If Musical Theatre Rocks, What Is The Next Edge?
If Musical Theatre Rocks, What Is The Next Edge?Two weeks ago at the Tony Awards, Spring Awakening's talented tunesmith/orchestrator Duncan Sheik and winner of two honors proclaimed victoriously, "Musical theatre rocks!"
Fair enough. I can't quibble with that. Thanks to Sheik's masterful orchestrations, he positively raised the roof on the Eugene O'Neill Theatre with a great score.
But in yesterday's New York Times, Charles Isherwood affirms that "the theater establishment appears happy to be so rocked," all the while asking whether the 50+ year old musical style will finally rule the Great White Way. As my mother would say, he's a day late and a dollar short.
Coming years after repeated death notices were written for rock, primarily because it has long since ceased carrying any serious threat of danger, rebellion or outright anarchy, shouldn't Isherwood instead be considering the possibility that music that's truly at the cusp of societal evolution is the logical next step?
Let me be plain. Yesterday's edge is today's safe. What may have pushed the envelope in acceptable taste is conventional today. Certainly that is the case with rock music. On the whole, it really hasn't changed that dramatically over the past thirty years since the advent of punk.
When sexagenarians like Sirs Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger are still churning out the kind of music that once made parents nervous, it now seems practically as wholesome as a glass of milk. Rock 'n' roll -- no matter who's posturing under its aegis today -- can hardly be considered as vital as it once was.
Which leads me to ask: Isn't Isherwood just a few years too late? Shouldn't Isherwood be contemplating where musical theatre's new edge is? Shouldn't we be discussing the dearth of musicals aimed at minorities and vacuum in genres like hip-hop or rap or something completely revolutionary? What is the next next?
I'd be very curious to hear what you think.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, Charles Isherwood, Musical, Rock Music, Spring Awakening
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Monday, June 25, 2007
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