i hate musicals

[Magicshrivve]

Musicals are stupid. There should have never been a LOTR musical. I hate musicals. >: (

[Agburanar]

That's nice. I'm sure we all sympathise with you. I hated the LoTR movie but they still made it, I'm afraid that the masses want entertainment!

[Imladris]

I disagree with both of you on both accounts.

[hama]

Three very interesting posts/opinions. First, I hate musicals. That is an opinion that has been shared here and elsewhere before. In another thread someone spoke of their distate of musicals as a dramatic form. When I challenged that person about it, they listed a rather long and diverse list of particular musicals that they had seen and had all thoroughly disliked. Some of those listed I think are quite good, some listed I agreed wholeheartedly. I had to respect the fact that they had been exposed to this wide variety of musical works and found it lacking as an art form. Personally if I never see another ballet I will not miss it.

I also feel that LOTR is, in its original form, already a musical. There are literally hundreds of pages of lyrics and I can tell you from experience that it is virtually impossible to write a lyric without some form of melody in one's head. I have argued in the past that I did not write a musical version of LOTR but simply adapted LOTR to the stage. If the source material had not had so many songs already in it I probably would not have gotten the idea or made the effort.

Second, I hated LOTR the movie...the masses want entertainment. Personally I did not hate the movie. I quite enjoyed it the three times I saw it and look forward to TTT and RotK. Of the three I think that FotR is least adaptable to the screen and the least interesting. As for the masses wanting entertainment, I would suggest that no one in musical theater has written for "the masses" since the 1950's. The closest thing that Broadway has come to in spawning a pop tune from a broadway show was Memories from Cats and thta was nearly twenty-five years ago. I share Agburanur's love of musicals, the theater and have been honored by his interest in this project and the set design sketches.

Imladris. I am glad you like musicals and the movie. Care to opine further here?

[Galenavar]

I just thought I'd throw in my two or three cents here.

I loved the movie, all 4 times I saw it, and I love musicals, so the idea of a LOTR musical is like a dream come true. Granted, some people just don't like musicals, yet I could never understand why. I can understand not liking certain musicals, but to say that you hate musicals as a whole has never made sense to me. But each to his own I suppose.

Oh, and, personally, if I loved something enough to spend years of my life dedicated to it, I wouldn't care if a few people hated it. Just so long as I got to see my dream come to life, that would be enough for me. I'd probably die a happy woman. Of course, that's just me.

[webwizard333]

I've always liked musicals (theyre just so . . . musical :p ). I'd defiantely want to see one of Lord of the Rings. I agree with Hama1 that the LotR is already a sort of musical, in fact, in the Silmarrillion there's a great deal of emphasis on music in the begining as well.

[Lizra]

I'll confess to not caring for Musicals also (hate is to strong for me!) They always seem so "corny". If ever there was a story that would be good set to music though, it'd be LoTR. I'd see it. :)

[Katt_knome_hobbit]

*Katt slaps Magicshrivve and everyone else here who doesn't like musicals*

I'm sorry. My family does musicals. We are the play family. I was raised by going to see a show every night.

To me, you are like blasphemers.

[Khadrane]

I like musicals. I don't love them or anything, but I like them. Truthfully, I've only been to two, so my opinion probably isn't worth much, but I think a LotR musical would be cool.

[AragornsonofArathorn]

Personally I don't like musicals either. But that doesn't mean I think they shouldn't have one. The LoTR books are inspiring. They inspire people to branch off of them by making movies, plays, musicals, etc. I say, "More power to you!"

[hama1]

Unfortunately I do not my copy of Tolkien's Letters with me but in one he states that LotR is a starting point which should inspire other to create art, music, etc., based on his work. I hope I have carried out his wishes in my own small way.

[hama1]

Katt...

Your family does musicals? Anyone who goes to see the theatre on a nightly basis is truly blessed. To be exposed to the rich tapestry of theatre is a wonderful gift. I am envious.

