New Composers?

Borstalboy Profile Photo
Borstalboy
#0New Composers?
Posted: 2/11/04 at 6:14pm

So, kids, who do you think are the Sondheim's and Kander/Ebbs of the new millenium?
Myself, I love LaChiusa, Guettel, and Tesori. Can't stand Elton John!!!


"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

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~*Triple Star On Broadway*~
#1re: New Composers?
Posted: 2/11/04 at 6:18pm

Personally, no one is ever going to create musicals alike the ones of Sondhiem, Kander and Ebb, etc. I dont think you really can say there are going to be any "new" Stephan Sondhiems, because the man is a legend of his own. You can't create another one of him.
However, I do know what you mean BorstalBoy. I also enjoy LaChiusa. But sorry, my heart is still with the "old" composers, and its always gonna be.


You've gotta have heart AND music

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Borstalboy
#2re: re: New Composers?
Posted: 2/11/04 at 6:50pm

True...there is no replacing Sondheim or any of the greats.

Just wondering what are the composers that you like that are relatively new.


"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

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Taryn
#3re: re: re: New Composers?
Posted: 2/11/04 at 8:41pm

Jason Robert Brown.

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JimVukovich
#4New Composers?
Posted: 2/12/04 at 1:02am

They aren't new composers but they are pretty new to Broadway.........Shaiman/Wittman........As new and successful as anyone these days.

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bwaysinger
#5re: New Composers?
Posted: 2/12/04 at 11:41am

I've been involved with a LOT of new and developing projects out there. Without naming names, there are people with true talent who are still relative unknowns in this world...and there they are, plugging away at places like NYU's graduate writing program, the BMI Workshop and New Dramatists...real talent, creating intriguing and fun shows...all they need is a chance.
(I'm most excited by the reading and recording I did for a show whose creators have landed a major literary agent and the show seems headed for an out-of-town developmental staging...it's so exciting to see good new work getting off the ground without having been drafted by some billionare producer)

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JohnPopa
#6re: re: New Composers?
Posted: 2/12/04 at 12:05pm

BMI: Where Formula Is King.

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markthomas
#7re: re: re: New Composers?
Posted: 2/12/04 at 12:29pm

there are tons of great new composers ... jason rabert brown, larry o' keef, scott alan, ricky ian gordan (scott alan and Ricky Ian are cousins) ... you name it, there out there. I guess you just have to be open to the idea of difference ... i love new composers and have always enjoy singing there work. Yet, that is just me.

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bwaysinger
#8re: re: re: re: New Composers?
Posted: 2/12/04 at 4:01pm

That's kind of a low blow, I think. Sure, most programs follow a structure but I've seen a lot of things in the BMI workshop that fly in the face of convention. Most of the people I know in the workshop use it for what it does best: getting your music up in front of people so you can see what's working and what isn't.
Avenue Q is just the latest of the things that seems to be doing just fine coming out of the BMI workshop.

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Elphie
#9re: re: re: re: re: New Composers?
Posted: 2/12/04 at 5:33pm

Ditto the Jason Robert Brown.


"They hear drums. We hear music."

King Stevos
#10re: re: re: re: re: re: New Composers?
Posted: 2/12/04 at 7:49pm

Ricky Ian Gordon is a genius, the head of musical theater just introduced me to his work. I wish I could see one of works live.
I don't know his cousin, will check the guy out though definitely. I also enjoy the work of Andrew Lippa he is a different composer, artsy and true to style, I like it. JRB is there really anyone who can say they honestly dont like his work? Shaiman will do wonders for musical theater also hate to say it but I can't wait to see Catch me, it seems like such a hard piece to work with, and I hope that he does it good enough to get out of the shadow of Hairspray which doesn't show off his talents.

STEVOS


"IF I TRY THERE MAY BE A CHANCE / WE COULD LOVE WITH OUR EYES CLOSED/ WITH OUR EYES CLOSED WE COULD CHANGE THE WORLD!"- Stephen Dwight

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Sumofallthings
#11re: re: re: re: re: re: re: New Composers?
Posted: 2/12/04 at 11:24pm

Does anyone know what is up for Jason Robert Brown next? After the deserving failure of Urban Cowboy I hope he can give us something like Parade which I enjoyed immensely (sp?).


BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"

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markthomas
#12re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: New Composers?
Posted: 2/13/04 at 12:45am

King Stevo. You can see/hear Rickys cousins stuff at www.scottalan.net I believe. I haven't gone in awhile, but he always wrotes interested things on his journal. I also love Ricky. Albertine was impecable. Love that show. Jason Robert Brown, where are you ? We miss you. God Bless.

walkinginmemphis
#13re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: New Composers?
Posted: 2/13/04 at 10:33am

I am biased. I read about scott alan on playbill.com. I even believe there was a threed started here about who he was, and since nobody knew, I decided to find out. I looked up information on him on the who's who on this site, went to his site, listened to his music and feel in love with him (he is very handsome and VERY young). Not only that, but when I wrote him a small letter telling him I was a new fan, he wrote me back a beautiful letter of appreciation and invited me to his showcase at the Duplex on the 14th, which was one of the best things I have seen since being in NY. Kate Wetherhead, on a side note, needs to be on Broadway. I loved her in Sarah, Plain and Tall. I believe she is in Scott's new musical Piece. So, his music is filled with cander and emotion. Not a dry eye in the house. He writes very dark, soulful, pop edge, depressing, insightful music. He throws some comedy in right at the proper places, but you can tell he is in no way comforming to what is "proper" in theater. At first, I left the show feeling sad. His music will do that to you. I believe Gerry Mac (the mayor of Broadway) was crying his eyes out in the front row. Then I went home, and I was still crying, but it was inspriring. I think that is the word. I left inspired. I love his music. I am biased because Scott and I now communicate via email, lucky me. I just wanted to share that with you. I have never written on here before,and got a member name just to write this. He really is something special that each of you should check out. I just read on his journal that he is now working with Shoshana Bean from Hairspray on her debut cd, which I am sure will be a standout. She has the pipes, and he writes this undescribable music. I am certain he will be making a bigger name for himself shortly, but it is so wonderful to hear people talking about him already without many credits to his name. Check him out. www.scottalan.net

jesseeinstein
#14re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: New Composers?
Posted: 2/13/04 at 6:00pm

Jason's doing a show on Betty Boop, is still looking for a book for "The Moneyman" and is working on an album.

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Broadwaylilhead
#15re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: New Composers?
Posted: 2/17/04 at 10:31am

Get ready to start hearing about Damon Intrabortolo.. he wrote BARE and is serving as musical director for the upcoming production.

I really want this show to do well; this is one of those shows that I think will go to again and again just to hear some of the amazing songs-- many could stand alone as pop songs.


Call it a regime change...