What would you prefer: A Margarita musical or opera by ALW?

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 8/27/06 at 6:32pm

The first question is in the title. Next question: Are there any operas played on Broadway? I once read that the definition of Broadway was a theater in New York or Manhattan with at least 500 seat capacity. Its not obvious though by that definition whether opera houses count.

Since you are musical fans i guess you would prefer a musical. On the other hand some of you might wish the project never arrives on Broadway and then an opera might be better.

Personally i believe that the opera genre is in more dire need than the musical genre of a new show with a melodic score. Of course it's not guaranteed that he will suceed in the new medum. Updated On: 8/27/06 at 06:32 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/27/06 at 6:35pm

I'd prefer a nice frozen Margarita. Or Elvis singing the song, "Margarita" to Ursula Andress in "Fun in Acapulco".

Updated On: 8/27/06 at 06:35 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/27/06 at 6:35pm

Operas have played on Broadway (La Boheme and operas by Menotti) and many musicals have been produced by opera companies (West Side Story, Porgy and Bess).

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 8/27/06 at 6:37pm

maybe a Margarita rock opera? a la JCS?

(but i only suggest that because JCS happens to be the only ALW show I can stand)

[TomMonster]

Posted: 8/27/06 at 6:39pm

I'd prefer just the Margarita. With salt.

Opera's have played on Broadway. La Boheme a few years back. It played in a Broadway house.

Others will fill you in on a better definition of Broadway, but yes, it has to be a theatre with more than 500 seats. However, there are other designations, not just ANY theatre with over 500 seats.

The opera houses like the Met or City Opera are not Broadway houses, even though they have many more than 500 seats.


I'm not sure of the exact designations.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/27/06 at 6:39pm

I agree--I think a return to rock opera would be a good move for ALW.

What are you asking? If the show should play the Met vs. a Broadway house? Or if he should write it for opera voices vs legit musical voices/rock musical voices?

Updated On: 8/27/06 at 06:39 PM

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 8/27/06 at 6:41pm

After all... he's previous "operatic" effort that was Woman in White was... well.. it speaks for itself.

The concept cast of JCS is easily one of my favorite albums of all time.

[timote316]

Posted: 8/27/06 at 6:42pm

The designation for a "Broadway" theater is a combination of the number of seats, and its location. The theaters must be located within a certain district in New York to be considered a "Broadway" Theater. I forget the exact streets - I'm terrible with things like that (since I don't have to remember street numbers in my town!)

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/27/06 at 6:52pm

there are plenty of musicals that could and sometimes are considered operas mainly because they have little to no dialogue. Sweeney Todd is one, as well as Webber's own Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. When he says that he's going to write The Master and Margarita as an opera I doubt he meant opera as in La Boheme. I think he meant more that it would just be sung through. Personally, I would prefer a Webber opera to a traditional book musical since his attempts at writing book musicals have faired worse compared to his operas.

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 8/27/06 at 6:55pm

I would prefer a musical because I'm a musical person, I don't do opera.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 8/27/06 at 6:55pm

What if a theatre is 499 seats, within the street limits, and takes in a show with on stage seating, like in Equus? Would the show playing there be considered a broadway show, or off-broadway?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/27/06 at 7:07pm

Just wanted to add that a work's having or not having spoken dialogue does not deem the work a musical or opera as there are operas with spoken dialogue and musicals with none.

And every opera and musical has a book, though in opera, it's called the libretto.

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 8/27/06 at 7:08pm

Yeah perhaps he mean't with opera a sung through musical (is that an oxymorom?). I feel the term rock opera is not really fitting if the score doesn't contain modern pop/rock tunes.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/27/06 at 7:20pm

There are no official street limits. While 38 of the 39 Broadway houses are between 41st and 53rd Street, the Beaumont is well out of the Broadway district at Lincoln Center and yet still qualifies. The designation of "Broadway" is a very arbitrary one where the little group at The League of American Theatres decides who can and who can't get to play in their little club and they make up whatever rules they want for those they want to include (and exclude whoever they want at their own whim). You don't get to automatically call yourself "Broadway" just because you have a theatre with over 500 seats (plus are dedicated to only producing "legitimate" theatre and have agreements with all the major unions -- actors, stagehands, musicians, designers......). They make the decision.

20 years ago, Porgy and Bess played at Radio City. Because it was an expensive for-profit venture (and some of their producer buddies were co-producing it), guess what? Radio City Music Hall became a Broadway, Tony-eligible house for that production (and that production only). But it's not as if the Radio City Xmas Spectacular gets any Tony consideration year after year.

In contrast, The Delacorte with nearly 1900 seats and dedicated to mounting legitimate plays and musicals and using union talent across the board, isn't a Broadway house (which may be the Public's own decision in order to keep costs down). As I said, it's very arbitrary.

Updated On: 8/27/06 at 07:20 PM