Marc Shaiman's on the board!- Page 3

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 10:46pm

What's his name queried "Whatever happend to CLASS?" He obviously is'nt looking very hard.

And who knows, maybe what you consider to be your greatest success was never even heard on stage or screen. Perhaps your greatest success is seen in your icon.

Hope to meet you in Chicago. Bring your long johns and a good set of muffs!

Sueleen

[starlight2]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 10:48pm

Congrats on your benevolence in Chicago and I hope your endeavors there are able to bestow TONS of money on your special projects in Chicago. May I ask, which songs, performances, etc. are you most excited about presenting that night at your benefit with the touring cast of Hairspray? besides the ever-magnificent "Bruce Almighty"!? Have you enjoyed being with this first tour? We have enjoyed this awesome cast and your "taking the risk" with this show from the beginning. God Bless you all!!! now.... "give you the flowers, give you the crown, and everybody start bowing"!!

[mebice]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 10:54pm

Welcome!!! I can't believe I can actually talk to THE Marc Shaiman! That is so fantastic! I really admire you as an artist, and now through your posts, as the humble man you are. :) I am also faklempt.

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 11:15pm

A Message Board is a place to share your comments, good and bad. To share your OPINIONS about a piece of theater. They are simply OPINIONS. My opinions mean very little in the grand scheme of things. As little as you all want to believe it there are many shows that I love and I post about them HERE as well. The recent production of Henry IV was simply brilliant, I Am My Own Wife was a wonderful evening of theater, Avenue Q was a JOY, Wicked has it's moments of greatness...all of which I have said on this board...and yet the only times there are comments made to postings are when they are negatively geered toward Hairspray or some other show. I find that the problem on this board isn't the people who state their minds about the shows they see, but the people who automatically jump on any negative comment about there dear blessed show that they've seen twenty million times. Just because it's on Broadway doesn't mean everyone has to think it's great theater folks. Debate is what makes this board interesting. Opinions are what make us different people. I am not going to be one of the people on this board who posts every time they go on a trip with there mommy and daddy and say how brilliant every little thing that they saw was.
Simply because I don't care for Hairspray makes you feel sorry for me, Mr Shaiman? Really don't be. I have found joy in many other musicals and plays over recent years. And why do you read the boards exactly, Mr Shaiman? Is it just to see people talk about how wonderful you and your work are? Or do you read them to listen to criticism and try to see what the theatergoers are saying (not simply the ones who love your work.) If it is the second one than that's great! You don't have to listen to me or anyone else but I think as an artist you would realize that not everyone is going to love everything you do. And you can take my opinion with a grain of salt, but just because they are "negative" towards your show doesn't make me a joyless person or make the comments unjustified.

And if we are talking about the worked that I loved off yours...okay. I loved your work and everyone else's work on When Harry Met Sally which I regard as one of if not the greatest romantic comedy film ever made.

And now I am certain that someone will find something negative to say about me posting something positive. I mean I have a reputation to live up to here...I say something nice about Jack O'Brien's production of Henry IV and I am told that I probably can't decide whether or not to stand or sit while peeing (very classy by the way) because I can't say that I either love or hate ALL of his work. Things aren't as black and white as all that folks. But I'll tell you one thing that is black and white- I did not care for Hairspray. Maybe it was the day that I saw it, maybe it is the fact that I see very little to be desired in Marissa Jaret Winokur's performance, maybe I didn't care for the story, maybe I didn't like some of the songs, maybe I didn't care for Jerry Mitchell's choreography, maybe I didn't like some of the jokes, maybe I found the style of the piece obnoxious...whatever it is the show did not gel for me.

I truly wish you the best of luck on your future works and hope that one day I find your work as exciting as the vast majority finds Hairspray.

[JeffG]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 11:26pm

FYI

"I am not going to be one of the people on this board who posts every time they go on a trip with there mommy and daddy and say how brilliant every little thing that they saw was."

IF you are going to condescend, at least proofread. It's "Their" not "there"

As for the rest of your post...well, no comment

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 11:27pm

I hope we aren't going to be giving you the twenty questions every time you post. I think everyone is just excited to hear from you and hopefully it'll die down some not all the way I like getting asked questions some too but of course I am only 18 so there is a difference. I have to say I am always excited to have any new member on the board and I would like to welcome you. Anyone who can help any of us learn more about live theatre is a friend of mine. And you are one of the best resources of the current scene out there imho. (And of course theatre is always evolving so we're always learning.) Once again welcome.

Updated On: 1/26/04 at 11:27 PM

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 11:32pm

JeffG- here we go. Are you one of the millions of bitter English teachers on this board? Your post and my spelling errors have nothing to do with Broadway, Marc Shaiman, or anything else. It's sad that that is all you could say to my post.

[JeffG]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 11:42pm

I'm not an English teacher. And my post was very much on topic. If you are going to post on this message board AND condescend to the younger members AND I choose to point it out, that is ALSO my decision

"A Message Board is a place to share your comments, good and bad."

[Shawk]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 11:44pm

Ok, I'm normally a very kick-back poster who seldom says anything and it's diplomatic when I do, but since no one else has yet, I just have to say:

SHILLS SHILLS SHILLS SHILLS SHILLS SHILLS SHILLS



Welcome to the posting side of this wonky online world, Mr. Shaiman.

On a more thoughtful note, I think there's a line to be drawn between critique and mind-numbing criticism. There's harping on and on about something that you dislike while jumping on anyone who does like whatever it is, and then there is finding flaws in something you otherwise enjoy or... imagine this: simply debating the merits of something. It would be nice if we could do more of the latter and less of the former, but it's a free 'Net.