Brad

[Renille]

Every night, Katt? Wow. I love musicals, too. I just finished my small part in "The Wizard of Oz" a few hours ago. I definitely think LOtR will be successful as a musical. I can't wait until it comes out.

[azalea]

I personally love musicals, but people I know have told me they feel it's silly when people in a play suddenly break into song about something. My response is that I wish more people would break into song in real life. The world today needs more spontaneous singing.

I agree that it would be nice for more songs from musicals to get radio play.

[galadriel]

There are some really good musicals - My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Guys of Dolls, Rocky Horror Picture Show :D - real classics.
There are some really bad musicals too. Uh, luckily, I haven't seen any of them, discounting bad children's movies, which don't count.
Of course it's really silly for people to break out into song. But it's a device, and if used correctly, it works. And there are sillier things in entertainment: the laugh tracks during sitcoms, for instance. To most people, they're practically subliminal, but if you start actively listening to them, it's really funny-sounding.
So, don't dismiss musicals on the fact that they're... musical. They can be really good in spite (or even because!) of this.

[hama1]

Azalea,

I love your suggestion that the world today could use more singing...

Galadriel, yes if used correctly it does work. A bad musical is poorly constructed and you can almost hear the writer and director saying to each other during a workshop..."Okay we need a song here." Now sometimes it works by accident. You mention My Fair Lady as an example of a good musical...and I certainly agree. However, it might interest you to know that one of the most famous songs from that or any other show, One The Street Where You Live, was written as a scrim song...During tryouts in Chicago, the director realized that there wasn't enough time to change sets between scenes so he went to (Rodgers and Hammerstein) and told them he needed them to write a song that Freddie could sing out in front of the scrimwhile the set was being changed behind it. They wrote it overnight and it was rehearsed and put into the show the next day.


When songs in a musical work it is because it is crafted well enough that the emotion and/or intensity of a scene builds to a point where the spoken word simply cannot convey it properly. In my humble opinion, Sam's I AM YOUR FRIEND, Eowyn's WITH HIS WORDS and Faramir and Eowyn's duet, BEFORE TODAY are examples of that. I would also hope that Aragorn's ONE MORE TOMORROW is an example of that.

Perhaps I lack imagination but I cannot fathom the emotions of those moments being able to be conveyed by the spoken word alone.

[azalea]

I agree with that.

:) That's funny about On The Street Where YOu Live! I didn't know that! It's funny because when my family and I were watching it once we all kind of broke away from the movie and I said "When Freddy sings it's time for everyone to go use the bathroom." (I was a kid at the time, so I guess saying that is excusable).:)

[Katt_knome_hobbit]

Music always conveys the meaning more than just speaking it does. Hold on, I'm confuzzled.

[galadriel]

Poor Freddie. He was already the dork of the movie, and they didn't even give him a real song? :p I guess it kinda suits him, though.

[janus13]

Originally posted by hama

As for the masses wanting entertainment, I would suggest that no one in musical theater has written for "the masses" since the 1950's. The closest thing that Broadway has come to in spawning a pop tune from a broadway show was Memories from Cats and thta was nearly twenty-five years ago.

True, but pop has certainly spawned a number of musicals lately. I include Moulin Rouge (a movie, true, but identified in many people's minds as a musical), that one with the ABBA songs that I think flopped (anyone remember the title?) and The Lion King and Disney's other Broadway efforts. There was even that version of Love's Labours Lost with the Cole Porter songs added in..... well, I liked it, but MAN those songs were a stretch. What I'm saying is, a lot of today's musicals are using recycled "pop" songs in leiu of their own material. This is not the same as putting JRRT's lyrics in a LOTR musical, because those lyrics were meant to make people put their own vision to them and create any number of songs. Kudos to you for making your own music!!

Ok. I'm done.

