Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

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Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/23/08 at 10:03pm

And when I say Media-Based Musicals, I mean stuff like "Hairspray", "Mary Poppins", "Xanadu", "13", "Wicked" and stuff like that. (Books, movies, music, etc.)

I kind of prefer media musicals than originals becuase you are already familiar with characters, storylines, and music. The only way I like original musicals is if the music is good. I didn't like "Avenue Q" until I heard some of the music which is actually pretty good.

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/23/08 at 10:42pm

It all depends on your meaning of "original".

For me, any musical based on a book, play, history, or a new idea are "original" (the term being very loosely used". Think about how many people heard about the book Wicked, or the play Green Grow the Lilacs (Oklahoma). Not many.

Legally Blonde, Xanadu, Happy Days, Hairspray, etc. are all,(what I consider) media based.

To answer your question, I can't choose between the two. I loved Legally Blonde (media), but Avenuw Q (original) didn't make me want to see it again like LB

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/23/08 at 10:47pm

"I didn't like "Avenue Q" until I heard some of the music which is actually pretty good."

So you passed judgement on the show before you heard the music....

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/23/08 at 10:50pm

And what is 13 based on?

"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/23/08 at 10:58pm

They're really aren't that many shows that aren't based on anything. In fact, it's very difficult to come up with many where the story line is completely original.

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/23/08 at 10:59pm

Whether the source material is good or bad, a good show is a good show. Same can be said about original musicals. As long as someone puts on a show that is fresh or exciting or interesting or captivating or innovative or all of the above, it doesn't really matter to me whether it's based on something else or not.

~Steven

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/23/08 at 11:57pm

Original. By far.
And by original, I mean the definition fashionguru_23 already stated.

"You have two kinds of shows on Broadway – revivals and the same kind of musicals over and over again, all spectacles. You get your tickets for The Lion King a year in advance, and essentially a family... pass on to their children the idea that that's what the theater is – a spectacular musical you see once a year, a stage version of a movie. It has nothing to do with theater at all. It has to do with seeing what is familiar.... I don't think the theatre will die per se, but it's never going to be what it was.... It's a tourist attraction." Stephen Sondheim

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 12:05am

It depends. Since I live nowhere near the bustling theatre district of NY, I can only go by reviews (from critics and people here), cast albums, and TONY performances. If any of those catch my eye/ear, 9/10 of the time I will have found another show to add to my collection of favorites (or just another show to keep on my iPod). I usually find something to like about most original works, but I'm harder on the media-based ones. If it's a good adaptation that respects it's source material, I usually end up liking it. But if it's nothing more than an empty, carbon-copy of the movie/book/whatever, created only to make money and bring in huge crowds of droning tourists, I want nothing to do with it (my favorite example: "Legally Blonde." I'll admit that some of the songs are catchy enough to keep the album on my iPod, but it is not a show I would ever want to sit through).

-- SDG

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 12:12am

It really depends on how it's done: I've seen "original musicals" that are absolute crap and at the same time I've seen "media musicals" that blew me away.

And if it's a "media musical", how they translate the original work onto a staged musical production is very important as well.

#10

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 12:15am

ashley0139, 13 is based on a book. http://www.tower.com/13-dan-elish-hardcover/wapi/111621332

I like all shows, some original things I'm not crazy about but I pretty much love everything.

2008: Feb. 18- Rent, Feb. 19- Curtains, April 18- Xanadu, April 22- Wicked, April 26- Legally Blonde, May 31- Wicked, June 13- The Little Mermaid, June 28- Wicked and Young Frankenstein, July 2- The Little Mermaid, July 6- A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde, August 16- Xanadu, September 13- Legally Blonde and 13, September 28- Xanadu and Spring Awakening, Oct. 12-GYPSY and [title of show], Oct. 19- Hairspray & Legally Blonde, Nov. 9- Wicked and 13, Dec. 14-13, Dec. 26- Billy Elliot, 2009: Jan 1- Shrek, Jan 2- 13 and Wicked, Jan 4- 13, Feb 17- In The Heights, Feb 19- Billy Elliot, Feb 22- Sweeney Todd (tour), March 28- Mary Poppins, April 4- Mamma Mia!, April 15- Jersey Boys (on tour), April 25- next to normal & 9 to 5 May 1- Billy Elliot, May 3- Spelling Bee (tour), May 8- Chicago, May 21- Wicked, June 6- Everyday Rapture, June 23- The Wiz, June 25- Hair July 15- Shrek, August 9- Wicked, September 7- Rock of Ages, October 11- Next To Normal, October 23- The Marvelous Wonderettes, November 7- Ragtime November 29- Dreamgirls, December 25- Billy Elliot, December 30- Finian's Rainbow, 2010: January 9- Bye Bye Birdie, January 16- Memphis February 17- The Phantom of The Opera, February 18- God of Carnage, March 7- Billy Elliot, March 31- American Idiot

#11

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 12:19am

WishingOnlyWounds2 Posted On: 10/24/08 at 12:15:21 AM
ashley0139, 13 is based on a book. http://www.tower.com/13-dan-elish-hardcover/wapi/111621332

Actually, no. Look at the release date [July 1, 2008]. So...Jason Robert Brown and Dan Elish were basing 13 off the book before it was even released? Interesting...

