Today's Shows Revived Tomorrow

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 1:02am

I can definently see Wicked getting revived, maybe not in my lifetime, but I can see it working in a more stripped down version, just because that would the natural way to go since it's already such a lavish production.

The other two, however, I don't know? I can't imagine RENT ever beeing revived without the original staging (sort of like A Chorus Line) they just go hand in hand.

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 1:04am

I'm curious to see if any of todays flops are revived and reimaged to actually do well.

[Parks]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 1:10am

Interesting point...

Sadly, I have no opinion since I've never given this any thought :-P

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 2:29am

Wicked may still be running in 30 years.....

[RobR]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 6:24am

But let's look on the bright side - it may not ...

However back to the question - I suspect 'Light on the Piazza' to move between the legit stage and opera house over the next 30 years; also the technical aspects of stagecraft may in time develop at such a pace that we could end up with CGI theatre, or downloadable performances (just think get Carol, Angela, Chita and Julie to record their classic performances one last time ready to be slotted into any production long after their deaths - royalties to be paid to the estates)...

[PARISinNYC]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 6:28am

I think that you're right. Nothing seems worth it. Sure there are a lot of fun shows that I love seeing and listening to, but nothing like a classic. Nothing that 50 years from now I could look back on and be like "Wow! That was a landmark in musical theatre history!"

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 9:47am

Well, FosseBoi, I don't know about revived. I'm gonna go on record and say the following:

A revival of In My Life? God Forbid!

Passion might enjoy a revival.

To tell the truth, a revival of a flop rarely does any better than it did originally. Sure, Candide did well but they rewrote the whole thing and took out all of the preachy stuff. And Pacific Overtures was a bigger flop than on Broadway.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 9:54am

Wicked could be revived. It's not too dated. However, I definitely feel that Rent and Avenue Q are really dated.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:19am

We'd be lucky if Wicked closes in our lifetime, let alone they revive it.

I agree, I can't see anything as timeless as the oldies. But the oldies didn't focus on sexual harassment charges, homeless people, witches, and a spelling bee. I think today's shows are modern and people relate to them more than they did 50 years ago.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:20am

It's a safe bet you will see productions of "Wicked" ranging from Broadway revivals to community theatre in 50 years or more. The story is timeless and universal, even assuming that the music will come off "dated" a half century from now.

"Piazza" will be around as well, at least as much as shows like "A Little Night Music." This one won't make its way into high schools, but colleges and a few ambitious community theatres should be doing it. And a full-fledged Broadway revival is likely in the next 30-40 years or so. And some opera companies will produce it, I'm sure.

I think you'll see a Broadway revival of Kiss of the Spider Woman (and perhaps even a movie version), because of the film successes of Kander & Ebb. But due to the subject matter, I wouldn't look for this one to pop up in many (or any) high schools, or even community theatres.

I think you'll see Phantom and Les Miz revived on Broadway 50-60 years from now... unless Phantom is still in its original run (!).

I'm guessing The Mystery of Edwin Drood should pop up on Broadway again in the next 10-15 years.

And 50 years from now, you're bound to see either The Lion King or Beauty and the Beast... if they aren't still running. Disney will see to that.

I'm curious as to how revivals such as the upcoming A Chorus Line will do, since it was such a product of its time. That should give us an indication of how a show like Rent will do in 30 or 40 years. My guess is that it will have lost its "relevant" impact, and be perceived as an appreciated time capsule, just as Hair is perceived now.

And Hairspray should fare as well as Bye-Bye Birdie... unless the upcoming film version tanks. If it does, it will damage the future perception of the show by people who haven't seen a good, large-scale production of it on stage... just as other "bad" film versions have hurt the integrity of their stage counterparts (see "The Wiz," "Brigadoon," "A Chorus Line," etc.)

But these nostalgia shows, like Birdie, Music Man or Grease will fade in time. Hairspray might suffer the same fate as well. They're all combinations of valentines and satires of bygone eras, and after a while, people just aren't around (or alive anymore) to appreciate a send-up of "the way it used to be." That will diminish their appeal greatly. Can you imagine a 1870s send-up of how nifty the 1840s used to be, complete with "in" references? Who can relate to that now? Same thing will happen to those shows, as the years go by.

Updated On: 7/23/06 at 10:20 AM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 12:44pm

Very good points, bestbars. I think it will be interesting to see if Disney does indeed revive their shows and if they attempt to change anything around or just go for "more of the same."

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 1:03pm

I think we'll DEFINITELY see a Passion revival in the next several years.

The material is amazing, and it was a Tony Winning flop. So it wasn't a flop in the sense of IN MY LIFE, HOT FEET, etc.

It'll most likely be done by Roundabout, and I can't wait for it.

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 1:04pm

I have long said that I think that Michael John LaChiusa's peices will be revived often in the future maybe not on Broadway but eventually some will. He is so ahead of his time but we will catch up.