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

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.

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.

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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.

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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?

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.

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

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.

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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.

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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").

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.

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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.

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.

"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.