Wicked Saved Broadway!!! So did many musicals before Wicked! Cake! — Page 4

Frankly, I can't stand Wicked. I'm not going to explain because it has probably been said a million times before. I understand that Wicked has introduced younger people to Broadway, and while I think that is a good thing (to get people interested in Theatre), I wonder what happens when they see a show that isn't a tourist trap? A show that makes them think? My guess is most (not all) won't appreciate it, and will continue seeing tourist trap shows as opposed to supporting (what I consider) to be real Theatre.

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Well, isn't the hope that people will mature?
I got first introduced to broadway because of Phantom.
Phantom is candy. Its the peddlers bait that got me interested in this form. Now, as I've matured, I've experienced Sondhiem, Porter, Webber, Larson, Boubil/Schonberg and many others. It takes time, but we mature.

Anyway, so is Broadway 'dying'? No. Why? 'Cause we keep buying tickets. As long as we're alive (and have money) Broadway will be just fine...for us.

The concern, I feel, is we need to pass on the love and passion of the arts to a younger generation...since musical theater IS the road less traveled.

Updated On: 4/14/05 at 05:35 PM

Very few people will see the tourist trap shows and become lifelong Broadway fans. I am not knocking the tourists or the shows, because realistically they keep the money flowing and we need that. Of course we hope that some people will mature and experience other shows. It is just very naive for anyone to say that everyone that sees Wicked is going to go to directly to the music store after the show to buy every Broadway album they can get their hands on. Most people that go to Beauty and the Beast, Mama Mia, etc. are going for the entertainment value, not because they want a deep, moving experience.

Broadway didn't and doesn't need "saving" and if it did, I highly doubt that only one show would be soley responsible for "saving" it.

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Ruth and Keggs, I actually think we all have the same understanding/agreement. I sometimes wonder if I didn't see Phantom on the West Coast, would I have ever taken interest in it all. My interests before theater included some sports and comic book collecting! HA! It's a far jump between the two. That is why I'm thankful for the Wickeds and Phantoms that show up during the years.

I don't believe WICKED 'saved' Broadway on its own. Collectively all the shows do their part. Every show effects different types of people. I know you know this. I'm just preaching to the choir :)

Adam

Updated On: 4/14/05 at 06:03 PM

Adam - I think your right! Everyone has that first show/experience that turned them into lifelong theater fans. Mine was Les Miz. To this day, I can still remember the feeling I had sitting in that theater. I think those that become theater fans, become lifelong fans.

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"I'll never forget the rumble of the organ during the overture in phantom... and the lifting of the chandelier."

And then everything went downhill after that. For me anyway.

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Hey Adam, just my humble opinion. I've actually seen the show three times (for various reasons) and it was just not worth the hype. It was not awful but I would not recommend it over a number of other shows that are (were) playing.

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by the way, what does PAB stand for?

When I saw Phantom in LA in 1993, I remember being completely floored by it. It was my favorite show for a very long time.

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The movie is very good... Emmy Rossum floored me!

I hope you like the movie...I felt the show was better. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the movie...but there is just something about seeing it live. Which is the case with almost everything.

That is kind of what I thought. There is something about being there and watching these things really happen right in front of your eyes that might get lost in the translation to screen. However, I will not make any judgement until I actually see the movie.

What do you think about Emmy and Gerard?

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I'm sorry to say that Wicked got me hooked on Broadway. Weird, eh? I wasn't really looking for more of the poppish sound, but I just wanted to find out more about Broadway. And what can I say? I'm hooked! I'm saving up sommore money to buy more CD's. (Especially some by Sondheim. He's a geeeniuuusss)

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