What's with all of the teens obsessed Wicked and RENT!?

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 1:58am

I know, dumb question, but I don't understand why teens and tweens are so obsessed with these two shows! They are both wonderful shows, yes, but there are many many other great and better shows than both! I could name shows that are 10 times better than both and many many people still don't know what they are besides hard core theatre lovers. (Do-Re-Mi, H2$, and many others come to mind.) Maybe it's just me but I want to know.

Updated On: 1/3/07 at 01:58 AM

[C is for Company]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 2:01am

Sometimes it isn't a matter of 'what is better,' but instead how appealing something is. Wicked has catchy music and a simple, lovable story for people who might not be into musicals. Rent is a musical that people aren't ashamed to say they like if they also are not a fan of musicals. They are very marketable and have widespread appeal to most people.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 2:01am

Marketing.

[BobPopa]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 2:02am

It is a rather dumb question. The first answer is the simple fact of the Age of people when I show they like opens. The same thing happened when Grease opened, the same with Hair. A lot of your "Rent" obsessed fans are now 25-30 years old. But both Rent and Wicked are the types of shows that will always have that teen appeal. Which to be quite honest is a good thing. To get the next generation passionate about theate because of a single show is great. It makes shows like Rent and Wicked even more important to the continued history of Broadway and Musical Theatre.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 2:04am

How can the next generation get passionate about theater if all they see is Wicked and Rent?

[BobPopa]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 2:10am

Some will only see Wicked on Rent...but for many Wicked and or Rent is going to be their introduction to theate, they will love the show, obsess about the show, and go see more shows because they are looking for another show to love. The majority of teenagers will do something again if they like it the first time, thus if they like Wicked they may go see Lion King next time or Hairspray or something in at the professional regional theatre.

The same theory actually works with adults as well. Regional theatre's all of the country will find what their audience loves put that in the schedule with what the Artistic Director wants and use a specific show or style of show to bait in new audience members. It's all about audience development. I will salute any show that brings in young theatregoers

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 2:10am

You're assuming "obsession" means "see nothing but."

This isn't always the case.

[winston89]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 3:15am

Lizzie is right. There is a difference between obsession and not willing to see anything else. I am 17 and a passionate theatre lover. I had seen Rent when I was about nine and hated it then. I saw it agan about a year ago and LOVED it. So I had seen it a BUNCH of times since. But, there is a difference between loving one particular show and not being willing to see anything else. Also, it seems that the RENT teenyboppers started to pop up when the movie came out and have started to come ever since then.


As for wicked. I don't think you can say that it's successful cus it has a fan base. That in my mind is only a small part of it. Keep in mind that the show sells tickets for 110 bucks a pop. i don't think the average teenager has that kind of money to blow on a broadway show.

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 4:58am

Speaking as a Wicked fan...it's music kick some major ass (I listen to classical music as well, so dont say I have no class), and EVERY teenager can related to feeling left out or weird in some way, at some time.

They're good gateway shows. Someone sees Wicked or Rent and thinks...hey, theatre can be kinda fun. Then maybe they go see Avenue Q, then maybe Lion King, then they might think, "Hey, I really like broadway shows, I think i'll start going to see some ones I've never heard of before."

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 8:25am

I wasn't saying that all Wicked and Rent fans didn't know anything about musical theatre.

I meant to direct this toward the ones who go to see nothing but these two shows. I'm sorry I wasn't more clear in my original post.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 8:29am

>> Wicked has catchy music and a simple, lovable story

I'd hardly call it "lovable". Other words -- "demonic", "disturbed", for example -- come to mind when you actually *look* at what the message is that's coming off that stage. But it's slathered with so much cotton candy that you dont even see it.

Insofar as the score -- well, to be blunt, without the visuals, the score isnt much. But the staging sells it. And that's fine, but let's not overstate the worth of a middling Schwartz work.

[vontusslegirl87]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 8:46am

Seeing as I am a Wicked obsessed teen I will answer!

I find the plot very engaging, characters very relateable, and kick butt music!

It isn't by far the only show I love though... I am also obsessed with Les Miz, Hairspray, Chicago, The Wedding Singer, The Drowsy Chaperone, Tarzan, Beauty and the Beast almost equally! Wicked just happens to be my favourite show! = ) Go to a WICKED fan board thing such as www.witchesofoz.com and you'll see that WICKED fans do love more than just Wicked! = )

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 9:59am

Hmm, I am not a teen, but I do love Rent and Wicked!

