What Is Needed???

[Phantom05]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 10:58pm

There have been several comments lately that deal with the current state of Broadway. Many of these have stated that Broadway is currently in need of some major changes in quality. In your opinion, what do you think is needed (If anything) to revitalize Broadway?

See Ya!

Phantom05

Updated On: 11/24/03 at 10:58 PM

[lc1965]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 11:38am

Admitting that there is really nothing new under the sun, I would like to see more original ideas, fewer revivals, fewer adaptations. Now, having said that, I understand that Bway is big business & it's easy to lose your shirt, so going w/ a known commodity is just intelligent investing. "Taboo" may be painful to watch for some (perhaps "most"), but it is new & that's a good thing. "Wicked" is still an adaptation of a book which is an adptation of a film idea. "Bounce" is pretty much new, even though it's a bio of sorts. "The Violet Hour" is new. Etc.

[StageDoor]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 11:52am

Was it Plato who said that there were only 8 story lines? Does anyone know? Are there any literary scholars who can name them? I've tried to research the statement several times and have always come up empty...

[QueenS]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 1:04pm

"I would like to see more original ideas... fewer adaptations."

Of course, most of the best and/or most well-loved musicals were, in fact, adapted from other sources:

Books: Showboat, Pajamma Game, Phantom of the Opera, Damn Yankees, Man of La Mancha

Bios: Gypsy, Funny Girl, The Sound of Music, The King and I

Plays: Carousel, Oklahoma!, Hello, Dolly!, Chicago

Short Stories: Cabaret, Guys and Dolls, South Pacific

Articles: Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Pal Joey, Wonderful Town

Comics: Annie, Bird/Plane/Superman

The lists go on and on...

[lc1965]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 1:25pm

Yes, point taken, but I enjoy precious few of those classics. To be honest, I find almost anything by R&H unbearable. Don't care for POTO or Gypsy, either! On the other hand, my favorite show, Les Miserables is indeed a book adaptation. I'd still prefer seeing some original stuff.

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 1:29pm

Original material would be refreshing. I still remember the wonderment I felt when, at the intermission of CITY OF ANGELS, I realized I had absolutely NO IDEA how the show ended. Wow.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 1:38pm

i can only remember my 7 basic from college lit courses and i can't remember who they were attributed to. please excuse the hateful euro-centric paternalistic use of the word "man" to describe humanity in this post. mea culpa andrea dworkin.

1 - man vs. nature
2 - man vs. man
3 - man vs. the environment
4 - man vs. machines/technology
5 - man vs. the supernatural
6 - man vs. self
7 - man vs. god/religion

[BroadwayBaby3]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 1:46pm

I believe the other one is

man vs fate

but i could be wrong.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 1:48pm

Ayone thinking the quotient of adaptations vs. 'original' concepts matters in the slightest toward the future of Broadway is completely misguided. It's probably the least relevant factor of them all.

Shows need to be accessible and still competently written and theater needs to find ways to cut costs without reducing the experience. Dinner and a show for a couple is a $250 evening now. There's the problem.

[lc1965]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 2:27pm

Maybe what theatre needs is people who can disagree respectfully & not effectively squash intelligent discussion by dismissing others' views out of hand. Ahem.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 2:49pm

The answers aren't on message boards either.

[lc1965]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 3:13pm

Okay, well, we'll miss your input.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 4:43pm

You can read my comments about this very subject on the "Who comes up with this crap?" thread, if you're so inclined.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 10:49pm

Gee, whatever happened to Andrea Dworkin, anyway?