What Musicals Will Be Remembered in 50 Years?

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 6:43pm

I was reading one of the messages and KrisJospeh brings up a great point.

What musicals of our generation (let's say 1970's to current) will be remembered in 50 years? Of course, the musical tastes of that time certainly favored the sound of musicals. But people today still love and know "Showboat", "The Merry Widow", and Rogers & Hart.

Will they still be singing tunes from "Rent", "Pippin", "Dreamgirls" and "Barnum"? Is "Millie" a flash in the pan? Will anyone know what "Wicked" is?

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 6:44pm

I have thought the same thing. Will there be a revival of Hairspray in 50 years?, etc.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 7:29pm

When was the last time you saw a revival of THE BLACK CROOK?

Broadway Bulldog

[wickedfan]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 8:09pm

is it possible that all of these flops from now will be revived and truly appreciated in 50 years? I mean will Urban Cowboy be considered a classic, and Dance of the Vampires a crowd pleaser?

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 9:28pm

no

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 9:39pm

I have been pondering this question, also. I have decided that I will remember them in 50 years, and I'm sure a lot of other people will, too. I think of some of the older people I know who will say "when I was 10 there was a great song called (insert name) by (insert artist's name" and then they'd start singing the song by so-and-so. So, yes, I do believe that people will be singing "Rent", "Pippin," "Millie", "Wicked", and all those others that around currently.

Well, I know I'll at least remember Rent.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 9:42pm

phantom of the opera, and Les Miz even though it's closed.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 9:47pm

les mis more so than phantom because les mis can live on in many venues from community theatre to regional, phantom won't be as widespread as has been mentioned, only rich opera houses will get it so I believe Les Mis will definately be one of those, but hopefully Les Mis will get a nice long break, I think thats what is best for right now. it'll come back 20 years down the road and people will realize its still a great piece of theatre I think.

[alterego]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 10:03pm

I doubt that you'll see Cats in 50 years time, or Joseph... or Starlight Express. In fact I don't think any of ALW's shows with the exception of JCSuperstar will have the legs that Rodgers and Hammerstein, Porter, Berlin or Sondheim has. I doubt that anyone will be interested in Miss Saigon even in ten years time. That whole era will be remembered for the shows run length rather than the material in them.

Hairspray will still be performed in fifty years time it is the Grease (thirty years ago) of the current generation of theatregoers. The Producers yes, Millie no. Millie is like the Irene revival of the seventies a cobbled together show to represent the twenties, although Irene was actually a 1919 show, but what was seen on Broadway in 1973 had only two songs from the original and none of the 1919 script.

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 10:09pm

Phantom of the Opera... I'm not saying that because I'm a fan but because it's popular- POTO has been on B'Way for 16 years!!

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 10:12pm

Well, we're all just gonna have to wait and see, won't we?

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 10:15pm

true true, but waitings no fun that means we have to have patience and who has any of that anymore, we want everything now, now!, NOW!

Updated On: 1/3/04 at 10:15 PM

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 10:31pm

Yes, having things NOW NOW NOW is so much more fun than sitting around waiting for the year 2054. Ok, I withdraw my post- I want to know now!!!

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 10:41pm

Hmmm---I think "Wicked" might, only because "The Wizard Of Oz" will forever remain popular- and those interested in Broadway will remember "Wicked"- because it's associated with Oz.

Hairspray probably will, too. As someone said, it is the "Grease" of our generation- a show that was first on Broadway 50 years ago...How ironic.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 10:59pm

Let's try the question this way and look backwards.

How many of the names of the musicals which were playing on Broadway by January 1954 do you recognize?

Hold-overs from the latter part of the 1952-1953 season
WONDERFUL TOWN
CAN CAN
ME and JULIET

New musicals opening in first half of the 1953-1954 season
OKLAHOMA(revival w/Florence Henderson & Barbara Cook)
ANNA RUSSELL'S LITTLE SHOW (one-person show)
CARNIVAL IN FLANDERS
AT HOME WITH ETHEL WATERS (one person show)
COMEDY IN MUSIC (one person show)
KISMET
JOHN MURRAY ANDERSON’S ALMANAC

To open after January 1, 1954, and before the season ended were
THE GIRL IN PINK TIGHTS
THE THREEPENNY OPERA (off-Broadway but 2611 performances)
THE GOLDEN APPLE
BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA
SHOW BOAT (revival)
FLEDERMAUS (revival)
THE PAJAMA GAME

How many of these have you heard of before?

