Does anyone have thoughts on La La Land and how bringing musical theater back into the mainstream is changing the game for us college students? Not only that, but I found the struggles of Emma Stone’s character very relatable and relevant to anyone who wants to make a life as an actor. Here’s an article I wrote exploring these ideas: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/musical-theatre-major-la-la-land
Also, I was wondering what y’all thought about the casting of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, who are not trained singer-dancers, given that most of you/your children probably could have done it much better! Does the high level of technical proficiency seen on Broadway and in tours contrast with celebrity casting in film, such as La La Land and NBC’s live musicals? Thoughts?
@MTVT2015 - I think your review is spot on. I do wish Emma and Ryan were better singers. In some songs - they had so little breath support that they were hard to hear over the musical accompaniment… contrast that to when John Legend sings in the movie! But, I loved the acting, I loved the cinematography, I loved the story! So I walked out of the theater with mixed emotions. My non MT D’s boyfriend, though - is obsessed! He’s taken her to see it twice, and they bought the soundtrack yesterday! And, his reaction after seeing the movie - and discussing the rejection Emma Stone’s character faces was “OMG, Poor (my MT D)” … understanding that this is the path she’s chosen.
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have name recognition that puts fannies in the seats as they say. Outside of the theater world, much of the movie going audience isn’t going to recognize more than a few top Broadway stars - if you’re marketing a movie in Europe, Japan, China, etc Emma Stone is a lot easier to sell than the actress that played Elpheba or Glinda in Wicked on Broadway a few years ago, even though Elpheba or Glinda would be a far superior singer. Would the movie have gotten as much attention with two talented Broadway stars in lead roles?
I think that’s what they also need to do with the live musicals on TV as well - they need to get some name recognition in there so people will watch. Though, Grease live seemed to buck that trend, as Vanessa Hudgens was probably the biggest star and is not that well known. It’s also why they have Jennifer Lopez announced as part of Bye Bye Birdie… though, why did they pick that musical? It’s not exactly a household name. Why not West Side Story? Little Shop of Horrors? Chicago?
The celebrity casting in film is not exactly a new phenomenon. Marni Nixon made quite a career dubbing the singing for many famous stars… Julie Andrews at one point was “just a Broadway star” and passed over for the movie of My Fair Lady.
If you want to see some bad celebrity singing in movies, try Clint Eastwood in Paint Your Wagon or Marlon Brando in Guys and Dolls.
For my money, Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia was a low point…
Stars who cannot sing being placed as leads in musicals is not new …Russell Crow in Les Mis comes to mind…Tom Cruise in Rock of Ages, there are so many examples…As for the popularity, first there was the “Glee” Factor – that show was HUGE!! That in my opinion changed the number of kids who chose this major…enter the nbc/fox musicals and now lala land…the good thing? It’s work! The more productions the more work there is out there, that’s the way I look at it :-). The number of kids auditioning for MT programs has skyrocketed in just the last 5 years and continues to grow. Thankfully the number of college programs available has also grown, but I think we could use more! ps - I loved the movie!
I have to disagree with this. The number of programs and the number of kids entering these programs has grown but the availability of work has not grown in anywhere close to the same proportion.
I agree with alwaysamom… so many talented kids, so few good gigs.
Ha ha ha ha @alwaysamom I agree!!! Terrifying, isn’t it!!!
hyperventilates \m/
I don’t know what it means for the industry as a whole, but am grateful it came out when it did, to provide my D some reassurance that she’s not alone in the auditioning process, and related stress/self-doubt.
I think that the choice of Vanessa Hudgens for Grease was a good one. She is an extremely well known commodity with the mid-20’s crowd, like my kids, who grew up with High School Musical. My kids happen to know Grease because it’s one of my favorites but they watched it on TV because Vanessa drew them in. In addition, she was actually quite good in the part, especially considering that she suffered the death of a close relative right before the show was aired.
Bye Bye Birdie is also done a lot by middle schools because the material is age appropriate and there are enough parts for all of the kids who want to try out.
I haven’t seen “La La Land” yet but probably will.
@MTVT2015 It is, and the likely elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts won’t help.
It is sad and scary. Frankly the arts have been struggling for years:( We go to and support: Opera,Symphony,Ballet,National touring MT and dramatic shows, local shows, museums, our local theaters. All of these groups are hurting. Video at home on your computer has taken over. Live experiences are struggling. Live classical horribly.Opera and symphonies are really struggling, not even a chance of something like a La La Land for them:(. Not sure how you get this turned around. Something like La La Land IMHO does not generate “rears in the seats” for live shows.I would love if all these MT kids meant better theater all around the world, but you still need money to support the local theater group in your neighborhood.
La La Land will inevitably be made into a live show and most likely get a Broadway and touring run. It should adapt well for the stage whereas other film musicals like Moulin Rouge wouldnt. So La La land a positive for MT students and will be nice to hear it sung well, not by Hollywood hacks.
JMHO: Not sure what makes that inevitable… nor do I actually think it would adapt really well into a stage musical. For me - it was the “movie magic” that made the film entertaining…I can’t picture the opening scene working as well on a stage…
Agree with too wonderful. films do not always adapt to the stage. However excuse my soapbox but to tie that into my siren call:) We need to get people out of their home and into spaces were they are actually seeing and watching and paying to do so 
Art in Museums, Symphonies, the brass band at the park, Musical theater both at the big and little stages, same for dramatic theater, going to museums, seeing the opera. It is just not MT that is strugling but all the arts. So as parents we can go to live theater in our community, go to the museum, see the dance performances, see the opera, see the symphony, see the new stuff at the local pub, visit an art gallery or students exhibit at a University of Fine Arts. I am really passionate about this, not only for my own children but because I so value the arts impact on the world. And I mean all the arts, the painter, drawer, singer, actor, dancer,musician, graphic artist, and so on.