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Why isn't Disney getting sued for "High School Musical"? — Page 3

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#52

re: Why isn't Disney getting sued for 'High School Musical'?

Posted: 9/18/09 at 4:20pm

Oh, you're quite right. I consider it a very big problem that we're apparently heading for (arguably, we're already in) an era of shows composed entirely of recycled, watered-down, cleaned-up routines from other shows.

I've also heard the "appeal to the younger audience" argument (apparently, the way to do this is to pander to them). Those of you who think HSM will inspire this phantom "younger audience" to appreciate the older, better shows it was recycled from are dreamers.
I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."
#54

re: Why isn't Disney getting sued for 'High School Musical'?

Posted: 9/18/09 at 4:31pm

Before you say that, imagine a show in the next generation comprised of routines recycled from "High School Musical" (although how it could get more bland and watered-down eludes me.) Would we end up back at the beginning?
I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."
#55

re: Why isn't Disney getting sued for 'High School Musical'?

Posted: 9/18/09 at 4:39pm

I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill. High School Musical does not herald the end of quality theatre. Odds are, it won't even stick in theatre history.

Theatre has survived a whole lot worse than HSM.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#56

re: Why isn't Disney getting sued for 'High School Musical'?

Posted: 9/18/09 at 5:49pm

The working title was High School Musical. They were going to change it, but the title was so catchy that they decided to leave it alone.

The HSM franchise was very successful, and nothing can change that. Not gonna lie, I got sucked in. I even went to the concert years ago. It was fun!
#57

re: Why isn't Disney getting sued for 'High School Musical'?

Posted: 9/18/09 at 8:24pm

"Those of you who think HSM will inspire this phantom "younger audience" to appreciate the older, better shows it was recycled from are dreamers."


Well, then...I'm a freakin' dreamer, and I'm proud of it!
#58

re: Why isn't Disney getting sued for 'High School Musical'?

Posted: 9/19/09 at 5:15am

I would imagine few people have performed in shows they found psychologically repulsive.

Watch this space; I'm planning on auditioning for My Fair Lady soon, and I'm VERY much on George Bernard Shaw's side regarding the Eliza/Higgins relationship. But I like the music and I haven't done a good ol' musical for years, so I'm willing to make the sacrifice of performing in a psychologically repulsive show. XD

As for High School Musical being a gateway drug, it's true. My niece loves it, which meant it was easy to convince her to see Hairspray at the cinema, which meant she was very much up for seeing Hairspray at the theatre, and she's also enjoyed Mary Poppins and War Horse, and is now constantly asking to go see Wicked and even Shakespeare plays. I see it as my responsibility as her godmother and auntie to nurture her interest in theatre, but if it weren't for HSM hooking her and hooking her good, who knows if it would even be happening right now?

(Yes, you can leap from "I want to see Wicked!" to mature, responsible, fanatical theatre-goer. I managed it, and so can she. :) )

Also an unashamed fan of the first film here (although never really took to 2 or 3), and don't understand why people get so angry about the franchise existing. Has it actually caused anyone irrevocable damage? Then there's no reason to be such a wailing drama queen about it.
Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter
#59

re: Why isn't Disney getting sued for 'High School Musical'?

Posted: 9/19/09 at 5:25am

"You cashed the check, though, right? Or was it a volunteer production?"

"Yes, but how many other people on this board have worked on shows they hated (or found psychologically repulsive)? Doesn't seem to me that any of them "kept quiet" about it..."

You know, I understand people have to make a living and everything, but why don't you put your money where your mouth is, stop your moaning about the High School Musical franchise and invest your pay check in some theater that you feel is up to your standards. Since you said mentioned what's the use waking up hating your life and feel like theater is falling apart and that we are in "an era of shows composed entirely of recycled, watered-down, cleaned-up routines from other shows."

Can't believe you actually bumped this up months later to try to continue your crapping about your disgust with this musical. If you are that repulsed by it where you wake up hating your life, don't do the show.

I am sure others on here have done shows they have disliked, but I have never heard anyone on here complain the way you have about a production they were in.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

Updated On: 9/19/09 at 05:25 AM

#60

re: Why isn't Disney getting sued for 'High School Musical'?

Posted: 9/19/09 at 3:45pm

Listen, take a chill pill. Seriously.

I did not seriously intend to suggest that Disney could (or should) be sued for HSM. I was expressing the attitude shared by EVERYONE who worked on the production--cast, crew, and, especially, band. I wasn't the first, or only, person to say, "I hate my life." We managed to be fairly humorous about it, but at the end of the day (as several people often said) it was still "High School Musical."

Yes, we were paid to do theatre during a recession, and should be grateful. We were. That didn't change the way we felt about the material. Office and factory workers aren't always delighted with their jobs, either; if they were, bars would go out of business. (For that matter, prostitutes are paid for their work; does anyone seriously expect them to like it?) That didn't mean we didn't work hard and give our absolute best.

As for those who contend that HSM will "inspire" younger audiences to appreciate older, better shows; HOW TO SUCCEED..., the show that followed HSM that season, was brilliantly directted and performed by the same company--and almost no one came to see it.

As for millie_dillmount--I've worked on numerous shows I was proud of, and continue to do so. You don't know me (and now I hope you never will). Keep your prejudices and assumptions to yourself.
I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."
#61

re: Why isn't Disney getting sued for 'High School Musical'?

Posted: 9/19/09 at 10:00pm

"I did not seriously intend to suggest that Disney could (or should) be sued for HSM."

Hence, the the thread title says "Why isn't Disney getting sued for High School Musical?" Followed by the discussion about copying music themes.

"As for those who contend that HSM will "inspire" younger audiences to appreciate older, better shows; HOW TO SUCCEED..., the show that followed HSM that season, was brilliantly directted and performed by the same company--and almost no one came to see it."

Well, maybe your production of High School Musical turned people away, as none of you (based on how you described it) seemed enthusiastic about the production. Not to mention, who are you to judge that High School Musical does not get younger audiences interested in theater based on one production of How to Succeed at a random theater?

"I've worked on numerous shows I was proud of, and continue to do so. You don't know me (and now I hope you never will). Keep your prejudices and assumptions to yourself."

Okay...good for you that you have been proud working on other productions. I never questioned other productions you have worked in. You are the one who came on here with your prejudices and assumptions about the High School Musical franchise, and talking about waking up hating your life. When you come on making some of the harsh statements about a show you are in, what do you expect people to think?
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
#62

re: Why isn't Disney getting sued for 'High School Musical'?

Posted: 9/20/09 at 10:37am

Millie is right.

Roquat, you can't come on here and starting saying "keep your prejudices and assumptions to yourself". You are the one who who started this whole thread with "your prejudices and assumptions".

If what you wanted to do was say, "Hey, I personally don't like HSM, and wow, I'm doing the show, and there are somethings that are just like Broadway shows (insert list here)". Then I can only imagine the tone of this thread going from a heated discussion, to a "let's make fun of HSM by picking out Broadway references in HSM and other shows, etc."

One of the things about Theatre that make it so amazing is the connection between performer and audience. If I can go out on a limb here, and say that possibly, the company had no energy and didn't like what they were doing, so the audience didn't enjoy the actual theatre, and the art of it. All they cared about was the show being HSM.

"You don't know me (and now I hope you never will)". Really? Did you really have to say that? ( I don't care what you think about my next line but...) That was totally uncalled for. To me, it seems like you are acting like one of the kids in HSM by saying something like that.

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