My classification essay subject

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/25/16 at 8:51pm

I'm writing a classification essay and guess what I'm classifying?! Broadway musicals. So I have a question for all of you! What's your favorite type of musical?

A. Original/not well known sources

B. Star Vehicles

C. Based on well known sources

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 10/25/16 at 9:00pm

I always love to see something new and original/unknown, like Natasha...1812. (I know this is based on a section of a book, but most people seeing the show would not be aware of that. I would think it's considered "unknown". So I choose A. 

Updated On: 10/25/16 at 09:00 PM

[freewilma]

Posted: 10/25/16 at 9:05pm

A - I love discovering new works and stories.  

Honestly, an adaptation of a movie is generally a disincentive for me.  A book is more appealing; especially if I haven't read it previously.  

I find star vehicles more  compelling in plays rather than musicals.  

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/25/16 at 9:08pm

Im going to be honest.....I can't answer your question:   there is no actual answer for me. (Although I would likely put the star vehicle in a distant last).  Does the original  idea sound intriguing?  Is the source material something I know?  Like?  Does the creative team seem like a match...in either scenario?

 

It's not about original v other source.....its about connection.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/25/16 at 9:09pm

Generally, C.  You learn things you never knew you never knew.

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 10/25/16 at 9:18pm

Like dramamama, I don't care about the source of the material. It's what the creative team does with the material. In addition to the questions she posed, are they presenting it in a fresh way? Are they making it possible for me to view an idea in a way I would normally not? Are they saying something worthwhile about the subject at hand?

Updated On: 10/25/16 at 09:18 PM

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 10/25/16 at 9:31pm

Musicals based on films have actually been some of my favorites. SHE LOVES ME, NINE and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC being prime examples. The ones Branded as "______: The Musical!!" do tend to lack the artistry of these however, giving film based musicals a bad rap.

I also really enjoy musicals based on kindof a specific historic culture like DREAMGIRLS or FOLLIES. Original stories crafted around specific but fictionalized history of something like the 60's recording industry or the Ziegfeld Follies.

[ggersten]

Posted: 10/25/16 at 9:55pm

I'm having a difficult time separating "star vehicle" from the original/unknown and well-known categories.  Even if a star vehicle - it's going to be either original/unknown or based on well known material.  

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/25/16 at 9:58pm

I guess I'm trying to classify the musicals as how they market themselves. So a star vehicle show would usually market the star etc.

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 10/25/16 at 10:13pm

It depends on the content of the show. I love Be More Chill, which is based on a lesser known novel, but I despise Aspects of Love, also based on a lesser known novel. My favorite musical ever is Big Fish, which is based on a pretty well-known novel and film, but I can't get through Spamalot, despite the fact that I love the work of Monty Python.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/25/16 at 10:32pm

I think you need to rethink your classification categories. 

For example, what is The Great Comet? They are 100% marketing it as a star vehicle (and it is selling accordingly), but it's also based on a very famous Russian novel, itself adapted many times over, and yet despite all the places you can find this story it could still fall in your category of not well known sources by today's pop culture standards. 

 

[Valentina3]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 10:28am

Gotta love Whizzer's #micdrop moments. Technically, War Paint and Gypsy is based on books (Original/not well known sources) with War Paint actually based on uber famous real-life people - but they have both been branded (probably rightly so) as star vehicles for actresses who originated those roles.

[markypoo]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 10:42am

You might also consider examing the fine line between "full" musicals and what are sometimes referred to as plays-with-music.