Will there be another Sondheim, Webber or Rodgers and Hammerstein

I doubt we ever see anybody get 15 shows on Broadway ever again. Broadway simply doesn't have the churn rate that allowed for that anymore. It takes years for people to get one show on the boards, and the goal is to plant that show there forever if you can. I don't think the number of shows one puts on Broadway is important though. Some incredibly gifted composers never got close to Sondheim's numbers.

I don't think revivals with stars are going anywhere. That goes for both stars of the stage or screen. Revivals offer a safe bet on the surface that appeals to everyone involved.

No, I don't think the Billboard Hot 100 will become a major part of Broadway. &Juliet is an outlier that frankly, I'm not convinced will work in the US the way it worked in the West End. US audiences have shown a preference for jukebox musicals that focus on the songs of one artist. Jukebox musicals are here to stay. They will never disappear as long as there are catalogs to exploit.

In all I think the theatre will be fine. Excited for so many up and coming composers, still enamored by some older ones (yeston please give us just one or two more shows 😭), and always looking for new voices on the horizon.

I have been waiting for years for a composer and/or lyricist as good as the ones in the title of this thread. The closest we come are David Yazbek and Miranda. Michael Jackson and Shaina are one's to watch, but from what I've seen of their out put so far, they're actually no where near the talent of even Kander and Ebb in their prime (compare Strange Loop to the best of William Finn...). Pasek and Paul? Gosh no. I don't know why musical theatre talent has stalled. But even ALW and Maury Yeston aren't nearly what they were...

Owen22 said: "I don't know why musical theatre talent has stalled."

Guesses...

Fewer musicals adapted from books and more adapted from movies (with the movies like The Band's Visit and Dogfight and Waitress in the minority compared to big commercial properties)

Fewer composer/lyricist teams and fewer composer/book writer collaborations

More actors writing projects for themselves

Too many copycats (that sound like bad knockoffs or default to a bland "contemporary musical theater" sound)

People producing projects are not good at selecting talent to champion. And given that, 15 is a big ask for anyone if you can't even count movie musicals. You need someone to take a chance on you early and then you need the luck to get 15 different projects launched since you basically have to start out of college and never take a break. And never stall in development for too long.

I think it also has to do with the style of music. Today's newer scores seem derived from the pop and rock or the last 30 years, so they're more focused on drum beats instead of a sweeping orchestral tone. And in terms of lyrics, where some composers can be more introspective, nowadays they feel less nuanced, and in the case of P&P, overtly feel-good anthem themed. I don't know, there's still good people out there, but few that are great. Who in the last decade or so have we said, "Oh, did you hear the new ___ musical is coming out?" and actually refer to the composer?

Updated On: 4/26/22 at 09:48 AM

everythingtaboo said: "Who in the last decade or so have we said, "Oh, did you hear the new ___ musical is coming out?" and actually refer to the composer?"

Well, there's a recent thread on this message board with this title:
Shaina Taub's SUFFS at the Public to feature Phillipa Soo, Nikki M. James, Jenn Colella, Grace McLean, Taub, and more
Started By: ErmengardeStopSniveling

Updated On: 4/26/22 at 10:35 AM