[Faramir]

Originally posted by Magicshrivve
Musicals are stupid. There should have never been a LOTR musical. I hate musicals. >: (

Good for you. Next?

[hama1]

I think the ABBA musical you are referring to is Mamma Mia! and as far as I know it has done actually quite well. As far as using JRRT's lyrics I actually do very little of that as you can see by looking at the Lyrics page on the site. Rather I try to incorporate his prose into my own lyrics and yes I have written my own melodies/music for them. While I I know I risk the wrath of other Tolkien Lovers here, I feel Tolkien's lyrics leave a soemthing to be desired in as far as adapting them to a musical format.

[Galenavar]

Of course it's really silly for people to break out into song.
Just thought I'd say that even though it seems silly, it happens a whole lot. Well, in my life anyway. I, and my family, will quite randomly just break out into song on a daily basis. We feel like singing, so we sing! When I go to drama meetings at school, if someone is humming something, chances are, we all join in!

It is wonderful to break out into song. It really does relieve stress when you can start singing and not worry about what everyone else thinks. I reccomend a daily dose of song, at least once a day, to relieve unwanted stress and make the world seem a better place. :)

[hama1]

Galenavar is a wise Hobbit....and Hobbits are known to break out into song at any moment...

[janus13]

yes, truly, hama1. does your musical have any good hobbit-songs we could break out into?

[janus13]

Originally posted by hama1
While I I know I risk the wrath of other Tolkien Lovers here, I feel Tolkien's lyrics leave a soemthing to be desired in as far as adapting them to a musical format.

you have a point, I guess. many of the songs in the books are just breaks from the action, whereas the songs in musicals are supposed to advance the story line. whether they ever do or not i am beginning to doubt, since i just finished the run of a musical where a good third of the songs were scene change covers. i suppose you don't have time to put in any songs that don't have much to do with the plot..... i'm lamenting the fact that audiences are too impatient for more than 2 1/2 hours of GOOD, QUALITY THEATRE! i mean jeez. can't we just have more intermissions?

ok, realizing now that this may not be what you had in mind about adapting lyrics at all. clarify? I think Tolkein's songs are quite good.... i've played some of them on the guitar myself.

[hama1]

Played them on the guitar? To what music? Or did you let your own creativity and love of Tolkien inspire you to develop your own melodies?

As far a s Tolkien's shortcomings as a lyricist I would suggest that most of his lyrics use a simple A.B.B.A OR A.B.A.B. rhyme scheme. Are some of his metaphors powerful yes but ingeneral it is rather simple stuff...but then he wasn't trying to write for musicals and was probably trying to stay within the dialectic of the lanbguage structure that infused his work.

[janus13]

ok, i see what you mean. simple rhyming structure in a musical would make the audience go to sleep.

i make up my own melodies when playing Tolkein's songs on the guitar.... have to have some part of it be original, right? :) have you looked at the "I made a song" thread in the books forum? as a lyricist you would probably be interested. for those songs we have to use already existing tunes so other people know what the song is supposed to sound like, although i don't know why we bother, because no one ever knows the songs we're using anyway;)

[hama1]

I haven't checked out "I made a song" but I will, I will.

[entss89]

IF YOU HATE MUSICALS THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE NEVER WENT IN HERE!

SORRY IF I UPSET YOU!:)

[galadriel]

Originally posted by Galenavar
I, and my family, will quite randomly just break out into song on a daily basis. We feel like singing, so we sing! Actually, I sing a lot too. And I have a bad voice! After school, when me and my friends are bored, we start singing songs (too often musicals) in the hallway. Rocky Horror, Guys and Dolls, and Buffy the Musical (yes, there was a musical episode of Buffy. It was funny!) are our personal favorites. Sure, we get weird looks, but that's just part of the fun!

[Agburanar]

Haha. Yes. The musical Buffy was quite, erm, individual...

I like it!

