Broadway musicals hit big screen

By Arielle Friscia
November 21, 2008

Shannon Keough

I sit here writing this article and honestly I am listening to all my Broadway music. As I go through all the Broadway music it seems like every single Broadway musical I have come to love is easily accessible by putting that DVD in and pressing play.

It was OK when “Rent” came out and all that. Thanks goes out to my great group of friends from high school who made me go see “Rent” the movie and fall in love with it.

Broadway has been a part of my life since I was young. My mom would take me to a Broadway show every year. It was an excitement when I would sneak through my mom’s drawer and find the tickets. I swear my sister made me do it! It was worth a try right?

I would go and watch these amazing, talented and dedicated actors put on a show. It was the best feeling ever when you walked out of a theater admiring these actors for what they do eight times a week. Actors sometimes performing two shows a day.

There are so many Broadway musicals that are made into movies. I personally think enough is enough! Seriously, it is like a slap in the face to Broadway.

By making a movie you are just not letting people see the true beauty of the actual show on stage.

Recently, I have found out that two amazing musicals are being made into movies. They are “Wicked” and “Spring Awakening.”

There are other shows in the past that have been made into movies as well such as, “Mamma Mia,” “Rent,” “Sweeney Todd,” “A Chorus Line,” “Hairspray,” “The Producers” and “Phantom of the Opera.” Those are just some of the Broadway shows turned into movies and I am sure there are many more to come.

Watching the movie and actually seeing the show performed live on stage. It is not the same at all. Watching the actors perform the music on stage and listening to the orchestra play the music are an unbelievable experience.

I know what it is like to work in the theater. I work with the Cabrini’s theater here on campus.

Watching an audience reacting to the hard work that you have put into to make a show is an amazing feeling. I may be backstage but I love after the show when I am cleaning up and seeing how happy people are that they came to the play.

When you watch a movie it gets old after awhile. Seriously, I love watching movies. It is great and relaxing, but the movie? musicals are not even like the actual show.

Who goes out into the middle of a street and starts singing how they feel? It is not realistic in a movie but at least when you go to a Broadway show it is a lot more believable because you expect them to sing and dance.

Now, I understand there are plenty of movies that have been turned into musicals on Broadway.

Hey, if it works by adding music, then that is perfectly fine with me.

There are plenty of musicals that I thought I would never enjoy seeing on Broadway. There is a difference and you may not think it but it is true. Some of the Broadway shows that were movies and brought to Broadway are “Legally Blonde,” “The Wedding Singer,” Disney movies such as “Tarzan,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

There are some movies that are being brought to the Broadway scene. “Shrek” has come to Broadway. You have got to be kidding me?! Seriously, Shrek? I love that movie and don’t want it ruined.

It is not worth all that money. Don’t you people know our economy is awful? Don’t waste your money on putting wasteful shows on Broadway.

Now, if you’re reading this and complaining that Broadway shows are too expensive and saying to yourself, “I am a college student, I can’t afford tickets for a Broadway show,” cry me river because you have no idea how easily accessible Broadway tickets are.

I am telling you, you will be amazed when I tell you how easily affordable Broadway tickets are.

Broadway has student rush tickets. Student rush tickets are a limited number of tickets available for $20 or a little more! Sometimes you can get front row seats! That is awesome!

I have done it plenty of times. I have been a little extreme. For example, one time I waited from 5 a.m. till about 10 a.m. for tickets to see “Jersey Boys.”

If you desperately want to see a certain show, it is worth the wait. It is a bargain to get those tickets. So enjoy having that student IDs now because once you have finished school, it is not going to be that way.

You can also get tickets at half price, too. Go to 46th street and the ticket office has plenty of tickets to buy at half price.

Christmas is coming up and that would be a great gift for your loved one or even just to go with your family. Being at a Broadway show is more meaningful when seeing the show actually performed in front of you. There is true passion on the stage and a whole lot more emotion on stage than watching the beauty of a musical as a movie.

So go out there and support Broadway. It is an amazing experience for everyone to enjoy.

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Arielle Friscia

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