What Musicals Will Be Remembered in 50 Years? — Page 2

I rather enjoyed iflitifloat's response. Short, crisp, to the point, and glaringly humiliating. I like it.

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The Fantasticks (sp?)

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Into the Woods has elements that a lot of shows are missing these days. Has anyone seen the junior version? There is no second act! The second act is what makes it such an amazing show. It's suprising, sad and happy all at the same time, for lack of better adjectives. It's different, and I feel the same way with most Sondheim shows.

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Brilliance isn't always appreciated right away.

My opinion is, that most of the musicals that are remebered in time worldwide, are those that are turned into a MOVIE ! I am not saying that it is right, but most of the older musicals the world remembers owe their legend to Hollywood ! Remember that most people don't have the passion that we share for Broadway and when we talk about legendary musicals we have to take average Joe into account ! So, I have to say that with the Phantom movie coming up, I think Phantom will be one of them along with Chicago, Evita, Cabaret. For purely theatrical ones, I think Les Mis, Rent, Hairspray are very close to legendary status

Take care

...that depresses me. Now I've almost completely lost the will to live.

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Thanks for your replies.

I think Rent will be remembered much like Hair - a product of its time and one that cannot be fully appreciated in the future.

I do see a longer shelf life for Millie as every community theater will be doing it, along with Les Miz and the Producers.

I find it funny that we haven't mentioned many 1970 musicals. What about Follies...On The 20th Century....Godspell....JCS....Annie....Evita....Chicago?
Where will they fall in the history books? Will Donna Murphy be doing an Annie revivial in 2041?

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Updated On: 1/4/04 at 02:24 PM

Well, I'll settle for everything “now, now, now!” because if I am around THEN, I will be 106 years old!

I think "Phantom" will endure because the original material
is a classic and the music is likable. It could become the "Christmas Carol" of Halloween.

"Cats" could end up the darling of little theaters everywhere, especially with the performers of the age 7 to 12 group.

I think the 15 years past and 15 years into the future will be known as a transitional period and the typical "Broadway Musical" born in the 1940's or do will soon be as quaint as Gilbert and Sullivan. This is not to say they will be completely forgotten but they certainly will not be thought of much in mainstream pop culture. Even current Broadway is pretty much ignored by the young and uninitiated and that is most of the general population.

Maybe "Broadway" itself will become a thing of the past. The best way to avoid that is to educate the rest of the country with first class touring groups but they would have to be both afforadable and extremely well advertized. That's a tall order indeed!

Comments? :)
Audrey :)

What a great question - what will be performed or what will be remembered in 50 years?

I think the answer is what will still be performed. Looking at the list someone provided of 50 year old show, we're still seeing Kismet and Wonderful Town.

I think Rent will become a period piece soon. And I don't see Wicked reaching legendary status just because of it's Wizard connection.

BTW...I believe a new recoding was just released of the music from the original Oz mentioned in the post above.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt: IT'S A BIRD! IT'S A PLANE IT'S SUPERMAN!

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wicked and millie. and les miz

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Wicked, Rent, The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, etc, etc, will NOT be around in 50 years. They are all examples of current feelgood shows (except Rent) and have little to be remembered by. That doesn't mean they're bad.. they're brilliant shows and there's not one of them I wouldn't see (again) but they lack the genius behind them as found with Chicago, Annie, Evita, Phantom, Les Mis, Saigon, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar that make them consistently revival-able. These will be remembered, I severely doubt the above ones will.

Wicked and The Producers especially are far too high budget - who's going to touch that in the regions or at high schools?

Annie, has annoying as it is, will def. stand the test of time. Those stage mommies wont let it die!!!

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