Why Good Vibrations?

Since so many board members seem to hate this musical and think it is going to flop, why do you think it is coming to Broadway so fast after the workshop? What did investors see that others don't understand?

well i haven't seen it, but here's my guess: it's a jukebox musical, which mean that it doesn't take as much time/money as other shows, and it's nearly risk-free because it already has a fan base (beach boys fans). shows like this make lots of money and employ lots of actors/dancers (which is good) and runs forever (which isn't). now these types come under scrutiny from theatre people because, well, they aren't much artisticly, and don't forward the evolution of theatre much. they don't require any new talent in the composion department, meanwhile there are talented starving composers all over the place. i don't like jukebox shows, i probably won't like good vibrations, but i haven't seen it yet, so we'll see how it fills of brakes the mold. as long as it's better than mamma mia, i'm a'ight.

They're really hit or miss, though. For every Mamma Mia! there's one or two disasters like the Burt Bacharach show. God, I truly can't even remember the name of it.

And, I hate to admit it, but as much as I loathe the idea stringing together already-recorded songs to make a musical, Twyla Tharp really did something imaginative and interesting with Movin' Out.

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It is obvious that they are trying to make another Mamma Mia, and even though I loved it, I think one of those shows is enough! What ever happened to originality? Plus this one has Justin Guarini who has proved to America enough that he has no talent. I mean have you seen From Justin to Kelly, may I remind you that was another beach musical *hint* *hint* lol! It just doesn't sound interesting if someone wants to see a fun musical they already have Mamma Mia! and real shows like Hairspray!

I don't know if any of that made sense lol sorry I am tired hehe

lol then everyone must be really really bad if he stood out lol! There is also the fact that he just annoys me to no end lol!

Thanks, Cookie. I like that song, too, but from all accounts the musical wasn't very engaging.

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Does Good Vibrations have a story? God knows The Beach Boys music is superior to Abba,Elvis and Queen so why not? As long as there are new original musicals coming in to address the balance there isn't (I believe) a problem.

Glad you are so open minded that you have decided the rest of cast has no talent. They were awesome and don't blame Justin for being in that trashy movie; do you know what kind of contract American Idol people sign? It's the worst possible thing you can imagine; they own your soul. Besides, many good actors have been in terrible movies. Got to pay the rent, know what I mean?

Sheesh, theater is about many things. If you ever took any literature classes you would find there are only 100 plots in the world of literature and all of them reworked into something else and then something else.

If you keep Broadway going, in whatever form it comes, you keep actors working so they can do the stuff that might be more "legitimate." Remember, art is a business just like McDonald's: got to give 'em what they want and try to induce them to do what they should. Starving artists cannot live long in NYC, too expensive.

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Remember, art is a business just like McDonald's: got to give 'em what they want and try to induce them to do what they should. Starving artists cannot live long in NYC, too expensive.

That's an interesting thought: does Broadway change to serve its audience or does its audience come to Broadway to be changed? I'd like to think that when tourists want to see a Broadway show, they'll see a Broadway show. They won't go up to the TKTS boards and go, "Hmmm, none of these are dumb enough for me, I just won't see any Broadway shows while I'm here." They'll see what appeals to them the most out of that list, Broadway doesn't need to pander to them.

Yes, I understand the whole "Broadway is a business" argument, but when you're giving your audiences crap and calling it legitimate (even high-calibre) theatre, then you're cheating your customers.

McDonald's only serves bad food because they can't afford better and fresher goods; but the difference between a good show and a bad one isn't about finances, it's about vision. There are plenty of fun, feel-good shows on Broadway that are also well-crafted; Hairspray, for example. You can have good, quality fun. But it's just lazy and insulting to audiences to make a cookie-cutter show with a thin plot and cheesy characters and have audiences swallow that.

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BTW, I don't think Justin has proven anything to America yet. He fulfilled his contract to American Idol and RCA by making a movie and an album of music he did not like and then he got out. Tamyra Gray also got out and then made an album that flopped even worse than Justin's. Does that make her not talented also. I heard good things about all of the actors in the Vassar production of Good Vibrations, especially Justin.

Um, I looked through the NYT archives, and I'm not seeing a review. Am I missing something?

There were no professional reviews. I know this for a fact.

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I lost interest when the casting calls said "everyone must pass for teen aged".

Honestly even Grease has a coupla grown ups.

Is everything now gonna be teen-oriented?

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