Zac Efrons comment that kids who watch HSM brought back musicals- Page 2

[kristinchenofan570]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 7:38am

The thing is, it would be ok if they like HSM if they at least realized there are other (and better) musicals out there. The kids that I've seen often think that those are good quality musicals and don't know or care about shows from Broadway, which I think is kind of sad because there are definatly more musicals out there... if you even want to consider those movies real musicals but thats another disscusion all together.

[nearthestage]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 7:57am

IMO he's mistaken. True, (to whatever degree you wish to believe) or not however, it's his ego in making such a statement that I find most offensive. Good Lord, even if you think you're the greastest thing since sliced bread, show a little humility and/or class and keep it to yourself. Otherwise you just come off as a moron.

Now if he had said that HSM introduced musicals to a new generation,and not made such a broad generalization, maybe one could agree.

In our local theatre we are actually rethinking our decision to perform HSM this spring because we're having a hard time selling tickets. In comparison - last summer our company performed West Side Story and Guys and Dolls, and we had to add performances. I seriously doubt 40 years from now people will be flocking to see HSM. Where as others, like WSS and Guys and Dolls will continue being staged as regularly as Shakespeare.

I should note that I've never seen any of the HSM movies - so it's only the recent theatre experience I've had from which I can draw any conclusions. My reaction to his statement is strictly from the gut, based on having read the show and trying to sell tickets to the performances.

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 8:19am

I think people need to think outside of their musical theatre world here.

The successful movie musicals of the previous years:

Moulin Rouge (2001)
Chicago (2002)
Phantom Of the Opera (2004)
Dreamgirls (2006)

...and if you want to include them; Rent and The Producers.

Then we get High School Musical coming along:

High School Musical (2006)
Hairspray (2007)
High School Musical 2 (2007)
Sweeney Todd (2007)
Enchanted (2007)
Mamma Mia! (2008 )
High School Musical 3 (2008 )
Camp Rock (2008 )
Fame (2009)
Camp Rock 2 (2009)
Nine (2009)
Rocky Horror Picture Show (2009)

...and possibly in the coming years:

Aida.
The Color Purple.
Damn Yankees.
Footloose.
Hairspray 2.
In The Heights.
My Fair Lady.
Wicked.
Spring Awakening.
Jesus Christ Superstar.
Follies.

Now, obviously you can't say its all because of High School Musical, but you can't deny it dramatically would have increased the popularity of musicals in younger generations, who if you think about it control a huge proportion of the box office sales because they drag their parents along.


Updated On: 3/30/09 at 08:19 AM

[madbrian]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 8:37am

While Efron's comment may not hold up well on BWW, did anyone notice that he was talking to a bunch of kids at a Nickelodeon awards show? His comments were not intended for us, they were intended for a bunch of screaming teens & tweens. Nothing wrong with what he said. At all.

[singtopher]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 8:43am

I was much more off put my Miley Cyrus thinking she wasn't going to win. Who was she up against.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 8:48am

This was actually touched on a bit in the thread about the WSS photo spreading with J-Lo as Anita. A comment had been made about using "popular" people such as Ashley Tisdale in the spread. I'd suggested that we ought to view HSM as the fertlizer that makes musical theatre fans grow. Is it the best outlet in the world? No. Is it showing kids that performing in high school shows and studying theatre is cool? Yes. As much as we hate to admit it HSM is opening doors to new musical theatre fans and more filmed musicals.

I may not care for Efron but he's not mistaken.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 9:12am

And he was referring to the AUDIENCE of kids as bringing back the musical not he, himself.

He didn't come HERE and say that HE brought back the musical, he told them that THEY are responsible. While they didn't bring it back, it has opened up the door to MANY, MANY more kids being curious. Many of them will grow up and continue to seek out, and appreciate the art form -- hopefully at a more sophisticated level.

[Craww]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 9:17am

The thing is, it would be ok if they like HSM if they at least realized there are other (and better) musicals out there.

I know, right? It's like...how could they forget Camp Rock?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 9:37am

But the biggest group that the HSM franchise attracts are middle school and below. With time, many of them will realize it. It's all about education and exposure. Taste will come.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 1:41pm

I love how people just come on here and post moronic, reactionary responses without first a) understanding the context in which the comment was made, and b) reading the rest of the thread. Of course these kids would never "dream" of watching An American In Paris, Gigi, or My Fair Lady... because they don't even know those films exist yet! When I first started listening to Rent as a teenager, I didn't really know much of anything about George Gershwin or Lerner and Loewe either. But because I found that I liked that show, I explored the genre further and discovered more and better musicals.

