MWMusicals

Musicals Fame in the world of theatre has a reputation as being hard to attain and easy to lose, and the same goes for the realm of plays as well, especially that of musicals. More so than other plays, musicals are comprised of more parts that must work cohesively to make a meaningful and sellable piece of entertainment, including good acting, dialogue, plot, lyrics, and score. Despite the enormous amount of work that goes into producing a musical, most of them will inevitably fail while others may go on to enjoy large amounts of success. Aside from pure luck, other things that can contribute to a play’s future are the subject matter, its audience appeal, and press coverage. The topics and ideas addressed in musicals can make a large impact on its popularity. Often it seems that stories with a realistic and relatable plot or stories that revolve around a moral crisis such as Elphaba’s self-acceptance, West Side Story’s tale of love, and Rent’s tale of surviving amid city and social struggles gain more popularity over time than other plays. Recognizable plots or character types from a book, popular story, or pop culture are also popular productions because they have a built-in audience that who is familiar with, understands, and identifies with the material. On the other hand, some more dark and provocative plays may focus on politics, race relations, and sexual identity, using graphic details of war, sex and death. Although glitzy and polished plays with a “happy ending” would be thought of as the more successful productions, there have been many other plays that have tapped into the darker or more negative aspects of life that do not end happily that have been just as successful. Although both types of topics are dramatic and are common onstage, the fact of the matter is that theatre, and especially musicals, are the ideal medium for an audience to escape the “real” world and enjoy themselves. It is likely a result of a number of outside factors such as the nation’s economy, war status, and social atmosphere influence what type of play will be more popular at a given time. Ultimately it is up to the writer/director/producer team to correctly time the production of their play to maximize its relevance to the public. While the subjects and views of these plays can vary from the upbeat, optimistic and proud to the cynical, realistic, and philosophical, there is no truly effective way to gauge the likelihood of a play’s success based on subject alone. The concept of “the audience” –all the people that will potentially see a musical—is essential during the early stages of creating a play, and can greatly affect the final outcome of the project. Some musicals consistently remain popular due to their status as “classics” that each generation of theatre-goers will take interest in, such as Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, and The Phantom of the Opera. These types of plays, as well as their plots, lyrics, and music have withstood the test of time and have become part of the musical repertoire. Each new original musical or adaptation that opens seeks to grab onto an audience demographic to ensure its success; as __Wicked__ performed it became more sellable to the younger age groups in addition to adults, while __Avenue Q__ was mainly directed at young 20-something adults. While some plays such as __Wicked__ can attract a wide variety of viewers from many different demographics, some more niche musicals such as __Taboo__ seem to rely on smaller and more fanatical audiences; some __Taboo__ patrons even claim to have seen it upwards of 50 times. Newer works that are more abstract, provoking, or taboo that are trying to make their mark on Broadway tend to require more effort to gain attention, whether it is through marketing, writing, or musical editing. New plays on Broadway such as __Taboo__, __Caroline, Or Change__, __Avenue Q__, and __Wicked__ are essentially underdogs in a realm that can mainly consist of revivals or long-running classics. This pressure to compete and earn a profit on Broadway can mean endless changes to scenes and songs up until, and in some cases even after, opening night. These underdogs must try to break new ground and find their own “hook” to reel in new audiences and build a loyal following. Press and marketing are also extremely important in getting attention in the initial stages of a musical. Critics are a large part of theatre culture, and their opinions in previews can motivate or discourage potential audiences on seeing a particular show. An “expert opinion” can plague or buoy a production in terms of ticket sales, which is a major factor producers consider when deciding whether or not to close a show. __Taboo__ was hit with a barrage of bad press during production which mainly focused on the producer Rosie O’ Donnell, and not the play itself, and although the play was hugely successful in Europe, it closed on Broadway shortly after awards season. The lack of support it received from the press seems to have had a large negative impact on the length of the show’s run. On the other hand, critics originally denounced __Avenue Q__ as something that never should have been allowed on Broadway, yet on seeing its success with the public, their opinions changed. Contrary to their original opinions, __Avenue Q__ continues to show and tour around the country. The marketing of a show also has an impact on the show’s audience and therefore its success. In the case of __Caroline, Or Change__ which was a smaller, more quaint production compared to its competitors, there was a lack of marketing and press that essentially failed to put it on the theatre-goers’ radar. Whether it consists of enormous billboards or reviews in a paper, selling a play to the public is extremely important in building an audience. In the same way that subject matter cannot directly predict a show’s success, musicals can fall victim to over- and under-hype; the key to staying afloat in the cutthroat world of theatre seems to be strategic, timely, and intelligent marketing. Musicals have varying amounts of success that can be attributed to subject, audience, and press, yet ultimately luck can impact outcomes just as much. __Wicked__, which initially had mixed reviews and was considered poor by critics, became an enormously popular show with its upbeat message and immersive atmosphere. __Caroline, Or Change__ came from a famous playwright Tony Kushner, but its small scale, unusual plot, and lack of press led to a run of a few months that ended before awards season was over. __Taboo__ came from across the pond with a famous star, playwright, producer and large fan base, yet its provocative subject and negative press led to a short run on Broadway. The biggest success of all was the “Sesame Street for adults” musical __Avenue Q__ which was lambasted by critics, whose witty subject, songs, and smart marketing produced a fanatic audience no one expected. Against all odds, the quirky puppet show won the Tony for Best Musical. There is no specific reason that can be pinpointed as cause for a musical’s success or failure; instead, it is an unpredictable mix of people—actors, directors, critics, writers, producers—and pure luck that has the potential to become a successful and memorable show.