This is obviously a companion piece to the musical. Plus, Jason Robert Brown (music and lyrics) and Dan Elish (book) wrote both this book and the musical.

Updated On: 10/24/08 at 12:19 AM

#12

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 12:21am

Um, I'm not sure that 13 the musical is based on that book. I think it's more of a companion or novelization, is it not? Nowhere in the Broadway credits does it say that's it's based on the novel. And the authors of that book are the composer/lyricist and co-librettist.

EDIT: Ah, you beat me to it, enroute! :)

~Steven

Updated On: 10/24/08 at 12:21 AM

#13

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 12:41am

Um, isn't Avenue Q roughly, and I use the term liberally, based on Sesame Street? Certainly inspired by.

Updated On: 10/24/08 at 12:41 AM

#14

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 1:20am

I don't really care where you get the idea for a show, as long as it's good. That's all that's really important. Why get your panties in a twist about the source material?

Taryn

#15

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 1:26am

I agree that it depends on the execution, but given the lack of original stories on Broadway and how many movie musicals are in the works, I'm more apt to go whole hog in support of an original show.

#16

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 1:39am

I prefer good quality musicals. I want great music, lyrics, choreography, book, design and performances in a musical.

#17

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 4:14am

I like GOOD musicals.

Next!

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

#18

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 5:56am

I want to see a quality show. However, I do have a tendance to be harder on the concept of a MOVIE turning to B'way show. If they are going to adapt it and give me something different to see, great.

But I'm all for brand new works (not on an existing PERFORMANCE) to hit the stage.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

#19

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 8:45am

< biased>I'm a writer myself so I prefer the "original" musical opposed to people half-assing it with "creativity"< /biased>

Like stated, I felt 13 is more like Avenue Q with each song talking about different points/issues in one's life that happen to have a story moving with it.

I once heard someone describe her (Ruthie Henshall) singing as sounding as though she's trying to swallow a whole meatball slightly larger than her windpipe. (The same person compared Michael Ball's singing to sounding as though he's sitting on a washing machine on spin cycle and Colm Wilkinson's to a man with a paralyzed lip trying to eat cottage cheese.) --- Schmerg_The_Impaler

#20

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 9:04am

So you passed judgement on the show before you heard the music...."

Well, I didn't like it because of the references to profanity. I was only 13 at the time. I don't think I would have been interested in hearing songs about all that stuff at my age.

#21

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 10:42am

The definition of original musical is very open when it comes to Broadway nowadays.

I like a show if it's good. I don't look at it and go 'Well this was based on that movie I liked! I like it!" because then there'd be quite a few bad musicals that I like.

#22

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 12:06pm

I prefer good, quality musicals where the artistic inspiration of the story and characters is evident in the energy of the entire show. The opposite being the LEGALLY BLONDE-esque "hey, this was popular, lets musicalize it" school of musical making.

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

#23

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 12:46pm

I've liked both original musicals and ones closely based on movies or plays. With the latter, what makes it work for me is if the writer of the book for the musical tells the story in a way that gives those working on the score the ability to use the songs and dances as the equivalent of closeups in the movie -- glimpses into who the character is and what matters to them emotionally. The familiarity of the characters and plot from a movie can be a two-edged sword -- it gives the audience some preconceived notions that can both make the show more accessible and make it seem like nothing more than a cheap rehash.

#24

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 12:55pm

ashley0139, 13 is based on a book. http://www.tower.com/13-dan-elish-hardcover/wapi/111621332

Lol, 13 is definitely not based on that. And if you'd take two and a half seconds to look at the link you posted, you'd know that.

Who cares what the show is based on, as long as it's good? Grey Gardens is one of the most brilliant musicals and it's based on a documentary.

#25

re: Which Do You Prefer?: Original Musicals or Media-Based Musicals?

Posted: 10/24/08 at 1:16pm

"Who cares what the show is based on, as long as it's good? Grey Gardens is one of the most brilliant musicals and it's based on a documentary."

And Xanadu is the most fun I've ever had on Broadway and it's based on a weird, trippy, awful movie. Or South Pacific, based on a book, is one of the most beautiful shows I've ever seen. Lots of great shows are based on something else. They don't all have to be money-in-mind adaptations. And even if they are, if it's good, I'll like it.

~Steven

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