What has happened to Broadway?

Is there anyone else out there who feels Broadway has become the domain of theme park musicals? I have stopped traveling to New York because of a lack of intelligent theatre choices. In 1980 I saw Sweeney Todd, Lansbury/Cariou; Sugar Babies, Rooney/Miller; Hamlet, William Hurt; A Month in the Country, Tammy Grimes, Phillip Boscoe, Farley Granger, and Amanda Plummer; Evita, LuPone. (Mandy missed that perf.) For almost 20 yrs. after that I returned yearly and saw The Rink, Fences, Hay Fever, La Cage Aux Folles, Angels in America, The Destiny of Me, Night Mother, The Petition, Noises Off, Kiss of the Spider Woman,
Jeffery, and a lot more. Then, the choices became slimmer. I have not been to New York since Ragtime. Is there any reason for me to return? I am thinking of returning during Christmas. Is there anything currently running or upcoming that would be worth it?

I can understand where you're coming from but there are alot of great great musicals on Broadway right now. La Cage aux Folles, Fiddler on the Roof, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Light in the Piazza, Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf(w/ Kathleen Turner) and numerous others! Besides that, some great off-broadway shows are playing such as Alterboys, Dessa Rose ect. If you're looking for intellectually stimulating pieces I'd go with Dessa Rose, Who's Afraid of V.W and Light in the Piazza. Broadway and New York always have so much to offer(theater, muesems, night-life)and I can't imagine you wouldn't want to come just to be in the greatest city in the world!? I hope this has helpped.

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I agree with Namo. Dont go if you dont want to but just about every show Ive seen on Broadway (thats still on) was pretty good. Its someone's opinion to call shows the best but I believe that there are many, many shows on Broadway that are pretty damn great.

Bway should be able to attract a wider ticket buying base and thus provide more jobs. I have often stated here that an elitist attitude about which shows are "worthy" is dangerous for our community. Some folks want Sondheim and more seem to want Mamma Mia and Disney shows. There should be room for all tastes.

After reading Namo and Wicked's messages, I think I'd rather travel to Yazoo City, Missippi.

First off, welcome to the boards.

Second, Broadway is commercial theatre. Most theatre professors don't like it because they don't consider it "true" theatre.

And most of the crap on Bway now hardly compares to what was once there. As Namo said, if you don't like it, don't go.

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