[galadriel]

"Bunnies... it must be *bunnies*!!!" <entmooters blink and run in the other direction.>
Uh, yeah. :D

[Agburanar]

We're doing 'HONK!' at the moment...

It's such a great show. I don't think it would work with LoTR, though it would be interesting to try and fit in as many puns as possible. It could be very funny...

[Hasty Ent]

Not too crazy about musicals, but I love opera... I would be first in line to see LotR as an opera. Of course, any one ever see Wagner's Ring Cycle? Not the same story, but it certainly shares many of the same themes. Most of the musicals that I've seen simply don't have the depth and scope of opera... And you need plenty of both for Tolkien.

[hama1]

Hasty,

Thank you for the post...and I agree...LotR would be wonderful as an opera. Unfortunately or perhaps not, I have no pretentious of greatness. I write musicals. However, as for depth and scope in musicals, have you ever seen Les Miz, Miss Saigon or Ragtime?

[Hasty Ent]

Hello hama1,
Les Miz is the only one of the three I saw, and I hated it. A great story, but the production was so over the top I found myself watching the flying scenery (and mentally calculating the budget) instead of entering the world of Victor Hugo. I wouldn't mind seeing Miss Saigon or Ragtime, but it seems that these productions (as well as anything Andrew Lloyd Weber produces) are wildly expensive. When I do go to theater I try to go to small local productions mounted on shoestring budgets. That seems to leave the success of the play up to the script and the actors (!!!) instead of whether there is enough money to bring in a helicopter. All too often big budget musicals rely on the flash of the set to appeal to audiences (much like Hollywood blockbusters).:(

PS And what's this about no pretention to greatness? You should, no, you must aspire to greatness no matter what you do. After all, isn't every creative endeavor about transcendence?:)

[galadriel]

Hasty Ent, the fancy-schmancy production of Les Miserables you saw sounds like the one I saw in New York, with a rotating hydraulics set. It was a bit showy, but the actors were so terrific that the set didn't bother me.

However, I agree; I love local plays/musicals. My school has a really wonderful drama program. We win a lot of awards. :) I'm not actually involved with drama, but I'm a groupie; I go to all the productions. In fact, after seeing my school's version of Guys and Dolls and a commercial production, I actually preferred a few of the actors from my high school! The simplicity definitely adds to the show and helps you to appreciate the talent of everyone involved.

[hama1]

Hasty,

As for my pretentions...I was simply trying to say that I do not feel I could write an opera...I write musicals. Actualy I do not think Les MIz has any "flying" set elements but rather the rotating sets that Galadriel refers to...although no hydraulics...the rotating stage relies on a huge chain and the movement of the set peices that are driven onto the stage rely on electronics not hydraulics...(admittedly a minor point).

However, the relative granduer of the set I envision for The One Ring is dependent on the story,; how else to bring The Mines of Moria or the Battle of Pellonor Fields etc., to the stage, rather than trying to bring the audience in because of a set. I think in some scenes, the story demands it.

Just FYI, I believe the original capitalization for Les Miz was something in the area of $8 million. The One Ring will probably be double that.

[Galenavar]

My school has a really wonderful drama program. We win a lot of awards

Mine too!!! :D And I know where you're coming from withI actually preferred a few of the actors from my high school! The simplicity definitely adds to the show and helps you to appreciate the talent of everyone involved.

We did a production of Damn Yankees, and after one of the rehersals, we all watched a movie version. Wow, we were a lot better. The people in the movie just didn't...sound as good? As right? I don't know haw to put it, but it was wrong. And our set was a lot better. Yes, the movie was more realistic, but ours was a huge rotating thing! We called it Mongo(yeah, yeah, we're dorks sometimes) and we got applause every single night for every single scene change.

