that GORGEOUS Broadway house.

[Bohoboy]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 1:42am

The New Amsterdam Theatre is owned by the Walt Disney Theatricals. And judging from Aida, I'm not sure they could do much better than The Lion King, which still sells well and wows audiences. Despite the acting, it's still a beautiful show to look at. Not that I'm saying that's why we go to the theatre, but I think what Julie Taymor did was pretty amazing and pretty bold of Disney to allow her so much freedom with what was at the time their most popular animated musical.

As far as a Little Night Music goes, it remains the only Sondheim musical to turn a profit on Broadway. It's a gem of a show. There was an article in the commemorative program from the Sondheim Celebration in DC. I can't remember who wrote it, someone like JRB or Lippa. He stated that he wasn't really ready for the show until he was in his mid-30's. Being in my mid-twenties, I find that I get more out of the show the older I get. That speaks volumes for a well constructed show with a fantastic score... like a fine wine, it gets better with age. Although my favorite Sondheim score remains Merrily We Roll Along, which I believe to be Sondheim's most melodic and energetic score (Sweeney has a lot of energy, but it's a melodrama)

Shorter runs in my book
The Producers

Rent (I saw it recently... Grief needs to get back in and re-tool it or it should close soon.)

Cats surely...

Les Miz was quite tired by the end of it's run.

that's all I can think of right now....

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 1:47am

I think Les Mis should of beat out Cats for longest running show

[~*Triple Star On Broadway*~]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 1:49am

Lets see:
Cats
Starlight Express
Evita
Mamma Mia
The Lion King
Beauty And The Beast
RENT ( I love the show to death, but its time is well up)

[skingdom]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 2:27am

Bonx bound...have you ever seen A Little night Music...have you heard it?

Maybe you've just heard some of it...because sometimes you have to see that marvelous show to understand its brilliance. That show is a creampuff...a delight...amazing.

[VivLaVieBoheme]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 10:32am

I think Lion King and Cats ran/run way way way too long. They're dead already! I'm getting a bit sick of LSH- how did the revival on that go? Never saw it or heard any reviews.

[Plum]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 1:17pm

Bronxbound just enjoys bashing Sondheim at every given opportunity. He or she is of the jukebox musical/ALW persuasion.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 2:42pm

Thanks for the clapping. I heard you and am alive and well again. Thanks. And about the Sondheim thing.........I am sorry if it came across harsh or stupid, but I repect Sondheim very much for what he has done to the world of Musical Theatre. And I love a few of his shows, "Sweeney Todd," "Into the Woods," "Company," and "Passion." The others I just couldn't get into. Maybe it is because of the performers. I mean, I used to hate "Evita" because of Mandy Patinkin and then I saw the movie and LOVED it. I just feel that sometimes he tries TOO HARD to be different and it comes off with difficult, hard to grasp music. But, he still rocks........don't get me wrong. I hope that clears up something.

And about RENT.........I have never been to Broadway, so I can't honestly say if it should close or not, but I LOVE the cast recording and LOVED the tour that came thru a few months ago. But, I don't like how they have big names in the musical. I mean, it was originally meant to have people who were starting out on Broadway in the cast (that is why there were no famous people in the original cast......I mean at the time). I think it is starting to turn it's back on what it was originally intended to do. But, I still love it.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 2:48pm

Bohoboy --

"As far as a Little Night Music goes, it remains the only Sondheim musical to turn a profit on Broadway."

FORUM was huge hit on Broadway and turned an enormous profit. COMPANY and INTO THE WOODS also turned a profit on Broadway.

Updated On: 7/24/04 at 02:48 PM

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 3:48pm

I thought that INTO THE WOODS just barely broke even.
But then, who am I to argue with Margo?

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 4:02pm

"Bronxbound just enjoys bashing Sondheim at every given opportunity. He or she is of the jukebox musical/ALW persuasion."

Plum is correct. I like to tease the writers who don't fulfill my taste though I do respect them and understand why they're good to have on Broadway. I come from sort of a pop/rock background which is why people like ALW and Wildhorn appeal to me more. That's all. Don't take evrything I say seriously though I do occasionally make honest and rational statements like this one. lol Thanks again to Margo's posts. I know we all look up to her. Updated On: 7/24/04 at 04:02 PM

[BalletGirl85]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 9:16pm

Ughhh, Beauty and the Beast, definitely!! Sure, it brings kids to theater, but so do Annie or the Music Man. I finally saw Beauty and the Beast in March and was horrified by what I saw on that stage, with the exception of Jeff McCarthy as the Beast. I liked the choreography in the damn cartoon better.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 10:17pm

That 'damn cartoon' is a masterpiece in animation, story telling thorugh song and movies all together.

[LouW95]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 10:46pm

I hate to become involved with threads such as this as it does nothing positive to promote theatre. However, I must remind the Sondheimophiles that if we relied on his shows, we would have every theatre closed and every member of our community unemployed. Disney and Webber create and keep jobs because they sell tickets. I may be crazy but I want to see all of us working , eating and paying our bills instead of looking for "genius in the theatre" and asking for shorter runs for any show. Let's look to create jobs not unemployment. Updated On: 7/24/04 at 10:46 PM

[Lesbian4Broadway]

Posted: 7/24/04 at 10:56pm

Sondheim nevers has long enough runs!

Movin' Out could never have been short enough. Ditto Cats, Lion King, Contact...oh you get the idea.

I'm a Luddite who likes narrative, character and real music.

[USActorSinger]

Posted: 7/25/04 at 12:37am

I agree with Contact deserving a shorter run! I can't tell you how much i hated that show! Movin Out atleast has a kick ass Billy Joel cover band.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 7/25/04 at 2:14am

CONTACT is the winner of this thread I think!

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 7/25/04 at 10:52am

The Lion King, Cats and Beauty and the Beast.