Lyricist SIR TIM RICE has slammed the current state of musical theatre, insisting stage versions of DIRTY DANCING and the forthcoming THE LORD OF THE RINGS are a ploy to fleece money out of paying customers.
Rice believes musical theatre is too driven by money nowadays, claiming there is too much of a "What's big? Let's make a musical out of it" attitude towards the art form. He says, "You think why bother, other than to make money. Now Dirty Dancing may be brilliant for all I know, but there's not much excitement in it for me." The EVITA lyricist also admits he grew tired of the genre that made his name, saying, "I went right off musical theatre for a while. I thought, I can't see what people like in it. A lot of musicals are pretty awful."
What do you think? Is Sir Tim right?_____________ Kris MTA Admin
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He does sort of have a point. I don't agree with him on most of the accounts, however I do agree that they're making too many random things into musicals.I have no problem with the creation of new musicals, but come on- Legaly Blonde the musical? Doctor Zhivago the musical? Those are already two great movies/books and I really don't need to hear them sung, thank you.
But I do disagree with him on msot of his points.Auditioning for: Brigadoon, theatre season, American Music Theatre, Into the Woods, Sound of Music, and AMDA.
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jmslp
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Re:RICE: 'MUSICAL THEATRE IS A RIP-OFF' - 2006/11/07 02:10i think i tend to agree with him to a point. i think there are a lot of the movie-made-musical as well as the jukebox musicals hitting popular theatre venues. and i think that many of them do come about b/c broadway is trying to make more money. but, if these movies are popular and then translated into musicals and they draw a new crowd to see staged shows, is it really that bad? i love the lord of the rings books and the movie trilogy was excellently executed. do i think that makes for a good score? i have not heard it but i really can't imagine being entertained by it as a musical. that doesn't mean that there aren't people who will enjoy it. i was surprised the wedding singer made it to broadway and high fidelity is scheduled to hit broadway, but the former did pretty well, and the latter was a very entertaining film.....
honestly, i think what bothers me more than movies turned into musicals is musicals turning into movies. i think in the past it was more of an art. now it's a bunch of [big name] actors who think they can sing and big budget producers making a mockery of stage versions. maybe Sir Tim Rice had little to do with the movie version of Jesus Christ Superstar or Evita but to paraphrase, i don't know what people can like in these...... and let's not even mention Phantom.... i guess i can forgive Sir Tim since he wasn't a lyricist on that.... but if Aida becomes a movie, let's give Sir Tim a ring.... on the positive side, these movies are bringing another audience to musicals.....
JMHO... hope i didn't offend anyone.They call me Jessica (like: They call me lady luck... lol)
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Eva Peron, Evita; Jack's Mother, Into the Woods; Sonia, Godspell; Anything Goes, Reno Sweeney; Audrey, Little Shop of Horrors; Catherine, Pippin
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ASHS_theatre
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Re:RICE: 'MUSICAL THEATRE IS A RIP-OFF' - 2006/11/08 02:51I agree with him, to be honest. I also think, though, that there is nothing wrong with a remake or a jukebox musical. I think it's a good tool for bringing new people into the theatres and they can sometimes be very good. (I am a HUGE Wedding Singer fan and am crushed that I won't see it before it closes.) Nothing is wrong with musicals based off of other things, so long as there is a good balance of original musicals as well. The balance isn't just about number. There has to be a decent number of originals that vary in genre and style. A variation will make sure every fan will have something to watch.Shelby Jr. Moderator
Currently: Fritzi Bonwit in M*A*S*H
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triplethreat
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Re:RICE: 'MUSICAL THEATRE IS A RIP-OFF' - 2006/11/08 03:00What bothers me is the VOLUME of these shows - it just seems like everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and instead of creating something new, they're just taking something that people already like. Most great musicals were based on something else (R & H only had one big show that wasn't) but there was also a great amount of their own creativity involved.
I am also a fan of the Wedding Singer, mostly because the music is ORIGINAL - the movie had an extremely popular soundtrack, but they didn't just rehash that music, they wrote their own. What impresses me is how the score really captures the feeling of the 80s - the Van Halen influence is such a great tribute!_____________ Kris MTA Admin
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katoru
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Re:RICE: 'MUSICAL THEATRE IS A RIP-OFF' - 2006/11/08 04:15Exactly, originality counts for everything, even if the show is based on another work. Even operas written in the 18th century took their librettos from another source (Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro comes to mind, it was a play beforehand). Personally, I don't care much for jukebox musicals since I feel they don't require too much creativity.. I mean, someone like myself who really can't compose music, could write a jukebox musical. And especially those that feature the performers of said songs seem more like plays with music rather than musicals. And yes, I agree that these sort of shows are a cash grab. We need more shows like The Light in the Piazza coming out (also based on a novella, by the way): Lovely, complex music that fits inside a story. I'm not sure how I feel about musicals like Legally Blonde and The Nutty Professor, but I heard wonderful things about The Wedding singer, so I'm definitely willing to give them a chance.Kathleen Sera Current Shows: Aloha Pinafore - Volga Upcoming Auditions: Crazy For You - Irene Roth
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broadwaybaby
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Re:RICE: 'MUSICAL THEATRE IS A RIP-OFF' - 2006/11/08 05:15triplethreat wrote: What bothers me is the VOLUME of these shows - it just seems like everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and instead of creating something new, they're just taking something that people already like.
I couldn't have said it better myself!!!----------Emily----------
Currently: taking a much needed break Favorite Roles: Joanie Lish - The Full Monty, Carmen - Sweet Charity, Crystal - Little Shop of Horrors, Sarah's Friend - Ragtime, Little Red Riding Hood - Into the Woods, Evillene - The Wiz, Joy - Cinderella, Tiger Lily - Peter Pan
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Exactly how I feel. I also think there is a big lack of creativity as katoru said. I think musicals made from certain movie would be ok but Legally Blonde?
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ConverseSneaker
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Re:RICE: 'MUSICAL THEATRE IS A RIP-OFF' - 2006/11/09 16:20I agree with what a lot here has been said. Beauty and the Beast worked out amazingly, but it still amazes me that they did the Lion King. Legally Blonde makes me want to gag. Next they'll be doing Pirates of the Carbibbean the musical.To go into acting is like asking for admission to an insane asylum. Anyone may apply, but only the certifiably insane are admitted.
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Starlet_Actress21
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Re:RICE: 'MUSICAL THEATRE IS A RIP-OFF' - 2006/11/10 00:06^Oh, my gosh! I am a huge fan of PotC, but a musical would just be horrible! They're alrady thinking about taking it a little too far with a fourth movie. There are time when you just have to stop and let people imagine what will happen next without actually making a movie to tell them what happes next.Auditioning for: Brigadoon, theatre season, American Music Theatre, Into the Woods, Sound of Music, and AMDA.
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on the positive side, these movies are bringing another audience to musicals.....