Anyway, there's my little hysterical rant. :rolleyes:

[Galenavar]

the set I envision for The One Ring is dependent on the story,; how else to bring The Mines of Moria or the Battle of Pellonor Fields etc., to the stage, rather than trying to bring the audience in because of a set. I think in some scenes, the story demands it.
Here here! I would love to see how the battle scenes and chases by the Ringwraiths would be portrayed, and especially the Mines. For One Ring, a big impressive set will definately be necessary at one point or another(at least), just to get the full effect of the story.

>leans back as eyes glaze over, imagining the possibilities< :p

[galadriel]

Originally posted by Galenavar
The people in the movie just didn't...sound as good? As right?Sometimes the interpretation just isn't right. For instance, the guy at my high school who played Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls was *so* good. I swear he's going to be famous someday. Then I went and saw a commercial production, and the actor they cast for Sky was an ugly creep! He was disturbing where he should have been charismatic. It was such a tragedy!!!

[Hasty Ent]

Hello hama1,

[QUOTE]Originally posted by hama1
Actualy I do not think Les MIz has any "flying" set elements but rather the rotating sets that Galadriel refers to...although no hydraulics...the rotating stage relies on a huge chain and the movement of the set peices that are driven onto the stage rely on electronics not hydraulics...(admittedly a minor point). [/QUOTE

You're absolutely right, and I stand (sit) corrected.

[QUOTE]However, the relative granduer of the set I envision for The One Ring is dependent on the story,; how else to bring The Mines of Moria or the Battle of Pellonor Fields etc., to the stage, rather than trying to bring the audience in because of a set. I think in some scenes, the story demands it] [/QUOTE

I agree. The operas I've seen varied in their scale depending on the narrative. My distrust of big budget theater/film stems from too many productions using sets to camouflage bad scripts. This is certainly not directed to you personally, only a generalization.

[QUOTE]Just FYI, I believe the original capitalization for Les Miz was something in the area of $8 million. The One Ring will probably be double that. [/QUOTE

What will that mean for ticket prices?

[hama1]

Obviously ticket prices will be determined by a number of things and ultimately be the decision of the producers. It will depend on the theater and on the market in general. I believe currently the top ticket price on Broadway for orchestra seats is in the $120 to $100 range. My guess is that the show would have to be staged at one of the larger Broadway houses such as the Ford Center, The Broadway or Marquis which all seat 1400 to 1500 people. The least expensive seats would probably be in the $35-$40 range providing for a potential weekly gross of roughly $750,000 or so.

[Goldberry1]

i cant stand musicals either, but who's making this thing? i've never even heard about it!

[Agburanar]

The flying element I can think of from 'Les Mis' is the bit where Javert throws himself off the bridge and it goes up. A stunning effect by most accounts.

[Galenavar]

Javert throws himself off the bridge and it goes up
I loved that part!!!! Yeah, that could be interpreted as morbid. Anyway, it's just one of those things where you, well at least me, sit there stunned, whether you knew it would happen or not. That's the only flying set piece I can think of also.

[Ethereal]

Originally posted by Goldberry1
who's making this thing? i've never even heard about it!

i've never heard of it either!! who IS making it, and where is it being performed?

[Giroth]

Well, I think the original post was just an opinion.Magicshrivve just went on this board to state his or her opinion.


In my opinion, musicals are stupid also.But that is just MY thought:)

[hama1]

For information about The One Ring go to the website. There is a link on the main page at Tolkien Trail.

Hama

[Agburanar]

Giroth, what is stupid? Why can anything be defined as stupid? Pointless maybe, gerogatory perhaps, tasteless maybe. Stupid is a very general opinion to have of anything.

Just an opinion!

[Giroth]

Ok,Ok, pointless.:D


.......my opinion..........:p

[Blackboar]

LotR just wouln't be as good in a musical.
Imagine the story being sung all the way
through. The chracters would be different
and you can't fight propaly. Well you could
but it wouln't be realistic. And what about
when Gandalf falls into the shadow? And
when Frodo puts the ring on? It just wouln't
be the same!

[Blackboar]

I would still see it though!!!

