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How To Get Young Audiences Interested In Older Shows
I know there's been threads about fake Broadway buffs, but this one is a bit different.
I'm beginning to notice that even among people my age (high school) who love theatre and want to pursue it have little to no idea or interest in musicals that are older. At first I thought this was just because most people in the drama society at my school don't have any real interest in pursuing theatre in the future. For them it's just a hobby. But then I started volunteering at a local theatre and meeting people my age who love theatre and want to pursue it. I thought, hey, maybe I'll meet people who like other shows besides Rent and Wicked (not that they're bad shows or anything), but nope. Most of them wouldn't know a Jerry Herman tune if they tripped over it, have no interest in classic musicals like Oklahoma or South Pacific, and don't give much consideration to any musical that isn't like 13 or Spring Awakening. I only have one friend who likes the older shows as much as contemporary ones, and can talk about both at length.
I know it's all personal preference, and I'm not saying that there's anything bad with newer shows. I've enjoyed many of them and found them to be excellent! At the same time, I think it's a shame my peers won't give classics that are just as good the same consideration. But I want to know, what do you think producers and other people who work on Broadway can do to get this new generation of theatre fans hooked on older musicals as well as newer ones?
And I'm not condemning anyone on here who's in high school/middle school! I know most people on here are like me and appreciate all musicals. I'm just talking about the many teens I've met who love theatre but don't.
Views: 17
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chris on -
i agree. most teenagers these days only know like phantom of the oper, wicked, or rent
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Permalink Reply by Carolyn Eleinor on -
i agree as well. when i mention a classic no one knows anything about it. its quite annoying. as much as i love wicked, phantom etc. classics like anything goes, south pacific, and a little night music are amazing! i'm into everything from Spring Awakening to Wicked to South Pacific. Whereas my friends are Rent to Wicked to Phantom.
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Permalink Reply by Morgan Carter Woodring on -
I totally understand. I love those shows, and most of them are in my top ten, but I have seen and listen to "classics" ALL THE TIME. I love Spring, Wicked, etc... But I also love Funny Girl, A Funny Thing Happened..., and Fiddler, and so on.
It's sad that I can't say the same about many other people my age though...
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Permalink Reply by Nightingale-Duet on -
I'm the same way. My favorite musical is The Producers. While it's not very popular, it's more of a contemporary show, but I still love the older shows! It's what introduced me to theatre. Some of my other favorites are La Cage aux Folles, Mame, and South Pacific, among many others.
I feel like if a show has too much of a "showtune-y" feel to it, none of my peers are interested. It has to have pop-ish or rock music, or else they won't go for it.
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Permalink Reply by Blair Andrew Russell on -
Me and of mt friends require ourselves to watch at least one "boring old movie" a month, try that, you can invite people to watch one of the older movies at your house, or maybe as an even at school, or if you have a nice venue in your area that has cheaper tickets to touring shows, or a good community theatre invite people to that, but make it a day with like lunch or something so they will be interested in that and then go along. Or sing a good old song really loudly, then when someone asks you what it is from tell them, or give them an OBCR.
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Permalink Reply by Nightingale-Duet on
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I actually have dragged some of my friends to older shows. :)
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Permalink Reply by Nightingale-Duet on
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I'm a fanatic. I could talk on and on and on about both the musical and the movie it was based off of. Fortunately I have a friend who loves it as much as me, so we just sit there and talk about it. xD
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Permalink Reply by Kayleigh Jacobs on -
one thing we have to consider in this situation, is that younger people have grown up with the more 'rock' music, and not at all been exposed to the more classic sounds. so they'd be a lot more likely to relate to the 'rock' musicals than the classics.
if they go into theater professionally, they'll learn to appreciate the classics.
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Permalink Reply by Nightingale-Duet on
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Yeah, I forget that sometimes. I grew up with a grandmother who loved classical music and showtunes, so that's what I've always known and always listen to. As I'm writing this, I'm listening to the operetta HMS Pinafore. ^^ It seems strange to me that people wouldn't enjoy this type of music, even once in awhile. Some showtunes are just so uplifting and fun, while others are stirring and emotional. There's just so many layers to these songs! But I'm sure there are people who think it's strange that I can't stand rap, so I get where they're coming from.
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Permalink Reply by David Rigano on -
My parents were in the theatre, and my dad was the lighting designer for Light Opera of Manhattan the season when they did all of the G&S shows in rep. So, I was raised on classic musical theatre, Sondheim, and Gilbert and Sullivan.
Would I seem jaded or heretical if I gave this suggestion: put more TV stars in revivals? Okay, that's a little much, but let's look at it this way. When I was in my teens, none of my friends like Bye, Bye, Birdie. They thought it was a stupid and annoying show. Since the revival, the popularity for the show has spiked. For some reason a lot of people don't like to look backward, but having it right in front of their noses is current. I assure you the popularity of H2$ will spike after this next revival, just like it did for BBB.
I'm a bit of a history buff. I like to look at the past to figure out how we got to where we are, so I enjoy looking up older shows and seeing how they fit into the grand scheme. Not everyone is like that, and unfortunately you can't force someone to take an interest like that.
I like the idea of having people over for movie-nights. Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, South Pacific, and West Side Story are fantastic movie adaptations of older musicals. Even take a look at some movie-musicals like Singin' in the Rain or Some Like it Hot. Some of my favorite more obscure older movie-musicals are Victor/Victoria and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Maybe even say, "We'll check out an old one this week and a newer one next week." Start off with Damn Yankees and then look at Repo: the Genetic Opera.
Sometimes all you have to do is plant the seed.
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Permalink Reply by Nightingale-Duet on
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I definitely think that revivals are a good idea. It introduces people to musicals they may have never heard of before and lets them experience why some of the older shows can be just as good as the current ones.
And I agree, I've seen a rise in Bye Bye Birdie fans ever since the revival, even if most people said it wasn't that great. The H2$ revival will probably bring a lot of appreciation for that musical, too.
Hate to admit it, but you're right about the TV stars thing.
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