NOTHING BUT A GOOD TIME

In the past, I admit that I've been prejudiced against "jukebox musicals" insisting that I could not categorize them as real musicals. I never saw them as being quality theater...really, ever. Being the theater snob I was, I refused to go to anything that I deemed of that quality. Never say never, right? Yes. Well, I have to say, a tide has turned and things have changed because I think I'm a new found fan and supporter of Rock of Ages.

Rock of Ages is no Next to Normal, but it is light-hearted, fun and certainly doesn't take itself seriously. The show stars American Idol Alum Constantine Maroulis and a string of actresses playing the lead female role of Sherry (from the Amy Spanger controversy to its current Sherry, Kerry Butler. Maroulis who despite being known for AI, is a theater boy at heart and always had aspirations for the Great White Way (and was in RENT pre-Idol and got his degree from the Boston Conservatory of Music & Berklee College of Music). Lately, I've noticed the more I prematurely prejudge shows that have gone to the Broad-way, I tend to rediscover them later anyway and see the good qualities, the fun and the need to explore them. So yet again, I will say...I am wrong. I was wrong in thinking Rock of Ages was a poor show and had no respectable qualities.



The show does a great job of writing a story around the songs from hair-bands of the '80s and the actors all seem to be having so much fun with the show.

From the show's synopsis:
In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small town girl met a big city rocker and in LA’s most famous rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the 80s. It’s ROCK OF AGES, an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of JOURNEY, NIGHT RANGER, STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON, PAT BENATAR, TWISTED SISTER, POISON, ASIA, WHITESNAKE and many more. Don’t miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on!

Rock of Ages is such a fun show, I can't stop listening to it and I highly recommend it to everyone who wants to be rocked!

HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE...WTF

***WARNING, DUE TO THE SHOCKING NATURE OF THIS POST, ITALICS ARE USED FAR MORE THAN THEY ACTUALLY SHOULD. YOUNG CHILDREN AND SMALL ANIMALS... BEWARE!!!***

First of all, let me start with, WTF!? For all 9.217 of you who read or stumble upon my blog, yes, I love musical theatre, I think it's fantastic, it is my passion. But...an actual reality show incorporating the Great White Way? Confused? Slightly appalled? Yes, me too. It's not that I think a reality show about finding new leads for a Broadway show on national television is bringing down the value and reputation of Broadway (much less musical theatre), but the real question here is...really? and why?!

I know the U.K. has turned out some big hit shows (such as American Idol and The Office) and we Americans have ripped off the idea in hopes of finding success here on network television (and succeeded...great, we're lazy). Woo-hoo to us for finding and adapting those shows...we know a good idea when we decide to copy it!

Well, beginning this weekend, Sunday, August 12, the BBC will premiere a new reality show, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? They ask the question and indeed, we are perplexed. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber has decided to jump on the reality-series bandwagon, seeking a new actress to perform the forthcoming West End revival of the classic Rogers & Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music as Maria von Trapp. How delightfully European.

Not to be outdone by our British friends, our crazy friends over at the Peacock network (whoever greenlit this idea...crazy...seriously) announced this week a brand-spanking-new reality show entitled, You're the One That We Want (lovely isn't it that both shows incorporate well known phases from their respective shows as the title of their reality show). Guess what this show is searching for? Leads (Sandy & Danny, naturally) in the upcoming revival (really, another revival?!) of Grease set to open on Broadway in 2007. Coincidence (though interestingly enough, David Ian, one of the "Maria Experts" in the U.K. version has been announced as the Executive Producer in this U.S. version...hmmm)? Not so much. Ok, so we didn't actually steal this idea, but still...sounds rather lame to me. How dreadfully American.

I find this to be a terrible idea of a television show...simply dreadful. This ranks in the list of bad reality shows like...Second Chance: America's Most Talented Senior (yes, there was one...and if you blinked you luckily missed it and yes, it again aired on the Peacock Network). I really don't see any redeeming quality in a show like You're the One That We Want (not a single one). Though I obviously had plenty to say, I am thoroughly speechless. How different will this show be than any of the other talent-type shows other than having a different ultimate goal. Still...not so interested. Hmmm, I wonder if this will be a show that doesn't actually make it to air and will be an "exclusive" broadband special series. I wouldn't be surprised, would you? Knowing my luck, it will end up as some big guilty pleasure that drunk college students and small children obsess over and love. **sigh**