European Musicals vs. Broadway

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:08 pm Post subject:

What's wrong with movie adaptations? Some of the best musicals in theatre were based on movies. A Little Night Music, Nine, The Light in the Piazza, Passion...

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:14 pm Post subject:

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject:

They're not the only ones to make a trashy pop musical. Legally Blonde is pretty bad, as are Wicked and Tarzan (though the music is by Phil Collins...). And Frank Wildhorn, despite what he'd have us all believe, is definitely American, last I checked.

On a lighter note, I really think that if you're going to make a musical based on Bergman and Fellini's films, you're exempt from having to call it a movie-musical. Smile

EDIT @Dolbinau- and We Will Rock You! God, the humanity.
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Currently: Jet Girl and Somewhere soloist in West Side Story
In Rehearsal: Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd.

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject:

The thing is that I don't think the Legacy of Broadway musicals will be shows like Legally Blonde (well at least we know that at the moment it is certainly not what Broadway is known for). European musicals, at least as far as I'm aware are *known* for that style of show.

That is, if I were to describe Broadway I'd be doing it in terms of Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein etc.. but if I were to describe European Musicals I'd be doing it in terms of ALW, Time Rice and Elton John.

See, I'd claim that it was the introducing/success of these European musicals that has led these styles of shows to become common on Broadway today.

And RE: Frank Wildhorn, he is American yes. But the point was that it says something about the 'sophistication' of the Audiences in Europe if his shows are massively popular there, but unsuccessful here. (According to Dvarg I think it was who mentioned that). As someone was claiming that American audiences are 'dumb'.
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Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:31 pm Post subject:

But all of the European creators you've named there are British. Maybe it isn't wise to try and compare one country's traditions to an entire continent's?

I think Frank Wildhorn's shows were probably as equally well-received wherever they are in the world. I mean, he had three shows running at the same time on Broadway at one point. I don't think that American audiences are dumb so much as when they reached the twenty-first century, they didn't want to hear any more nineties' style pop ballads.

That doesn't really explain why his shows are so popular right now in Germany... I've successfully confused myself...
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Currently: Jet Girl and Somewhere soloist in West Side Story
In Rehearsal: Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd.

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:34 pm Post subject:

I'll add Schonberg there too Razz

, but I agree I have generalised to Britain/West End.
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Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:37 pm Post subject:

Ne, don't forget ABBA. O.O

Really interesting debate. Wish I could stick around... Sad

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Currently: Jet Girl and Somewhere soloist in West Side Story
In Rehearsal: Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd.

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:10 pm Post subject:

What I've noticed is that in Germany (not Britain) and Austria, they used to write beautiful serious musicals (Rebecca, Elisabeth etc.), or really funny ones that used dark humour (Tanz der Vampire etc.), but right now, all we see on stage are translated Broadway musicals or even jukebox musicals written in German Confused

This is because of Stage Entertainment, the company that has all the money in musical theater and that puts on what they consider worthy. If they think it won't earn them tons of money, they won't put it on. Right now, they have:
Three jukebox musicals:
- Ich war noch niemals in New York
- Buddy (apparently, it's about Buddy Holly, and I don't even know who that is)
- We Will Rock You
Three Broadway shows:
- Wicked
- Tarzan
- Lion King
Two movie adaptions:
- Der Schuh des Manitu
- Dirty Dancing
and Tanz der Vampire.

In Vienna, they have Tanz der Vampire and Rudolf - der letzte Kuss.
[/end rant]

So what we see is a huge Broadway-ization. I'm not sure what to think of this.
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R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:10 pm Post subject:

It's funny that all of the "European" musicals that have been mentioned are English language shows. It's a very limited assortment. I suggest taking a look at the likes of the German Elisabeth, Rebecca, etc. the ones NOT written for an English speaking audience. Like I said, in the most popular of them, there's some sort of "darkness" to them, whetehr it's about death, vampires, or spiritual oppression...
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Blithely all are blending shrooms...then came those rotten fangirls

I have no idea what you''re talking about.

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:14 pm Post subject:

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:25 pm Post subject:

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:29 pm Post subject:

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