<p>That’s funny stuff. Actually, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears in “Chicago Live” sort of shines a spotlight on the hypocricy of this whole thing. Look at some of the people who have done stints in the Broadway revival of Chicago…Jerry Springer, Usher, Billy Ray Cyrus, Wendy Williams, Brooke Shields, Christie Brinkley. I’m sure they were all compared to Olivier doing Henry V. Christina and Britney don’t seem so far fetched really. Also look at the current poster for Chicago. More risque than the parody one with Christina and Britney. </p>
<p>Almost every Broadway musical these days is based on a cartoon, movie or is a jukebox show with rehashed oldies or pop songs. Is one night of Rodgers and Hammerstein that is well-sung by all and acted not so well by one really worse than much of what Broadway is giving us these days, even with great singer/actors in the leads? A lot of shows that make it to broadway are artistically thin and are not even as good as stuff that ended up in R&H’s waste basket.</p>
<p>The second thing I read on Theatremania was about “Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester” coming to Broadway in Of Mice and Men. She might be great, who knows. But they sure made “Gossip Girl” the prominent part of that press release, didn’t they? And she is not getting that gig because she paid her dues on the stage, is she? </p>
<p>Broadway, for better or for worse, is about the almighty dollar as much as NBC.</p>