Teen Theatre Lovers

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 9:51pm

nothing.

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 9:52pm

nothing.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 9:54pm

I don't know, I never needed to be "brought."

[jordangirl]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 9:57pm

not to be redundant, but...

nothing.

if they want to, they will come.

[tgn915]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 9:59pm

I've never needed any type of "teen appeal" to be brought to the theatre. I've been incredibly into seeing shows since as long as I can remember. The only gimmick Broadway has for me is being a place with amazing talent. That should be enough.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 9:59pm

Neither did I.

"Brought to Broadway"?

Here's a better ?: "Why can't TEENS experience all aspects of B'way, instead of having to 'flock' to a SPRING AWAKENING or a LEGALLY BLONDE just to 'appreciate it'?" Instead, youth should be taking-in ALL facets -- The Irving Berlins, the Rodgers and Hammersteins, Cole Porters, Sondheims, etc. ESPECIALLY, and I may be biased, but BERTOLT BRECHT / KURT WEILL.

The list goes on and on. Take to the CLASSICS first, surely they ain't boring. Grow a vast apprecition for the ART FORM before "coming" to Broadway ... 'cause we don't want you if you're going to fall hook, line and sinker for a show that's BIG 'just because'. That's bastardizing the realm of the theatre on the whole. I dunno. For me, I'm lucky enough to appreciate everything I see, because this is what I love.
Updated On: 6/17/08 at 09:59 PM

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 10:07pm

I'm a teen guy and look at my (partial) list of favorite shows in my profile...

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 10:12pm

Ok, I don't completely fit the criteria (by the OP's standards) because I'm a girl, but I'm going to throw my 2 cents in anyway.

I agree with Mike. I don't see why teenagers can't be exposed to it all.

Maybe it was because I performed in it, but the first musical I fell in love with was Cabaret. Yes I also like some of the more popular shows, but the classics are just as amazing to me.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 10:19pm

Ugh, how I hate the stereotype of the Broadway teen. I'm a teen, and sure, I like Spring Awakening and Wicked, but I also love Sweeney, Gypsy, Grey Gardens, Sunday, etc. Yeah,there are a lot of teenagers that only like Wicked, Legally Blonde, and Spring Awakening, but we're not ALL like that.

[into_the_woods2]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 10:27pm

amen to that, glindathegood!!!

i think that MOST teens are too busy/have other obligations to enjoy theatre, unless it is their passion, like it is mine. teens who have a passion for theatre love it all, from spring awakening and wicked to sweeney todd and showboat. i don't think that making "teen" shows will do any good.

[bundy5000]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 10:36pm

make a musical based on the movie "Kids" parents shouldn't mind cause its just like their son/daughter are looking in a mirror.

jk

I do not want a chris brown/amy winehouse musical!

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:10pm

I have to admit, I didn't get into Sondheim and the less mainstream stuff until senior year of high school.

[oohshizz146]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:12pm

Well...I'm 15 and


I do love Spring Awakening and all the other shows that "appeal to teens", but I also love shows that "don't"...like Cabaret, Steel Pier, Chicago, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, A Chorus Line, etc.

So what exactly is your point? Its up to the persons opinion. If a teen starts to like a show like Spring Awakening, getting into more "not teen attracting?" shows will come naturally--if they like them.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:14pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 11:14 PM

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:33pm

SPRING AWAKENING.

WICKED.

RENT.

AVENUE Q.

IN THE HEIGHTS.

LEGALLY BLONDE.


that's 6 damn shows that are perfectly capable of entertaining a teenager and are, for the most part, fairly "mainstream"

not sure where this thread is going? a ton of musicals for teens are on Broadway right now....

[Patash]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:35pm

I'm a little confused by the question. Is it "why can't Broadway lower the mentality of all their shows so teens with no intelligence or appreciation can enjoy them all"? As a teen I loved Shakespeare, Williams, O'Neil, Miller, and lots of others.

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:38pm

Nothing needs to be done to attract more teens. We don't need to lower the quality and standards of shows just to appeal to teens. Theatre is an artform, one that use to be (and still is...to a certain point) a respectable art form. If teens aren't getting it now, when certain shows spell everything out for them, they're not going to get it later.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:41pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 11:41 PM

[carderic]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:41pm

keep the annoying, stupid ones as far away as possible, please. keep the ones who don't need anything about broadway changed for them to come see a show.

[bwaychae5192]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 12:13am

As long as Broadway isn't filled with them, I'd say a mindless show or two should be okay. Keep in mind that some people never take interest into theatre until late in their childhood, when they're old enough to take part in the junior high or high school musical/play. And those who take a keen interest in it will want to find out more about things. I've discovered shows I never would have given a chance through actors that I look up to because of shows such as Wicked, RENT, etc. The classics were in my heart before Wicked was even on Broadway (the first show I ever did was a professional production of The King and I in 2000, and I have been a part of professional productions of many classics since then - Fiddler on the Roof, The Music Man, Our Town, and The Wizard of Oz could even be considered a classic in a way).

I don't mean to sound rude, but a lot of older folks on this board assume that my peers and I are just mindless brats who don't appreciate theatre that isn't Disney, Legally Blonde or Wicked.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 12:22am

"I'd say a mindless show or two should be okay."

Well... we have WICKED and SPRING AWAKENING already.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 12:25am

Added to TooDarnHot's List:

Hairspray

Mama Mia!

Spamalot......which is one that boys can confidently say they like

The Lion King

The Little Mermaid

Young Frankenstein

Broadway is FULL of Family shows! FULL of them!!!!!!

[bwaychae5192]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 12:30am

Did I say we needed to keep all the ones currently running? No.

I think at least half, if not more, of the shows you both listed should have already been gone.

But, I'd say there's such a big number of family shows because of the tourists. I mean, there are only so many seats in a theatre.

But, to counter that, a family show doesn't have to be mindless. It could actually be enjoyed by all ages.



(and I'm sorry if this doesn't make any sense. I just came home from twelve hours in a theatre costume shop and I am crazy tired)

Updated On: 6/18/08 at 12:30 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 12:49am

Maybe Thirteen is the right show at the right time?
Something between Disney and Wedekind, starring real teens?

Or will that be another Glory Day?

Teenage boys will always be a tough sell, though. I used to be one, and the only thing that would get me to Broadway was something like Tommy or Hair. Maybe if I had a choice of Monty Python, Mel Brooks or the Four Seasons back then, things might have been different for me. But those acts probably have as much appeal to a boy born in the 1990s as Glenn Miller or Dean Martin had for me.

Teenage girls, however, are turning Broadway into their personal playground in recent years. Stand around the Doubletree or the Marriott on any weekend this summer. They travel in packs -- always with a designated mom -- and they apparently love Broadway spectacles and gift shops. If I was a producer I'd run Peter Pan buses out to local high schools to pick them up at 6 and drop them off at midnight.

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 12:53am

If they want teens to come they need to stop raising prices every couple of months or come up with a system of getting tickets cheap without having to wait on rush lines. I know plenty of teens who would love to go see shows but won't even spend the money for the cheapest seats in the house for most shows. When I tell them about student rush, most do not want to wait early in the morning and then go back to see the show many hours later. While there is an audience that will fill up the allotted seats for rush, there is an even greater audience that would like to get seats that cheap, but in another way. I think that it is great that Spring Awakening is starting the virtual rush line. If shows had the virtual student rush option, they can give away however many seats they do not think will sell for that night for the rush price through the virtual line. This can fill the seats and tap into the audience who otherwise won't come.