a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#1a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 4:41pm
Now, I will admit. This is a question I had been thinking about and never got around to posting till now. This didn't come into my head with all the Rent closing news going around.
Do you think that the Nederlander should be renamed The Larson Theatre?
I mean, they are changing the names of theatres to be named after influential playwrights. The Eugine O'Neil, Neil Simon, Augest Wilson. Even the Gershwin is named after a songwriter.
Why not have one named after someone who strongly influenced modern musical theatre?
#2re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 4:42pmthe Stephen Sondheim Theater- that man needs to be honored.
#2re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 4:42pmWhat shows would you say are directly influenced by RENT?
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
#3re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 4:42pmHm. In truth, I would LOVE to frequent the Jonathan Larson Theatre. I think it would be a truly telling thing if the name change took place... Something to think about.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#4re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 4:44pm
I don't think he's contributed enough to Broadway to warrant a naming. Especially since there are theater legends that don't have a theater named after them: Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, etc.
The New York Theatre Workshop should name their building facility after him.
#5re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 4:45pmNot at all. Not to say Larson wasn't talented, but I don't think he contributed nearly enough to the musical theatre to warrant a theatre named after him.
#6re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 4:46pmI agree.
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
#7re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 4:46pmi thought of that too actually, the jonathan larson would be great
Cages or wings? Which do you prefer? Ask the birds. Fear or love, baby? Don't say the answer Actions speak louder than words. (Tick, Tick... BOOM!)
#8re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 4:47pm
Actually it will be a good idea to name a theater after a female theater legend..
The Ethel Merman Theater or The Mary Martin Theater...since we only have what -2 theater named after a woman.. Barrymore & Helen Hayes ..well- Lunt-Fontanne ..1/2
J*
WOSQ
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
#9re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 4:48pm
Before it was the Nederlander, it was the Trafalgar.
Before it was the Trafalgar, it was the Billy Rose.
Before it was the Billy Rose, it was the National.
That is 4 names in my lifetime.
And the Nederlander Organization owns the David T. Nederlander Theatre named for Grandfather Nederlander. They are not changing the name of that theatre for anybody.
RyToast1
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/07
#10re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 4:50pmWOSQ...you have a point, but I agree with JayStarr, Sondheim needs a theatre!
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#11re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 4:55pmOne mediocre show and you get a theater named after you?
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#12re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 5:00pm
Thanks for agreeing with me Mike.
B3TA07. Your asking me what shows I think are influenced by Rent?
I think that any current Broadway musical that is using modern music as its score should tip its hat to Rent.
Rent was one of the first shows to use a rock score and have it have a very traditional rock sound. They didn't try to numb it down or water it down for a typical Broadway audience. They did that and it sold. It sold well enough for producers to realize that this is in fact profitable. Two examples of producers realizing it is profitable are Spring Awakening and In The Heights.
#13re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 5:01pm
Although it isn't a Broadway house (far from it geographically) the Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts just opened in Iowa.
What about the Edward Albee Theater...?
The original WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF opened there, as well as a short run of his plays in Rep. during the 1960s.
#14re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 5:03pmExcuse me, but have you ever heard of "Hair"? No? How about "Jesus Christ Superstar"? Hmmm...these aren't ringing bells? Pity.
#15re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 5:05pm
winston- I agree that Rent is the first musical to use "modern" pop music as its influence but hardly the first to use the popular music of the time.
The first rock musicals would actually be Hair... followed by JCS, Godspell, Pippin, The Wiz, Evita, Blood Brothers, Chess, Tommy.
Taking the music of the time is what has been used as a selling point throughout all of Broadway's history. Rent was not the first.
#16re: a Nederlander Theatre renamed idea
Posted: 1/17/08 at 5:06pmhaha, posted at the same time gvendo!
#17the winston89 theatre for morons
Posted: 1/17/08 at 5:12pmdon't you people understand that there was no musical theatre before rent? it was just some gay guys in a barn molesting cows. st. larson brought it into the city, where no other musical had ever been set. plus, and i am darn certain of this, but it's the first musical to ever use minorities in major roles. ever.
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
#18the winston89 theatre for morons
Posted: 1/17/08 at 5:12pmWhat!!!! Hair Godspell etc etc etc etc etc etc come on! Haha
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#19the winston89 theatre for morons
Posted: 1/17/08 at 5:14pmActually, shouldn't it be named the Puccini theater? After all, Rent is hardly an original idea.
#20the winston89 theatre for morons
Posted: 1/17/08 at 5:16pmwhy would they named it after a kind of mushroom?
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#22the winston89 theatre for morons
Posted: 1/17/08 at 5:18pm
"why would they named it after a kind of mushroom?"
Did you ever see Rent? Mimi sings: "Won't you light my doobie?"
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#23the winston89 theatre for morons
Posted: 1/17/08 at 5:20pm
"Evita is a rock musical?"
Patti LuPone started floating that rumor to make herself look like a rebel.
Evita was billed as a pop opera.
#24the winston89 theatre for morons
Posted: 1/17/08 at 5:21pm
What in the world...!?
JCS? Sure, why not?
Godspell? As much as it pains me...
Pippin? It's more of a 'pop' feel, IMO.
The Wiz? Not-at-all.
Evita? You're joking, right?
Blood Brothers, Chess, Tommy?
You need to re-think a few of these shows.
They're not all rock musuicals. G'head, look it up! LoL
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