Do musical theatre folks hate change?

Question

I work in theatre, many are going out of business where I live. It makes me very sad, but I also feel something has to change for this to be a viable Art form again. We can't keep producing the same old shows over and over, like with Opera (which isn't doing too well either). Something has to change? Disagree? Why? The people I saw come to these shows were older folks. I call them the "blue-hairs". But when we did shows like "Evil Dead: The Musical" for which I played in the band, the crowd was young and joyful!

Is it time for musical theatre to evolve? I could name lots of new shows that are doing great because they embrace change. Musical theatre is not like ballet or opera, it's not stuck with tradition. It's changed in the past, as the success of rock musicals attests to. Should it keep changing? Why or why not? Is it immune to evolution? Says who? And what about this vibrato stuff?

Lol! What about the influence of rock, soul, funk, country, metal, blues, etc, etc, etc...on the traditional musical theatre style of wacky vibrato?!
Haha Don't hold back! Let me have it!

YEAH, I SAID F#CKING METAL!! What?!

Answer 1

I, as you know, was one of the "hostiles"

.

As Cnews says, it is the general attitude we object to.



And you are, in a sense, correct. but I sense no value in taking opera, for instance, and removing vibrato from it.



Your basic premise starts with the notion that "old" music sucks and has no value anymore. For which I say ****you. No Offense meant.



I encounter this all the time in the Rock and Pop forum, where narrow minded fans of genres lash out and insult anyone who doesn't like "their" music and calls fans of older bands lame.(and that's the polite term)



I've been involved in musical theater as an actor and a musician for 44 years. And the amount of hate directed my way because I speak from the voice of real experience and not fandom is amazing because I made the mistake of saying I didn't care to listen to most modern metal.

I'm often accused of not knowing what I'm talking about.

WTF?



I have no objection to a new musical using modern singing and musical techniques. I haven't seen Book of Mormon or Spamalot , but I would like to. Rent is not a outdated musical, is it?



I agree that excessive vibrato can be annoying. Ethel Merman drives (drove) me nuts. God Awful.

In the 30's, female singers used an annoying vibrato.

If you ever see "San Francisco" a 1936 film with Clark Gable and Jeanette McDonald, Jeannette sings with a severe vibrato. (my mom also sings like that in church...she was born in 1936)

I couldn't stand listening to it.



So I do see where you are coming from.



But, to lash out and accuse us of being resistant to change or are afraid of it is patently wrong.



I'm pretty sure that a lot of new musicals are "evolved" , but they are not going to mess with "traditional shows"

and the decline of "theater" productions is not the old style's fault. It is the fault of the young people. Going to a theater to watch live people act is passe and stupid and lame. For "Blue Hairs" as you put it. Just like I'm a hard rock guitarist, but I'm "Dad Rock" and therefore lame.



If you can't download it , they don't give a fig.



But musical theater has evolved quite a bit and I've watched it happen. So your basic premise is also very flawed in it's concept.



And I'm sure after all the old fogeys die off, then you'll start seeing Musical theater shows sacrificing goats to Satan and singing screamo.



And to be honest, I'm thinking your anger is more directed at older musicals because you don't play an instrument that is used in those musicals and you're finding it hard to get work. That's not the Musical Theater's fault.

You should have learned to play the violin or cello , flute or clarinet or something.



I have a great respect for some metal musicians. That stuff is hard to play. But I don't have to like it.



Same for you. You don't have to like vibrato. That's freedom. But don't try to insult other people who do.

You are not the arbiter of taste and talent. Neither am I.

Answer 2

You keep bringing up "The Book of Mormon" and "Evil Dead: The Musical" as your examples. And you seem convinced that the crowd is young because.....of the lack of vocal vibrato and traditional arrangements?!



The Evil Dead movies are cult classics. Anything related to them is going to draw a young audience, regardless of the form it takes. If the singers in it used vibrato "excessively", the crowd would STILL be there. Why? Because it's EVIL F*^&ING DEAD! Few movies have ever attained the kind of cult status that one has. It launched the careers of Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, as well as a dozen lesser known names in the industry. Yet you believe that a musical based on it is drawing a crowd simply because it isn't a "traditional" musical?



And why do you seem so convinced that people will have something against you for liking metal? I'm a metalhead too, and I've played it or 20 years now. I also know my stuff well enough that when I answer a guitar related question the other guitar vets acknowledge that I know what I'm talking about. The fact that I'm a metal player is totally irrelevant.



Trust me on this: If people are being hostile, it's NOT because you like metal. It's because you're asking questions in a hostile manner and generally being a douche about it.

Answer 3

opera has a tradition yes, but that doesn't mean there are no new operas.



wait... if you "work in theater" why don't you know that people are still writing opera?

...are you not paying attention? well.. i guess you are just trolling then.



i like metal too... but.. its weird that you hate vibrato so much and you like metal since many subgenres of metal have used rather extreme vibrato as well...

(or do you only consider one kind to be "real" metal)



competent musicians can phrase with or without vibrato. its just one of many tools, and even in one style, the way it is used will change over time. but that means when you perform older pieces you should remember the composers intent and consider using a different style.



all the people you are seeing in these new musicals have probably also performed older musicals and they might make different stylistic choices in those.



the whole point of a "tradition" is to keep older art alive, and then add new pieces to that set of work. the new pieces you like are actually a part of the same tradition. it is supposed to evolve, and the pieces you site show that it is evolving. but wanting to throw away the old stuff means you don't wish a long life to the musicals that make you happy now. is it really how you feel?



you are not thinking in both directions... you are thinking "huge audience today beats smaller audience today". but what about "decent draw for 50 years beats a few big months and then nothing".



topical references resonate more widely in one generation, but they lack staying power. it is difficult to tell which pieces from today will resonate as well to future generations.

you seem to have a low respect for the concept of time.

Answer 4

“Show Boat” is almost 100 years old and yet it dealt with racism, sex, love, gambling, drunkenness, and poverty. Even today, it’s controversial. Frankly, Musical Theater was already “evolved” at the inception.



In terms of substance, you can’t get much better than that. However, the “style” seems to be bugging you. There is a cure for this…



Write a musical in the style you feel is unrepresented.



I’m going to speak for everyone in show business and say that we would all support you in your efforts and applaud even the smallest step in that direction. Creative people embrace change. We would all be thrilled to hear something that is new and exciting.



The only evolution I can suggest is for you to evolve from critic to writer. Now THAT’S evolution we’d all love to see!



Cheers!

Answer 5

Why would musical theatre have to change in order to become a viable art form? Jazz is much more nostalgic than theatre is, and it's doing fine.



Also, I find it really hilarious that you mentioned the book of mormon in your vibrato question, yet Josh Gad originated one of the leads. Josh Gad is a poster child of "overused, cheesy vibrato".