Wicked Saved Broadway!!! So did many musicals before Wicked! Cake!

Really? Do you have exact figures as to how many teenagers were introduced to Broadway by this show? You have no way of proving this. Yes, it generated a large interest...but just as many teenagers became obsessed with Les Miz and Aida and Rent which were all hot tickets in their day. I am truly sorry...but of all shows that saved Broadway..."Wicked" isn't one of them. In time, just as all other hits, "Wicked's" ticket sales will fall and it will close. It definitely doesn't have the substance to become one of Broadway's longest running musicals, that's for sure.

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Updated On: 4/11/05 at 06:46 PM

Saved Broadway? The way Rent "saved Broadway" 10 years ago? If these teenagers actually develop an interest in musicals beyond that one show, good for them. But in all too many cases, I don't see that happening. Oh, maybe they'll take a look at Brooklyn because of Espinosa's presence, but beyond that? Forget it. Excuse my skepticism, but I really think the title of this thread is a massive exaggeration.

Broadway would survive with or without WICKED. Introduce Broadway to tons of young girls? Sure! But what is it worth if the only shows they see are WICKED and BROOKLYN? What about other good shows, such as FIDDLER ON THE ROOF? DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS? LA CAGE AUX FOLLES?

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My title was too attract attention. I realize that Wicked alone hasn't saved broadway, but it is the popular shows that accually make money that are keeping Broadway alive.

The purpose of this post was twofold
1. To get people to stop being mean to the teenagers who like Wicked, because they will be the next generation of theatre-goers,

and
2. To demonstrate my like of cake in all forms.

Enjoy and discuss,
jera

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Man, I love a good debate.

jera

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oh jera...cake is the most wonderful thing! i have to head around the corner to Venieros now. i think teenagers go to these big hits for catchy tunes, disney, hot guys, and what they think is "keepin it real" these days. i think maybe the future theatre-goers are composed of mostly people who have more mature taste after they've been there and done that and got enough money to go see the shows.

Well, Jera, if those were your goals, you failed.

Like I said, it would survive with or without it. Almost ANY show that opens on Broadway 'helps' it. SPAMALOT is sold out through the Summer. This show has certainly helped Broadway 'stay alive.'

WICKED helped because it's a show that opened on Broadway. More popular than others? Sure. But it didn't reinvent theatre - the way SHOW BOAT and OKLAHOMA did. It's just another 'popular' musical. The fad will end when the next spectacle opens...

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Wicked has drawn a whole new generation to broadway and on that not i hafta say i think its an ozome musical totally brought me back to musical theater after years of debating wether or not to return to it

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Wicked... head? That's a term now?

I think this is ridiculous. Yes, it's a show that probably has introduced many a teenybopper to theatre, but then again, young Wicked fans may just stubbornly and ignorantly sit around and say Wicked is the best thing ever and never see another piece of theatre again in their lives. It's a stupid, precocious assumption to make the way you did without having numbers or something you're not going to get to back it up. You're making far too many blanket statements, and quite frankly, even though the things about money may be very true, it's ridiculous. Wicked alone hasn't saved Broadway, it hasn't saved or revitalized theatre, and given that it's only two years old, probably hasn't had as big an impact as you think or wish it has.

At least with a show like RENT, for which this is also assumed to be true (though it may be slightly more accurate given that RENT has more substance, real-life value) you're dealing with something that has the merit to warrant lasting as long as it has, winning the awards that it did, and that has impacted people and theatre for a reason, not just pretty sets and a green girl.

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Updated On: 4/11/05 at 07:00 PM

BW...(Before Wicked)

There was Rent
There was Footloose

There is always a show out there to drag in "the teenagers".

Wicked is not as all powerful as you seem to think. There was...gasp!!...life in Times Square before Wicked and will be after Wicked.

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oooh... such anger and hostility. Even uttering the title gets you guys steamed..... Wicked! Haha.... Wicked!

I'm new to the board, so maybe I too will become sick of the "thousands" of Wicked posts. But to each their own, I guess.

I think everyone should relax, and continue to say your opinions, because I love to hear from everyone. Freedom of speech, baby.

jera

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Updated On: 4/11/05 at 07:05 PM

Also- How many kids do you know who love Bway...


I love WICKED but I love other shows too- RENT is amazing, INTO THE WOODS rocks... DAMN YANKEES is cool... BYE BYE BIRDIE is wonderful...

I like other things besides Wicked.