Anyone been to a regional theater lately? Look at the median age of the audience members. It is in these High School Musical fanatics that the future of the artform lies. The more musicals these kids see, the less the populace as a whole will feel that it is "awkward" when people "burst into song". Sondheim isn't going to bring these kids in the doors, but once you get them in the doors... then they will discover the rest.

Updated On: 3/30/09 at 01:41 PM

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 2:00pm

Isn't he just saying that the fact that kids are watching these shows are creating a new love in younger viewers for musicals?
I really don't see anything "bad" or selfish in that comment.

I wonder why he didn't include "Hairspray" in that quote since he played a big role in the film?

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 2:22pm

im sorry but the worldwide success of Evita kicked the musical film off again.

Miramax watched Evita to see if it would work, it did and then Chicago was green lit.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 2:24pm

But what about Disney movies? Most people who grew up in the 90s love Disney movies, which are essentially musicals in themselves.

Or are we only focusing on live action?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 2:26pm

Evita and Chicago propped the door open. HSM kicked it open with great gutso.

Spork...I believe we're focusing on live action because cartoon musicals are a genre unto themselves.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:06pm

Evita and Chicago propped the door open. HSM kicked it open with great gutso.

This is true...we keep forgetting the film EVITA was a big box office hit. SWEENEY TODD did fairly well to: $151 million.

But with these successes comes tendency to overspend. The films become bigger and more bloated without achieving any greater critical or box office successes. The first two HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL films were just done made-for-TV films on relatively small budgets. They ultimately provided a huge return on relatively small investments.

I never bought the argument that audiences rejected musicals. What they reject are poorly made musicals.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:10pm

I was lucky enough to be babysitting the night of the Kids Choice Awards, and held my breath at that exact moment ("what the hell nonsense is he going to say").

[sally1112]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 5:46pm

I think he is kinda of right and has several good points. Wish he would reconsider dropping out of the Footloose remake.

[kristinchenofan570]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 8:48pm

Ok, after reading these I guess I kind of see both sides to what he said now. TruE musicals have been getting more popular to teens who weren't originally interested in theater, however I think he was mainly implying that for HSM so I think it's a little different. Also, I think that getting them to like musicals by them first seeing HSM and Camp Rock isn't always the way to go. I loved musicals since I saw Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway when I was very young, but I also was also first introduced to them when my mom bought me a Broadway Kids tape, so I guess it could go both ways but there is still a big difference between HSM and Broadway kids tapes since the tape is of songs from actual musicals and HSM is just disney. If people really want to get there kids interested in theater get a Broadway kids CD if they still have them. A lot of my friends who loved theater now started out listening to them.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 9:14pm

I think that he is like half right.
He is right in the respect that because of HSM, there is an opening for a new demopgraphic of people interested in musicals.
He is wrong in saying only because of HSM that the musical is back. Without the HSM franchise, I'm pretty sure we'd be in a similar position that we are today.

[dented146]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 9:45pm

HSM is not good but to the extent that it exposes young people to the musical it's a good thing. These kids will grow up and be more discriminating. I believe that had his comments been about Wicked, he would have been more accurate.

During the 15 or 16 years beginning about 1950, musicals won six Best Picture Oscars. Yet there have been great musicals since then. Peoples' tastes change. I loved musicals as a kid but now every boy wants to see computer generated crap like their games.

I don't like HSM or Zac's remarks but I sure don't mind that it came along.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 9:55pm

I don't think Evita was that big of a hit, and Chicago didn't come out till six years later, so if THAT's accepted as "what brought the musical back" I see nothing wrong with Efron's comments. At an award show. To a bunch of kids.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 10:00pm

PS - Even just reading the comment, doesn't anyone think he might have been speaking hyperbolic? I bet anything that when he said "you guys" all the kids started screaming and hooting in a most Pavlovian way.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 10:13pm

what the heck Efron should actualy star in in a decent musical an ignorant comment like that. I know he was in Hairspray but he was awful I'm so glad the decided to cut It Takes Two from the movie.

[amoni]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 10:40pm

"And he was referring to the AUDIENCE of kids as bringing back the musical not he, himself."

Thank You dramamama611. Some of you people are so hung up in your own little world you didn't even comprehend what he said. He was thanking the audience for supporting a movie musical they voted favorite movie. Whether YOU like it or not it is well loved, and the sequels did better and better. The DVD's multi million dollar sellers. The HSM soundtrack was the number one album of the year. That hasn't happened since "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease" in the 70's. Not only that, it went to number one on the charts twice, not a easy feat.

Any musical that is a success is a win for me, it keeps the genre alive. If it attracts a younger audience, the more the merrier. Get over yourselves.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 11:11pm

Updated On: 4/3/10 at 11:11 PM