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 11:48pm

"effG- here we go. Are you one of the millions of bitter English teachers on this board? Your post and my spelling errors have nothing to do with Broadway, Marc Shaiman, or anything else. It's sad that that is all you could say to my post. "

And I quote you: "They are simply OPINIONS."

[Phantom2]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 11:51pm

Remain calm, oxygen masks will fall from the ceiling. Gee, I wonder what broadwayguy2 is doing in the airplane restroom so long??????????

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 11:55pm

sorry.. I ran into Adam along the way...........


I agree.. there is pointing out that you don't like a show.. there is making it CLEAR you don't lieka show.. then you have "bestofbroadway"ing a show... it crosses into pathetic

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 11:59pm

"Just trying to grease the pan for it's opening."

And, really, who among us has not done the same thing?

[CJR]

Posted: 1/27/04 at 12:07am

I am not going to be one of the people on this board who posts every time they go on a trip with there mommy and daddy and say how brilliant every little thing that they saw was.

Can I ask what's wrong with that? Honestly, if I wasn't right here in the middle of it all and able to see a Broadway show whenever I wanted, I'd be pretty damn excited when I did see one. Not to say that because I live here, I'm *not* excited to see a Broadway show, but it's a bigger deal for someone who isn't as accessible to Broadway as a lot of us are.

Are you trying to say that just because these posters are younger and haven't seen as many shows as most of us, that their opinions don't count?

And personally, I love to read those posts.. it's wonderful seeing young people SO incredibly enthusiastic about live theatre. Even I can be a little jaded in my reviews sometimes -- it's nice to hear from someone who's still compltely enthralled in all the glamour.

Not ripping into you, but I think you should clarify your post a little.

~Heather

Updated On: 1/27/04 at 12:07 AM

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 1/27/04 at 12:14am

There are several people on this board who see theater and think every show they see is the greatest thing ever. Certainly there is nothing wrong with this, but I am not going to be one of those people because not every show is perfect and I'm not going to pretend like it is. Some people on this board only want to hear positive comments. Not me.

Is that clear...

Musetta- my typing and spelling errors have nothing to do with the post. And I'm not going to spend my time rereading everything that I write. Sorry.

"There's harping on and on about something that you dislike while jumping on anyone who does like whatever it is"- I have NEVER jumped on anyone who liked Hairspray- not ONCE!

[Jack42]

Posted: 1/27/04 at 12:22am

Never say NEVER

"hmm...I really don't know what to say back to you. This is a truly ignorant view. Sure she has "some" talent. She can sing with her tongue hanging half out of her mouth...if you call that a talent. "

[Phantom2]

Posted: 1/27/04 at 12:24am

Who said that?

[Jack42]

Posted: 1/27/04 at 12:25am

Why BOB of course. Let's see him backpeddle now. This should provide us with some decent entertainment at this hour...

[Shawk]

Posted: 1/27/04 at 12:27am

I was making a general comment. I did not name names, nor was I directing my comment at anyone in specific.

I have been accused of being a "basher" because I am not unabashedly glowing about every aspect of shows (ones that I like) myself. But there are people with a basher mentality out there, even if not being unfailingly gushy about a show is mistakenly seen as bashing at times. That's all I'm saying.

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 1/27/04 at 12:39am

Like I said I NEVER jumped on anyone who liked Hairspray. Did I say anything about Marissa Jaret Winokur fans. Maybe I should be more clear....I NEVER jumped on anyone for liking Hairspray. Now jumping on people who think that everyone on Broadway is the most talented person in the world is a different story. Updated On: 1/27/04 at 12:39 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/27/04 at 12:48am

Man, you really know how to take a thread down a cul-de-sac, BoB. Remember how you used to blow a gasket back on Broadway.com? When you were BroadwayBeagel? Oh that was fun. Remember when I said the South Park movie was the best new musical in years and you said, "Oh yeah, it's just swearing." I had the feeling then you were, how shall we say, less-than-informed. But it is true, you sometimes jump upon people. I wish there was one thing you could finally, after all these years, straighten out for me: Why (oh why) are you so willing to forgive Millie for the very sins you just can't get past for current Broadway hits and musicals that are in the pipeline?

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 1/27/04 at 12:49am

Very simple Namo- Millie has a good story, Millie has good choreography, is based on good Source material, has a stellar cast, an excellent director, one of YOUR favorite composers... Updated On: 1/27/04 at 12:49 AM

Posted: 1/27/04 at 12:54am

Namo you always have a way of hitting the nail on the head. Updated On: 1/27/04 at 12:54 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/27/04 at 12:55am

I enjoyed Caroline, Or Change. I know nothing else of the woman's work. She only wrote SOME of the music for that show you love. There is a lot of interpolated music in Millie, the source is -- OH MY GOD -- a movie ... it just seems you're willing to overlook the very things you hold against other shows. Perhaps you can understand why others are willing to "pull" for shows, just because they work for them, the way the LCD sugar rush of Millie works for you and causes you to overlook the very criteria you uphold. PARTICULARLY the "taking theater someplace new" and "never been done before" aspects!

Updated On: 1/27/04 at 12:55 AM

[King Stevos]

Posted: 1/27/04 at 1:03am

Mr Shaiman,
I would like to apologize for my insolent comment on what your Biggest success could be, I have no idea what you may view that and I had no right, I still welcome you to the board, and would love to but heads with you on musical theater issues, I am a huge fan of musical theater, and I would love to talk to you possibly through email, so that I can partake in knowledge I haven't been graced with before.
I never meant to offend you. I was just simply trying to give a warm welcome to a new friend. May we put aside differences and move forward so that future debating on issues may occur. Thank you for your time. I am used to pm-ing for debate but if you ever wish please email me, it is on the profile, and if you ever need amunition, I am sure you have finale, I will send you a peace of my work so that we are on a level playing field.
Thank you for your time.
KING STEVOS