"As the summer ends, many people start talking about new movies like Six or Hadestown. These movies used to be Broadway shows. So are they successful as movies as well, or should they just continue to be musicals?"-Lucie Alvarado-Strasser, 6th grade
As the summer ends, many people start talking about new movies like Six or Hadestown. These movies used to be Broadway shows. So are they successful as movies as well, or should they just continue to be musicals?
Movies make more money than Broadway plays, but it is always a gamble to mess with already good shows. NPR review says about Hamilton “It’s a high quality recording of the stage production”. But not all are.The Daily Bruin states “SIX the musical live! fails to embrace film as a medium”. SIX, unlike Hamilton, didn't utilize the camera. Movies are amazing when they are good, but if Broadway movies fail, the show associated with it may fail too. Some people who love Broadway also have high expectations unlike new movies and they need to be fulfilled.
Broadway shows have a certain magic to them. Teddy Hunt, a 7th grade Literary Arts student, says, “In Broadway you feel immersed… but in a movie you feel a barrier between yourself and the characters.” A movie has music and editing, but you lose some of the feeling of being in it. Getting to be in a theatre with people performing just for you feels special, and a movie doesn't have that. Shows like Le Misérables and Cats were seen as big fails. Due to the musical element missing and CGI overuse.
However, many shows have taken the leap into films. Recent ones include Hadestown, SIX, and others from farther back like Hamilton or Newsies. So there must be some benefit right?
There are also adapted movies like Oklahoma, Hairspray and Mamma Mia.They took a less direct approach but separated themselves from Broadway and took all the credit with new actors and sets and editing, but took all the blame as well if it didn’t work out.
Sometimes the gamble pays off with shows like Wicked and Fiddler On The Roof. Because of using a popular cast, Wicked, parts 1 and 2 got big publicity. The shows are more accessible for people who can’t afford a seat for Broadway or people who live too far away to get to a theatre, as well as people who can’t be bothered to go to a theatre. The New York Times says , “There are perks of watching this live-capture of Hadestown.” Most Broadway shows are at least moderate successes, so it makes sense that a lot of producers are doing new adaptations.
Sarah Vela the Theatre and Vocal teacher at Oakland School for the Arts says “It mostly depends on the cast and original show. It is important to use people already in the musical theatre world, not just famous people, to get publicity.” She points to movies like Wicked as an example.
Does Broadway have it right, or will movie adaptations become even greater? It depends on the movie, show and audience. But all we can hope is "maybe it will turn out this time” for the Broadway industry, the movie industry and us.
Movies make more money than Broadway plays, but it is always a gamble to mess with already good shows. NPR review says about Hamilton “It’s a high quality recording of the stage production”. But not all are.The Daily Bruin states “SIX the musical live! fails to embrace film as a medium”. SIX, unlike Hamilton, didn't utilize the camera. Movies are amazing when they are good, but if Broadway movies fail, the show associated with it may fail too. Some people who love Broadway also have high expectations unlike new movies and they need to be fulfilled.
Broadway shows have a certain magic to them. Teddy Hunt, a 7th grade Literary Arts student, says, “In Broadway you feel immersed… but in a movie you feel a barrier between yourself and the characters.” A movie has music and editing, but you lose some of the feeling of being in it. Getting to be in a theatre with people performing just for you feels special, and a movie doesn't have that. Shows like Le Misérables and Cats were seen as big fails. Due to the musical element missing and CGI overuse.
However, many shows have taken the leap into films. Recent ones include Hadestown, SIX, and others from farther back like Hamilton or Newsies. So there must be some benefit right?
There are also adapted movies like Oklahoma, Hairspray and Mamma Mia.They took a less direct approach but separated themselves from Broadway and took all the credit with new actors and sets and editing, but took all the blame as well if it didn’t work out.
Sometimes the gamble pays off with shows like Wicked and Fiddler On The Roof. Because of using a popular cast, Wicked, parts 1 and 2 got big publicity. The shows are more accessible for people who can’t afford a seat for Broadway or people who live too far away to get to a theatre, as well as people who can’t be bothered to go to a theatre. The New York Times says , “There are perks of watching this live-capture of Hadestown.” Most Broadway shows are at least moderate successes, so it makes sense that a lot of producers are doing new adaptations.
Sarah Vela the Theatre and Vocal teacher at Oakland School for the Arts says “It mostly depends on the cast and original show. It is important to use people already in the musical theatre world, not just famous people, to get publicity.” She points to movies like Wicked as an example.
Does Broadway have it right, or will movie adaptations become even greater? It depends on the movie, show and audience. But all we can hope is "maybe it will turn out this time” for the Broadway industry, the movie industry and us.
