The Death of the High School Musical
“Hell is full of musical amateurs.”
George Bernard Shaw
Maybe I’m in the minority on this one, and if I am, it is something I can live with. Easily. I can’t stand musicals. I wouldn’t waste 150$ to buy a ticket to see one on Broadway, or at the local theatre hosting touring productions. I’ve had to direct a couple – its like being force fed cotton candy for two months, and having to grin and pretend its salmon (sorry, I don’t eat beef). Maybe its all because when I was in the second grade, and in choir at church, the choir leader let it be known, in no uncertain terms, that my voice should never be heard.
I’ve been involved in theatre all of my adult life. I’ve taught it at college and high school levels, directed at these levels and professionally, and acted professionally. Musicals, unfortunately, are a necessity at high school, primarily as cash cows and as ways to involve parents who normally could give a rats ass about theatre. And most of them still, after watching their wretched offspring trip across stage or mangle another song in the chorus, will not develop a deep love of theatre. Rather they will equate their yearly trip to the theatre to a root canal.
Ripping sub-par art forms is no great art itself, And I’m not interested in prolonging my screed against this most mediocre form of entertainment – well, tap dancing gives it a run – but I do have concerns about education and the arts in the US,
To be continued …
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