Controversial musicals
Controversial musicals
dompayne98
Swing Joined: 10/20/15
#1Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/8/15 at 6:57pm
So I made a video explaining some controversial musicals and how I think they are important as they let us be able to speak about things we can't usually speak about. I'm aware that I could of gone into more detail with each one but thought that I can do that in future videos. Also, this is just a fraction of musicals. I could of done more but didn't want the video to be too long. Do you agree with what I said, or not and if so why? I'm quite interested in what people have to say on this!
Hamilton22
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/15
#2Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/8/15 at 7:23pm
It's interesting that all the musicals you chose were hits. I think most of the shows you picked had controversial material in them, but all of them were received extremely well and therefor I don't see how they were controversial.
#3Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/8/15 at 7:25pm
Would the scottsboro Boys be a controversial show?
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
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dompayne98
Swing Joined: 10/20/15
#4Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/8/15 at 8:10pm
I chose hits as I thought that more people would actually kinda understand where I'm coming from as they'd have background info on the shows (presuming they'd seen them) and with the material being controversial is what I meant. That's my fault for not explaining correctly and I see what you mean now. Do you agree with what I said or not?
dompayne98
Swing Joined: 10/20/15
#5Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/8/15 at 8:11pm
I didn't think about that to be honest. I haven't seen it but I know the outline and I feel like you are correct!
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#6Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/8/15 at 9:24pm
Could HAVE. Would HAVE. Should HAVE. Never "of". (Sorry, one of my grammatical pet peeves.)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#7Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/8/15 at 9:35pm
dramamama611 said: "Could HAVE. Would HAVE. Should HAVE. Never "of". (Sorry, one of my grammatical pet peeves.)"
Lol dramamama, that's a peeve of mine too. They mean "could've." One of my favorites is "who'd've."
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#8Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/8/15 at 9:37pm
Dealing with sensitive issues/characters is not really the same as being controversial. The subject matter in A Chorus Line is far from controversial. Nor was the info in Ave Q. Shocking maybe, but hardly controversial.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#9Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/8/15 at 9:39pm
The Life
Oh Calcutta
Let My People Come
Poster Emeritus
Updated On: 11/8/15 at 09:39 PM
Fantod
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/3/14
#10Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/8/15 at 11:11pm
I imagine some of the old Cole Porter musical audiences were shocked by the frank sexuality of some of his lyrics.
FlowerChild67
Stand-by Joined: 7/11/12
#11Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/9/15 at 2:04am
Call_me_jorge said: "Would the scottsboro Boys be a controversial show?
"
Weren't there protests at the show? I'd think that that would make it controversial... I believe (I may be misremembering, but I know that there definitely were complaints of this nature, even if it's not what the protests were about) that people were angry about its minstrel show format.
dompayne98
Swing Joined: 10/20/15
dompayne98
Swing Joined: 10/20/15
#13Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/9/15 at 2:54am
The thing is, you have to put it into context of time on when it was released and you may have just found avenue q shocking. I think I remember one Princeton/Rod puppeteer said that a group of nuns once watched the show and said that the place is going to burn down (something like that). And what they say about Germans in Avenue q
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#14Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/9/15 at 5:52am
Shocking and controversial are not the same thing.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
fgreene1938
Leading Actor Joined: 10/25/06
#15Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/9/15 at 8:37am
Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd" and "Assassins" are two that come to mind regarding being controversial in subject matter. Though considered a classic now, I recall that when Todd opened in 1979 there was a fair amount of press decrying its subject matter as being inappropriate for a musical. There were many walkouts during previews and some critics dismissed it on those grounds.
As recently as last year I attended a production of "Assassins" in Boston and during the talk back after the show audience members repeatedly questioned its viability as the subject for a musical.
dompayne98
Swing Joined: 10/20/15
#16Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/9/15 at 11:11am
I see what you mean with some of them but Avenue Q and Book of Mormon they put disclaimers on and I was also thinking about the controversial things that happened off-stage like with chorus line. I do get where you're coming from though
#17Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/9/15 at 2:38pm
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR caused an uproar even when the concept album was released.
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#18Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/9/15 at 2:51pm
The disclaimers were so you didn't bring children that were too young.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
dompayne98
Swing Joined: 10/20/15
#19Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/9/15 at 7:38pm
That may be true for Avenue q but not for Book of Mormon because of the religion side of it (once again, not having a go at you, just a friendly debate)
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#20Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/9/15 at 10:29pm
I don't believe we had such warnings here in the States.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#21Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/10/15 at 1:42am
In today's climate MARY POPPINS would be controversial.
#22Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/10/15 at 3:57am
There's a parental advisory on every ticket to Book of Mormon that states "Parental Advisory: Explicit Language" as well as signs explaining that and more in the box office. However, there is no mention on any ticket or sign that it is controversial because of it's take on religion, just warning on the language suitability.
Edit: I just took a gander at the Book of Mormon London Instagram and not a mention of the religious nature of the show was mentioned on any of the tickets tagged to the account. The only warning on the tickets is the same as the one I mentioned from the Broadway tickets - the parental advisory about the language.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
Updated On: 11/10/15 at 03:57 AM
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#23Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/10/15 at 5:46am
That's what I thought, thanks for confirming, Clumsy.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#24Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/10/15 at 9:33am
PRETTYBELLE was a pretty controversial musical for it's time.
EDIT: It didn't fly in 1971 and it certainly would not today. PRETTYBELLE is the story of a manic-depressive nymphomaniac alcoholic who learns her husband, who is the local sheriff, is a racist and is responsible for the deaths of innocent blacks and other minorities. To atone for his sins, Prettybelle decides she must sacrifice herself by having sex with as many minority men as possible. The story is told in flashback as she is writing her memoirs in a mental institution.
Not exactly MY FAIR LADY....LOL
Updated On: 11/10/15 at 09:33 AM
#25Controversial musicals
Posted: 11/10/15 at 9:32pm
Call_me_jorge said: "Would the scottsboro Boys be a controversial show?
"
No. Which is exactly what is wrong with the show, in my opinion. "Racism is bad" doesn't even require a reply, in this day and age, much less 2 hours of illustration.
A better show would "argue" for its villains, as the saying goes, and probably include the excuses people still make for racism: "But people like to stay with their own kind." "You can't expect people raised under the old system to change too quickly." "Black people are overly sexual; they can't help themselves." "If they didn't commit the rapes for which they were convicted, they probably got away with other crimes we don't even know about." "It's really just a few rotten apples that spoil things for everyone."
The above are just off the top of my head, obviously.
