The evolution of celebrity on Broadway

[NDR]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 2:53pm

No, this isn't another thread to suggest potential replacements or to postulate about potential big screen and small screen actors' return to the stage, etc.

I wanted to get fellow posters' reactions to the following question:

With the pervasiveness of digital media and the on demand availability of information, do you believe that stage actors are increasingly at risk of becoming the next "celebrities"? For example, Britney Spears, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, etc. are followed, photographed and talked about almost incessantly. Could this be the fate of Broadway actors as well?

Discuss...

[sondhead]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 2:55pm

No. For 99% of Broadway "stars," their fame doesn't exist outside of the NY Theatre Scene, save us Broadway fans across the country. Broadway just isn't mainstream enoughl

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 2:59pm

I doubt that will happen unless a broadway actor does something really big to get in the news. Broadway just doesn't seem to be on the mainstream media's radar. Take mt. Barbour for instance, had he been a star in hollywood, we would still be seeing it on Entertainment tonight. It really bothers me that Broadway is ignored by the entertainment media, but then again, it is nice that Broadway stars can pretty much come and go as they please without the paparazzi hounding them. JMO

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 3:09pm

Nope. Ain't gonna happen. Seems the paparazzi keeps away from Broadway like the plague. Even when big name Hollywood actors are appearing on Broadway (like Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman), they STILL keep away.

This was always the case, even during the Golden Age of Broadway.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 3:38pm

Personally I like it that way... and I'm sure they do, too

[sparkleplenty]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 4:15pm

The exception seemed to be when Richard Burton was in Hamlet and throngs turned out to catch a glimpse of Liz, and then later when Liz was on Broadway herself. The crazy hysteria was enough to make one grateful for the relative anonymity of Broadway stars.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 4:31pm

I agree with Broday. They do. I think I saw one blurb about Julia on an entertainment show and that was it. Except for the morning shows.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 4:35pm

"Personally I like it that way... and I'm sure they do, too"

Me too. It's like were a quaint little suburb outside of a major city that we don't like to visit.