<p>I made a point of referring to the show only, not the hard-working cast and crew and well-trained actors. Every young actor has to work at building their resume and booking work that will add credits to their bios. This will involve all types of shows, the good and the bad. Some actors, as has been mentioned here, will choose not to audition for some shows, and for a variety of reasons. Every actor, young and old, has to make these choices, which are individual and personal. I don’t fault any actor for booking work wherever they can, but that doesn’t change the fact that, in my opinion, and in the opinion of many others, HSM is dreck.</p>
<p>When I read post #77 by alwaysamom, I interpretted her to be saying that the musical itself of HSM is one that she doesn’t think is very appealing, but not the actual PRODUCTION of it at TOTS. </p>
<p>When I was referring to HSM, I only meant that my D just doesn’t want to be in that show very much as she doesn’t care for it. </p>
<p>However, work is work and I think anyone doing the current production at TOTS (well, it is over I guess) and the one at NSMT are very fortunate to have work and this happens to be a musical that casts young people and on top of that, TOTS and NSMT are two excellent theater company credits to have! So, kudos to the talented young actors in these two productions! </p>
<p>My comment was more about my own kid, who didn’t want to do summer stock last year anyway, but further got disinterested in a few theaters due to their doing HSM which she just didn’t want to do badly enough to even audition, and took another job in her field that appealed to her more. </p>
<p>However, I can’t blame any actor for doing HSM because it is great to be a working actor and in the case of the current productions being talked about here, it is really wonderful to get to work at those two theaters. </p>
<p>The thing with San Jose and TOTS, however, sounds quite unfortunate. </p>
<p>Disclaimer, I have never seen HSM…the movie or the show.</p>
<p>I have never seen the show but I have seen all the HSM movies many times. The music and story appeals to children, pre-teens and teens. Just like Lion King, Mermaid and other Disney created productions. And, of course, many adults also like it. The tunes are not my favorite but I have to like the concept of it.</p>
<p>HSM introduces to this younger set in a desirable light Musical Theatre, songs and performance. This younger crowd has been given the message that it’s not just cool in high school to be a brainiac or basketball jock but also to perform and be a part of the theatre department. It presents and validates that the kids in the theatre department are also hot and cool. Thinking about it in this light, how can anyone in this group not support and love the message Disney has put forth?</p>
<p>So today these young ones are downloading and singing HSM on their IPODS like crazy. And being exposed to becoming theatre patrons. Getting back to the subject of the economy and future of theatre, I think this is a very GOOD thing. As they get older hopefully their tastes mature to Rodgers and Hammerstein and Andrew Lloyd Webber and regular theatre attendance becomes a part of their adult lives. So if someone is working in HSM I’d say they are not only getting to perform and entertain a receptive audience but also contributing to a greater good.</p>
<p>Hi all. My D saw Billy Elliott in London last spring and went nuts for it. She also saw Into the Hood, which is why she cut her hair… </p>
<p>ShowMom: I did not like Xanadu at La Jolla Playhouse, and neither did my D. We joked that there was no intermission so people wouldn’t leave. Memphis was soooooo much better.</p>
<p>But as for cancelling new works, I know it isn’t MT, but San Diego Opera is putting off the new work Moby Dick until 2012… that was in the paper yesterday. It is already starting.</p>
<p>There was a depressing article about all the theatres here in San Diego dealing with the crisis (we have the La Jolla Playhouse and the Old Globe, but was also have a whole bunch of smaller theatres, like North Coast Rep, San Diego Rep, Diversionary Theatre, Lambs Players Theatre, Moxie Theatre, the list goes on and on…)</p>
<p>After reading that article, I cut a check for $100 to North Coast Rep, where my D interns and I have lots of friends working… We have to do what little we can to help…</p>
<p>I’ve always gotten the impression that wherever High School Musical is staged, audiences come out for it. My D spent 10 days in London doing the show (not on a professional level … as a guest actor at a performing arts program there), they did two shows a day for 10 days and the place was packed, and what’s more, the show had been running for six months! Parents and kids packed the audience and lined up for autographs afterwards.</p>
<p>I definitely think that HSM sells. It had a very captive and adoring audience for the movies and due to that commercial success, I would think that stagings would also do well. There are all sorts of theater. Some are commercial successes but not always because it is great theater. Some stuff that is great theater is not always a commercial success. :)</p>
<p>CC has had a kink lately in the posting. Posts are sometimes posted out of order as are posts #86 and #87 on this thread where NMR is responding to me but it is out of sync! </p>
<p>I don’t mind that some theater is hugely successful commercially even if not great art. After all, we all want theater to remain alive and to bring in audiences. I prefer better art but various things sell. It is a business after all.</p>
<p>NMR…that is so true, even if cliche. Shows that some people love, others detest. But there is so much out there that there is something for everyone.</p>
<p>So sad. I hate to hear of any regional theater closings- not good for any of our kids. Was this because of the debacle with Atlanta TOS and HSM2?</p>
Every young actor has to work at building their resume and booking work that will add credits to their bios. This will involve all types of shows, the good and the bad. Some actors, as has been mentioned here, will choose not to audition for some shows, and for a variety of reasons. Every actor, young and old, has to make these choices, which are individual and personal. I don’t fault any actor for booking work wherever they can, but that doesn’t change the fact that, in my opinion, and in the opinion of many others, HSM is dreck.</p>