Are Musicals Due a Comeback?
By vixel83
@vixel83 (212)
April 7, 2007 10:43am CST
In the UK, there have been several recent TV shows about musicals, all of which have been very popular. The musical theatre itself however, doesn't seem to be as popular as it used to be, but it seems there may be a big comeback, musicals are becoming "cool".
What do you think? Are they becoming more popular with the younger generations? Did they ever lose their popularity?
Also, what are your favourites? I love Phantom, Starlight Express and Chicago, and I really want to see Sunset Boulevard after watching John Barrowman's stunning performance of the title song.
2 people like this
3 responses
@diablouk (598)
•
7 Apr 07
Having been a fan of musical theatre for over 25 years, I'd never have believed it to ever be considered cool.
But with the recent spate of shows about musical theatre hitting prime time TV, it has brought it back into the limelight (pardon the pun). Disney's move into musical theatre has also opened the audiences to younger people and made theatre more accessible.
I have too many favourites really;
Wicked, Rent, Phantom, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle down the Wind, Rocky Horror Show, Little Shop of Horrors, Les Miserables are just a few
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
7 Apr 07
I live in New York and Broadway musicals have never gone out of style. Some favorites here are all the Disney musicals, my favorite being 'Tarzan'. Some funny musicals are like 'The Producers', but my favorite is 'Spamalot'. Musicals for the new generation would be 'Rent' and 'Spring Awakening', but my favorite musicals are the revivals. I loved seeing the 'King and I' a few years back.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10873)
•
8 Apr 07
It does seem in the UK that musicals are making a come-back, especially with the TV shows auditioning for parts in Sound of Music and Joseph's Technicolour Dreamcoat. I think probably these shows are promoting the stage shows.
I've got to admit that I am not a keen lover of musicals. Which some think it is strange because I am a musician and once played professionally. I think it maybe because when I watch a film, I like to see a drama and it seems somewhat unnatural for the actors to suddenly burst into song!
One musical I did enjoy though was South Pacific, which I first saw as a kid in the cinema. A few years back I went to see Les Miserables live in London and thought the show very professionally presented and the singers all had wonderful voices.
Before that I went to see Evita and didn't like it one bit. The only decent song was Don't Cry for me Argentina and all the rest sounded discordant to my ear. I thought it was me until the man in the next seat to me said he thought is was absolute rubbish.
I like some of the music from Cats, but wouldn't like to actually go and sit through it because I don't think the singers that good, especially since I've heard the likes of Barbra Streisand singing Memories. In my mind, there's nothing to touch the quality of her voice.
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