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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 Mary on -
Well at least it's not covers of TOO many pop songs. Then it would turn into KidzBop. And that's bad.
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Permalink Reply by leslie on -
I like some of Glee's music... it's kinda hit or miss. I love Idina singing "Funny Girl" but I didn't like it when her and Lea sang "I Dreamed a Dream"... I think it's because they turned into a duet and changed some of the words. Ugh! I hate it when they change lyrics.
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Permalink Reply by David Rigano on -
I only get ALW CDs as gifts for people I hate.
And, for the record, Sunset Boulevard is not an old show. It opened in 1994.
P.S. "You'd Lovett"... wonderful!
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Permalink Reply by ellen mcgrath on -
ha ha i may do the same in the future
in specific "the like of us"
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Permalink Reply by Juliana Joy Child on -
I'm aware of that, I just thought of it because it was on this Webber CD that I bought for a friend. ;)
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Permalink Reply by David Rigano on
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Okay, just be careful on context. Sunset Boulevard opened in my lifetime, and I'm definitely not old!
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Permalink Reply by Branden Mangan on -
i agree cause i love west side story and i like classics but im not crazy for them i go out fro new shows like american idiot memphis fela and all the new ones. one of my frineds she named a show and i looked at her like she was crazy she siad that show is a classic and i did not know it sho i think your right about i dom't know what they could do about it but
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Permalink Reply by David Rigano on
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A plea for grammar and punctuation. PLEASE! I have no idea what this says.
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Permalink Reply by Christina B. on -
Ok I am a teen, and I LOVE Wicked, Rent, Phantom, etc., but I ALSO LOVE CLASSICS!!!!!! I love Oklahoma, A little night music, Mame, South Pacific, West Side Story, etc.
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Permalink Reply by Blair Andrew Russell on -
haha Thanks?
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Permalink Reply by Nightingale-Duet on -
I just read an interview with Julie Andrews, and she said something that instantly reminded me of this discussion:
I asked one of my daughter's friends in high school, she said that she was studying musical theatre. So, I said to her, "What are you doing?" and she said, "I'm singing and I'm singing some ballads." She mentioned a couple, and I said, "Are you doing any Rodgers & Hammerstein?" and she said, "Who?" and my heart sank!
When you're studying musical theatre but don't know who Rogers and Hammerstein are, then there's a problem. :/
The rest of the interview is here, if anyone wants to take a look: http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/InDepth_InterView_Julie_Andrew...
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Permalink Reply by Mary on
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What makes it just a little more of a problem is that Julie Andrews was in Sound of Music, which IS a Rodgers & Hammerstein musical. This might just be me, but if I found out that my friend's mom was going to be in a hugeee movie then I would find out everything about her mom and learn about the shows she was in so if I ever meet her then we could have a pleasant conversation about Broadway :D
But in general, studying musical theatre and not know R&H is....wow. I wonder what composers she did know.
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