Broadway Bulldog


Updated On: 1/3/04 at 10:59 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 11:16pm

What really matters is whether or not a show can be kept alive through stock, regional and community theatre productions, because THAT'S really where a show can live forever. I have my doubts about big monster musicals like Les Miserables, Cats and Phantom of the Opera.

Oh sure, community theatres will all try to produce them once the restrictions have been lifted, but one of the main reasons these shows have become so popular is that they are visually stunning. Amateur theatres will simply not be able to reproduce what we have been used to seeing on the Broadway stage.

Shows like Oklahoma, Carousel, My Fair Lady, Camelot, etc... are all great shows because the book, music and lyrics are second to none.

In 50 years, if Phantom of the Opera is remembered, it will be for it's falling chandelier and Les Miserables for it's huge barricade set.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 11:22pm

I have personally seen Les Mis work in a community theatre and with an all high school cast and under budget. (This is a small theatre maybe 200 seats?) 12 tickets to give you an idea. I didn't think they would be able to pull it off but they did, I am convert you could say. They broke the theatres attendance record every single show was sold out, which had never happened before in the theatres history and every night they left me near tears by curtain call, and I was running tech so I had to be careful I didn't miss the cue to bring the house lights up.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 11:41pm

"How many of these have you heard of before?"

WONDERFUL TOWN (yes)
CAN CAN (yes)
ME and JULIET (yes)
OKLAHOMA(revival w/Florence Henderson & Barbara Cook) (yes)
ANNA RUSSELL'S LITTLE SHOW (one-person show) (no)
CARNIVAL IN FLANDERS (yes)
AT HOME WITH ETHEL WATERS (one person show) (I know who Ethel Water's is but wasn't aware she had her own show)
COMEDY IN MUSIC (one person show) (no)
KISMET (yes)
JOHN MURRAY ANDERSON’S ALMANAC (yes)
THE GIRL IN PINK TIGHTS (yes)
THE THREEPENNY OPERA (off-Broadway but 2611 performances) (yes)
THE GOLDEN APPLE (yes)
BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA (yes)
SHOW BOAT (revival) (yes)
FLEDERMAUS (revival) (yes)
THE PAJAMA GAME (yes)

That's 14 YES and and 3 NO. Updated On: 1/3/04 at 11:41 PM

[cbrown828]

Posted: 1/4/04 at 12:02am

shows that will be remembered in 50 years:
phantom of the opera
rent
les mis
the producers
the lion king
ragtime
chicago
caberet

shows i would like to see revived before 50 years
starlite express
side show
the capeman
the wild party (both versions)
hedwig

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 1/4/04 at 12:28am

Les Mis will not be remembered for its barricade set. You'd be surprised how many people didn't even know about the barricade set. It'll be remembered for its songs, like "On My Own", among others.
I think community theaters will be able to do it, if they tried. The barricade can be built from used wood and furniture carefully put together- it's really not all that expensive.

I also think 42nd Street will be remembered in 50 years. It will always be remembered. It is truly the musical of Broadway musicals.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 1/4/04 at 12:37am

I'm not sure I can agree with you BillyLawlor. I mean, not completely. Sure Les Mis will be remembered for its songs, and even the barricade set, but I think it's more so the energy and all-around beauty of the show. Sorry if that sounds overly-preachy, but I'm a Les Mis fanatic, what can I say?

I think these shows will be around for quite some time:

Into the Woods
Sweeney Todd
Hairspray
Wicked
RENT
Cabaret
POTO
Gypsy

I think Sondheim's stuff has the gall to stay around forever... It's just good?

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 1/4/04 at 12:38am

POTO being on Bway for 16 years means nothing. Just because it was on Bway for 16 years does not mean it will be remembered in 50.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 1/4/04 at 12:42am

BwayTheatre, keep in mind that there are so many Phantom Freaks out there (not me!)... I think they will keep it afloat for some time, maybe not 50 years.

[BroadwayBaby3]

Posted: 1/4/04 at 12:43am

I agree with most of what MyNameInLights said, specifically the Sondheim. I'm not sure about Wicked, Hairspray, or RENT, but I think the rest will stay.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 1/4/04 at 12:47am

Come to think of it, I don't think I agree with myself about Hairspray, but I do believe Wicked and RENT will be around for a while too. But, like Phantom, maybe not for 50 years.