[MimiLovesRoger]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:27am

Oh geez...not again.

[BobPopa]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:33am

Sean,

I am not a teenager, nor have I even had the chance to see Wicked, but I own the CD because the music does stad on its own without the show. I find it Schwartz's best score since Pippin.

Demonic? Disturbed? I don't know what you get that from. The messages of the show are pretty simple. Don't judge a book by its cover, Things aren't always what they seem. People become the way they are because of other people. The show is HARDLY demonic...I have read the book so even though I haven't seen the show I know what it's about.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:33am

For me Wicked was really the gateway into musical theatre. I had a friend 2 years ago at school talking about it. I got the cd and became obsessed. Then I saw the movie of the Phantom of the opera and had to see it live. I saw it in Cincinnati and it just blew me away. Then I started listening to new shows such as Rent, Hairspray. Then I began to really dig into musical theatre and started on Les Mis, Chicago, My Fair Lady, and then when I was introduced to Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music then was in it, I was just gone! Then Sweeney Tood and Wicked was just my gateway into this musical theatre World!

[ilovemegan]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:50am

ok, im OBSESSED with wicked and megan hilty but, that doesnt mean im not familiar with other shows, and or have seen other shows. in fact i have seen many classic shows. You guys shouldnt assume that because people are obsessed with wicked, automatically dont know anything about musical theatre, plus most everyone i know is in someway involved in musical theatre whether it be teaching or acting

[MimiLovesRoger]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:04am

I applaud you, ilovemegan.
Yes, I am obsessed as well, but I like other shows...

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 11:19am

I worry more about the folks who list The Wedding Singer and Tarzan as their favorite shows.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:25pm

I am not a teen, but I do happen to love Wicked and Rent. However, I think many of you are missing a crucial point. Obviously, something about these two musicals speak to kids of this age. I'm not saying they speak ONLY to teens; I feel like many of the themes in this musical are universal . Both of the shows have stories focusing on people that are different from those around them or different than what people consider "normal." They both focus on the importance of good friends and unconditional love. They also focus on the consequence of actions and choices in one's life. I am assuming that the majority of these teen fans are female. Both shows have strong, young, unique female characters.

When I find something that moves me or that I relate, I know I love to experience that feeling over and over again. Usually, this DOES expand into an appreciation for theatre in general. The teens might see another show to follow a favorite star and find something else they love.

There does come a point when it will get old. It won't mean as much, or they will find something else they relate to more. However, there will always be another group of teeny boppers discovering these shows.

[D2]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:32pm

When I think about the shows that I obsessed over when I was a teen, I mourn over how deprived I was:

A Chorus Line (original)
Chicago (original)
Sweeney Todd (original)
On The Twentieth Century (hasn't been revived, yet, except for the concert)

Nothing like today's shows. The 70's were so awful.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:33pm

You're assuming "obsession" means "see nothing but."

This isn't always the case.

I was just about to say that. I definitely like both of these shows, in fact, they were the first two shows I loved. I don't like either of them quite as much anymore, but I owe them a lot. They introduced me into theater, and I listen to all kinds of other things now. They both speak to people of my age, and thats why teens like them.

[MissElphie]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:35pm

I am not a teen, but I am a self-confessed Wicked addict (I'm actually in my 20s). I've seen the show 21 times and would jump at the chance to see it again. I can't describe why I like it so much exactly, but just to say that it makes me laugh, it makes me cry, and I love the music. For 2 1/2 hours, I'm transported to the magical world of Oz and perfectly content. I love Wicked simply because it makes me happy. I walk out of every show smiling.

That being said, I love other shows as well. I made it a point to see Lord of the Rings on opening night in Toronto to support it. I try to see as many of the shows that come to my city as I can possibly afford. The one time I visited New york, I saw about 8 different shows in 6 days. Theatre itself makes me happy.
Updated On: 1/3/07 at 10:35 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:39pm

Nothing like today's shows. The 70's were so awful.


- HELL! I wish I got to live through the original Company, Follies, Night Music, Chicago, Chorus Line, Pacific Ovetures, Sweeney Todd.

Real awful!

[D2]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:44pm

yeah, as I said, deprived.