Having worked at Applause for six years now I can honestly tell you that I have heard and seen it all. I've seen great shows that got amazing reviews and yet struggled to find an audience. I've also seen shows that while not my cup of tea run for years and years. Now in my eighteen years of living in New York City my favorite show is still Rent. It has been ever since I first saw it back in April 1996. In fact I still have the ticket stub from that performance. Make fun all you will but that show changed my life as well as the lives of millions of others. If not for Rent my own musical Avarice would never exist.
Earlier this week I had the chance to see a new musical called American Idiot. For those of you that don't know it is based on Green Day's Grammy Award winning album of the same name. Walking into the show I was a familiar with a few songs but that was about this. Also I had the chance to attend the sound check of the show prior to it's first preview in late March. Now I'll be the first to admit that about twenty minutes into the show I just wasn't getting it. That didn't mean I hated it I just wasn't feeling it. Well just then the song "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" started and for the first time I started to see the show in a whole new light. Here are some lyrics from the song.
I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone
O.K. so maybe it's not the most uplifting song in the world but I liked it. Cut to twenty minutes later I was totally hooked. Is the show perfect? No. The story can be a little muddled at time but as far as the overall presentation and performances the show is a winner. As I said in one of my blogs earlier this week I expect American Idiot to win this years Tony Award for Best Musical. So I'm sure you must be asking yourself,"Has American Idiot surpassed Rent as my favorite show?"
No. Rent is still number one with In The Heights and Passing Strange at number two and three. Although American Idiot is certainly up there my friends. Like I said Rent is still my favorite. Nothing will ever change that. But I will admit it's nice to see something new and original again on Broadway instead of cartoons and movies turned into musicals. Yes I know that they have a place on Broadway just like revivals do. You see that's the good thing about Broadway. There is something for everybody. So see a Broadway show. It is an experience that you will never forget.
JWB
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