USA Today Reveals First Picture of d'Arcy James in SHREK — Page 2

"Today, in order to attract an audience to see a Broadway show, it has to be commercial. Movie-to-stage, collection of jukebox songs, based on a historical event/person, use Hollywood names, etc."

You point out commercial shows as being based on a historical event/person, then you list Gypsy as one of the "original" musicals that people flocked to see. If we go by your definition of a commercial show, then I do not know why you are listing Gypsy. Gypsy is based off the life of a historical figure.

And you call Broadway a theme park, criticizing how movie-to-stage adaptations and jukebox musicals contribute to this, and how no one wants to see the non-commercial productions, yet you have a Xanadu avatar supporting it for a Best Musical Tony win. Xanadu was based on an 80s film and boasts the music of ELO...so why are you so supportive of that, yet seem hostile to Broadway's commercialization, going even further to say the only people who do enjoy non-commercial theatre are the true theatre-lovers? Although I had a fun time, I would not call Xanadu an innovative piece of theatre - it is just as commercial as Wicked, Jersey Boys, Little Mermaid, etc.

ETA: Annie Get Your Gun was also based on a historical figure, and Peter Pan was based on a popular novel. Again, going by Hook's definition, they are not original musicals.

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Updated On: 8/12/08 at 11:48 AM

"so why are you so supportive of that, yet criticize people for wanting to relive movies forwards and backwards onstage?"

Don't go bellow the belt... Hook liking Xanadu doesn't discount his point... other things discount his points... but not that.

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couldn't they at least designed a new costume?

I think it looks FANTASTIC!

Actually, there is already another green creature on Broadway besides Elphaba- The Monster in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN.

Oh and as far as green characters on Broadway, let us not forget the seasonal Grinch!

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The make-up and everything is incredible. I thought it was a photoshopped picture at first because it looks too... real.

Hey and if you're talking about green on Bway don't forget YF's Monster he's green too.

I wish they'd been a LITTLE more creative...

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It's been said, but no force on Earth could obscure Mr. James' eyebrows.

I'm not a fan of the four songs that have been released so far, but maybe the other ten-or-so are better. Who knows: maybe the show will actually be... good?

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"stop whining and bitching. perhaps this is a big commercial production but it's NOT disney. it's new and fresh.... with an all-star cast... and a fabulous score."

Harshly said, but I have to agree to an extent.

Jeanine Tesori does some great work. She was involved with one of my favorite shows - Thoroughly Modern Millie. What about Caroline, or Change anyone? And I have to agree, the casting choices for this show sound amazing - Brian d'Arcy James, Sutton Foster, John Tartaglia - who could go wrong?

I don't know why people are already expressing such dislike for the show based on one picture and a few roughly-cut demo songs.

And I'm curious to know if the first show that got people here interested in theatre was a mainstream production or some non-commercial work.

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Updated On: 8/12/08 at 01:21 PM

I like the score.

And by creative, I mean, just an outfit change or something. I dunno.

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