[Galenavar]

Blackboar- 2 things

Numero uno, I can't help but lol to the fact that you'd still see it. Hooray! Good for you.:D

Number two, who says LotR just wouln't be as good in a musical? I know it's your opinion, but...who says? This may be more for hama to speak about, but I'm going to anyway. What's wrong with it being sung all the way through? The characters would still be the same characters we know and love, you can do extremely realistic fighting onstage, and everything else, well...it's a show! It's not supposed to be the exact same and most shows leave something to the audience's imagination anyway. Still, it's incredible some of the stuff you can do on a stage! Sorry, but I'm just trying to understand your pov better. :)

[hama1]

Galvenar,

Thank you for your spirited defence. I almost feel as Frodo to your Aragon...defending me at every turn. However, Blackboar raises some excellent points.
LotR just wouln't be as good in a musical.

If The One Ring or it's telling of LotR is ever as good as a musical as LotR is as a novel than I am a helluva a lot more talented than I (or anyone else for that matter) have ever given myself credit for. My goal was not to write something as good as LotR. My goal was to adapt LotR into as moving and well crafted a musical as could possibly be achieved or perhaps more humbly, as I could possibly achieve. Perhaps an obtuse reference but I don't think West Side Story is good as Romeo and Juliet, I don't think My Fair Lady is as good as Pygmilion nor Les MIZ as good as Victor Hugo's original work. However, I think all three are excellent musicals.

Imagine the story being sung all the way

Well that IS the way I originally imagined it. However, my imagination got the best of me. It didn't work as a sung through operatic musical...or at least my meager talents couldn't make it work. So, as you can see by reading the script, it is not sung through but rather a more standard musical format with libretto and lyrics.

As for the "effects"...Gandalf falling into the abyss and Frodo putting on the ring, etc...I think the stage effects possible today are quite amazing but you are right. They won't be the same. I can match neither the power of the human imagination nor that of computer generated imaging. The challenges of live stage are very different. Whereas Peter Jackson could refilm a scene eighty times for a week to get what he wanted just once, I have to write a script and the director and creative team have to stage it so that we get it right every time eight times a week.

I luckily have to things going for me. The first is that audiences at live performances have a willingness to suspend disbelief. They understand the limitations of live theater and their minds ask only that you make it look enough like something is happening to allow them to believe that it is. I was in a National Tour of Romeo and Juliet and as Mercucio I died eight times a week. Twice on Wednesdays and twice on Saturday. I also came out for my curtain call at the end of each performance. The audience knew I wasn't dead but they were willing to suspend disbelief. As an example in The One Ring, I don't need Gandalf to fall. I need the set to rise. From the perspective of the audience the effect and affect is the same. The second thing I have going for me is the power of music. If I have written them as well as I think I have, Aragorn's "One More Tomorrow", Gandalf's "Beyond the Questions", Eowyn's "With His Words" and Sam's "I am Your Friend" and of course the duet between Sam and Frodo at the end of te show will evoke enough emotion in the audience as any passage in the original novel.

Blackboar...I hope this answers some of your questions...I do believe this is one of my longest responses in months.

[Blackboar]

Originally posted by Galenavar
Blackboar- 2 things

Numero uno, I can't help but lol to the fact that you'd still see it. Hooray! Good for you.:D

Number two, who says LotR just wouln't be as good in a musical? I know it's your opinion, but...who says? This may be more for hama to speak about, but I'm going to anyway. What's wrong with it being sung all the way through? The characters would still be the same characters we know and love, you can do extremely realistic fighting onstage, and everything else, well...it's a show! It's not supposed to be the exact same and most shows leave something to the audience's imagination anyway. Still, it's incredible some of the stuff you can do on a stage! Sorry, but I'm just trying to understand your pov better. :)


Actually, now I've read all the lyrics and script, I think it would be really good!!

[hama1]

Blackboar,

I am honored that you have taken the time to read the script and even more so that you actually like it. I hope it will be god too!

