The reach of Dear Evan Hansen — Page 2

Mike66 said: "If your point is that you think that this show is having some huge existential impact on America/Theater and "Culture", I will respectfully note that here in Ohio no one has heard of it, let alone thinks it has some message that informs their lives.

Raised on Musicals said: Ohio has a population of about 11.6 million people. It's really interesting that with that many people, not one of them has heard of DEH Thanks for sharing that amazing fact.

To Raised on Musicals, and to those who behave likewise:

Over the 2+ years that I've been reading these boards, I am continually struck by the level of rudeness and sheer obnoxious behavior by many posters. For much of that time, I convinced myself that it was "an in joke" or that the lack of civility was among a few people who had been friends for a long time and were 'razzing' each other.

But its not.

Far too many posters feel this is their change to behave in ways which I assume they never would face to face.

I started reading and posting because I enjoy theater and thought it was a great place to learn more, ask questions and share opinions knowing that the community shared the interest in Broadway and theater generally. I didn't expect to be insulted anonymously most of the time that I have the gaul to actually offer an opinion.

Since Broadway World provides this site in order to promote and sell things, maybe they should consider whether their mission is really be advanced by creating a place where folks act poorly and the rest of us have to put up with it.

Mike66 said: "If your point is that you think that this show is having some huge existential impact on America/Theater and "Culture", I will respectfully note that here in Ohio no one has heard of it, let alone thinks it has some message that informs their lives.

(and we have the second largest theater district in the country -- so don't get snarky.)

Sometimes the NYC bubble can be pretty much a world unto itself."

I live in Ohio, and I went to the second preview at Arena Stage.

haterobics said: "RaisedOnMusicals said: "To me, this video provides a sense of the reach of DEH"

I don't know that the geodiversity of the people who send in a video, solicited amongst fans of the show's social media channels, can prove its broader reach. I mean, it is sold out, and demand is high, but it doesn't seem to be entering the cultural zeitgeist as much as Hamilton did. Not that it needs to, as long as they keep filling up the Music Box, they're fine..."

Fair. And at least you, unlike AfterEight understood what I meant about the broad reach of the show. From my own interactions, the show seems to cut across demographics of age, gender,race, religion, political orientation and sexual orientation. That's all I meant by the reach of the show. Obviously the video proves nothing but it's symbolic

Mike66 said: "Mike66 said: "If your point is that you think that this show is having some huge existential impact on America/Theater and "Culture", I will respectfully note that here in Ohio no one has heard of it, let alone thinks it has some message that informs their lives.

Raised on Musicals said: Ohio has a population of about 11.6 million people. It's really interesting that with that many people, not one of them has heard of DEH Thanks for sharing that amazing fact.

To Raised on Musicals, and to those who behave likewise:

Over the 2+ years that I've been reading these boards, I am continually struck by the level of rudeness and sheer obnoxious behavior by many posters. For much of that time, I convinced myself that it was "an in joke" or that the lack of civility was among a few people who had been friends for a long time and were 'razzing' each other.

But its not.

Far too many posters feel this is their change to behave in ways which I assume they never would face to face.

I started reading and posting because I enjoy theater and thought it was a great place to learn more, ask questions and share opinions knowing that the community shared the interest in Broadway and theater generally. I didn't expect to be insulted anonymously most of the time that I have the gaul to actually offer an opinion.

Since Broadway World provides this site in order to promote and sell things, maybe they should consider whether their mission is really be advanced by creating a place where folks act poorly and the rest of us have to put up with it.

I wasn't the one who said that "no one in the state of Ohio has ever heard of DEH". If you make inane comments like that and don't expect to be called out on it, as others did as well, I feel badly for you. Sometimes "words fail" but they almost always matter.
"

dramamama611 said: "Sorry....I'm going to side with Mike, here. OF COURSE he wasn't being literal. How would any one person know that in ANY case? I knew exactly what he meant."

Yes, of course he wasn't being literal and of course I understood that. The point was that he he could have made his point in a way that didn't prompt the kind of responses it evoked, including mine.

dramamama611 said: "Or, since you understood, you could have just chosen to respond in a different way. I wrote a similar statement -- where I laid out perfectly what I meant. Guess what, my comment was ignored. So, really, people wanted to pick on the way he said it, not what point he was trying to make."

OK, I have much respect for you dramamama and it's a fair point. And the point I was trying to make is that we can all sometimes choose our words more carefully, or at least take a minute before hitting "post message" to think about the actual words you've typed and how they're likely to be perceived.

Raised On Musicals: "From my own interactions, the show seems to cut across demographics of age, gender,race, religion, political orientation and sexual orientation. That's all I meant by the reach of the show."



So that's what you meant by the reach of the show? Then the same could be said of countless shows down through the ages.

Jarethan said: "Has anything in your lifetime entered the cultural zeitgeist to the extent of Hamilton?"

I think the Hamilton comparison is more important in regard to its proximity to DEH, as far as the reach of social media and other factors. Once you start linking it to other big shows, in the pre-social media era, it gets a bit apples and oranges. Especially if fans submitting videos to form a megamix is sort of the proof point of reach here? I mean, no one could have possible done that for Rent or previous milestones. "Send your VHS tape, recorded in SP mode, to: Rent Video, 1556 Avenue of the Americas..." etc.

Social media pretty much extends the reach of everything. You're fan of some obscure property? Great! So are thousands of other people, instantly connected by searching for a hashtag on Tumblr or a phrase on Youtube. And modern fan culture thrives on this- fans produce a staggering amount of content because it's a way to be seen.

Is Dear Evan Hansen a popular hit? Sure! Is it unique in its fandom even amongst musicals? Not really!

dramamama611 said: (in reference to DEH):





"It will have a nice, healthy run, not unlike the original Spring oAwakening, and then go on its way"

Spring Awakening ran just over two years before it closed. I'd be pretty surprised if DEH didn't run at least three years. And it could last much longer. I've also seen people here compare its run to that of Fun Home and Next to Normal, neither of which made it to two years.

dramamama611 said: "But running 3 years (which is spot on, imo) is a lot closer to the run of SA, N2N and Fun Home than a 10 year run. I'm not trying to predict anything, it's just my thoughts. If it runs 10? Good for them."

Yep. I'd guess DEH will run 3-4 years. Five years, or 2000 performances, maybe. I'd be pretty shocked if it ran longer. But ya never know