Hama

[Elenessiel]

Although I understand why Peter Jackson and company discarded nearly all of Tolkein's songs and poems, I miss them. One of my favorite complaints about the trilogy is that it is full of maps and songs. I love maps and songs. May excessive maps and songs persist and multiply. Music, for me, conveys power and emotion that mere words are unable to encompass. Howard Shore's score is incredible, and wonderfully enhances the magic of the story. So how much cooler would it be to unite the power of the words and the music? Thank you so much for bringing the music in LotR alive!
Oh, and I too heartily enjoy spontaneous outburts of song and dance. I dream of spontaneous outbursts of song and dance. A current e-bay commercial features just such as scene. I love it. My whole family loves it. However, I think our own recreations of musical numbers would be a little more successful if we didn't carry a tune in a leaky bucket.

[hama1]

Ellenesiel...

You have a unique and seemingly joyous outlook on life. Congratulations...and never lose it. Your comment about the power and emotion of music conveying more than mere words could hope to is why there is musical theatre.

Hama

[Legolas_is_fit]

No offence but LORT as a musical, it would to long the movie is 3 and a half hours as it is and with songs in it it would be an 5 hour musical which is really BORING
And then you have to make the other three musicals which again would be around 6 hours long:mad:

[Blackboar]

Legolas: Numero uno) Hama1 is doing a really good job and I can assure you it will not be boring!!

Numero dos) READ THE SCRIPT!!! I think it sounds quite good. I personally thought it would be pretty rubbish until I read the script! Now I LOVE the idea!!!

[Legolas_is_fit]

I was thinking I wouldnt like to see LOTR as a musical but what about the hobbit that would make a great musical ony because the book is short. And not as packed as LOTR. What you think?

[Diaxion]

Well when someone says they hate musicals that is understandable because musicals just have music in them to have it. On the other hand an opperetta has music that helps the story along. So therefore I can see why people hate musicals.

[galadriel]

While that's true to a certain extent, *good* musicals have music that's expressive and extremely plot-related. There's always a few fun and silly songs, but those shouldn't be the norm.

Then there are musicals like Les Miserables... it might as well be an opera; it's entirely musical.

[hama1]

I agree with Galadriel. In the case of Les Miz, I have to assume Thenardier's big song, Master of the House was was written expressly for comic relief in what is otherwise a very somber, serious show.

[Agburanar]

Lots of people criticise musicals because they are primarily 'commercial' theatre, they're for entertainment rather than anything else. But that doesn't mean they're worth less than 'serious' theatre, it's nice to just sit back and enjoy something once in a while.

[Beleg Strongbow]

In response to whoever said it would be boring: If you don't like musicals, well, then... :rolleyes: But the script has been truncated a lot from the book and looks like it'll be very well done; more in the quicker timeframe. I'm referring to things like the attack on Weathertop.

[Galenavar]

I was thinking I wouldnt like to see LOTR as a musical but what about the hobbit that would make a great musical ony because the book is short. And not as packed as LOTR. What you think?
Why do you assume it would make a better musical simply because it's short? The length of a musical does not determine it's quality.

Ok, I'm going to go on a little rant right now, on what has been said. Personally, I don't see how anyone can think a musical is boring. People randomly breaking into song? How can that be boring? You never know what's going to happen! If it's a well-written musical, that is. Which, by the way, the One Ring Musical is. :)

A lot of musicals are made just to get money, but another lot of them are very serious and have very serious and real themes, like Les Miz, or the theme of racial prejudice in South Pacific. All good musicals use the music to help the plotline along or develop hte characters. Even in Les Miz, Master of the House not only gave the show some comic relief, but it showed how corrupt and horrid the some of the businesses and people were in that time period and gave you a feel for what the Thenardiers were really like.

and there's my rant. :D

[Blackboar]

I just hope its a good as the Phantom of the Opera. I loved that one!!:D