Ken Davenport - Opinions from a Broadway Producer: In the middle of a negotiation recently, someone tried the ol', "I've been in this business for 20 years," line. I waited, thought for a second and then realized the for the first time I could counter with . . . "So have I!"
I first came to NYC in August of 1991, a touch over twenty years ago now. I wasn't walking to school through 12 miles of snow, but Broadway certainly was a different place, literally and figuratively. And as much as I may gripe about the lack of change in our so-rigid-it's-like-a-redwood industry, we have come a long way.
8 comments:
As small children, we often ask about the future and what it holds for the next generation. Sometimes there are more creative ideas the younger we are. As for the future, there are a lot of things that the coming generations will have to deal with. I think one of those issues will definitely involve the environment. As we become even more global and connected, I feel that there will be a greater variety in the performances. All in all, there will be technology that becomes far more advanced and effective.
I only hope that we won't get lost in the entertainment factors. The movie industry has already taken the mass entertainment blow. It becomes a matter of the effects rather than the quality of other aspects to the performances. With the advancing technology in the theater, I'm afraid they'll endure the same visual result.
I think that this is a fantastic idea! Why not get some professionals together to talk about Broadway? I think that Broadway isn't talked about enough. There is much to be learned from all industries, the entertainment industry included. Even when learning about specific skills from one industry that may not be able to practically applied to your industry, there is still much to be learned about the way that people thrive, learn, operate, and create. That's one reason why Ted talks, in general, are so great. I'm anxious to see what people see in Broadway's future. I'm sure that technology and technology-related audience interaction will come into play more and more. I'm sure that Broadway won't be going anywhere, and maybe through the use of talks and press such as this, more people will come to know and love Broadway in the future. Theatre heals and provides relief and entertainment...who in this world doesn't need these things?
I think that it is so important for us to keep in check our opinions about the future: that is a healthy and important thing because it helps to regulate our greatest fears, monitoring those that can easily be a reality in enough given time! I feel that Broadway is also here to stay, but in our future, in different ways, the theater industry could take a turn like that of the entertainment industry: we might very well be less concerned in the future with good story lines, and more focused on special effects, if not a more dynamic, "eye-catching" theater world. I could be wrong. Nevertheless, it is important to have these ideas circulate, and a variety of opinions is simply healthy to have around during such a discussion.
This sounds like a great idea, and I'm surprised something like this hasn't happened before. I wish I was able to attend!
Personally, I don't think audiences will ever bore of classics (Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, etc.) nor will they bore of plays that don't have huge special effects and instead just examine human nature, like August: Osage County. However, I think that the big flashy shows (like Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark) will be mostly present on Broadway. I think that intelligent lights will completely replace standard lighting fixtures. I also think that shows will be more and more geared towards audience interaction and participation.
Well, I’m a bit disappointed that this article is the announcement of a future TED talk, not an answer to the question, but oh well. What will be on Broadway in 20 years? As much as I don’t want it to be so, Broadway may continue to drift further and further away from other, off Broadway theatre. The focus seems to be shifting from presenting good stories and theatre to dazzling the audience with excessive special effects (If Spiderman is any indication). I would have to disagree with Pia on the incorporation of audience interaction. I believe that audience interaction will become less common as audiences now are expecting a more movie-like experience. I am still really excited to see the types of shows and new technologies that will be on Broadway in 20 years.
I hope broadway will continue to be the wonderful experience that it has always been. I know in todays economy, it has taken it's share of hits but I don't see it going anywhere. Live theatre is a world of it's own and it can't compare to anything else in my opinion. I still think we will see a crossover of tv and film actors taking their chance on broadway but I also think that can help its continued growth. I'm sure the technical aspect will grow as the worlds technology grows but the simplicity of the stage itself will never lose its charm. I'm just glad that I will be a part of it all.
I think that in certain ways Broadway will change a lot in the next 20 years, but in other ways it will seem pretty much the same as it does today. Of course the changes in technology which we are experiencing all the time are changing the way Broadway functions a lot. But, on the other hand, what audiences want to see is not really going to change that much. Audiences going to see Broadway shows will always be looking for entertaining fluff, and I don't think that is really going to change. I hope that this TED talk will be posted online, because I'm definitely really interested in hearing what the professionals think Broadway will be like in 20 years.
Broadway seems to be constantly changing. Yes, it is still commercial theatre and it's main goal still seems to be making money. However, it has gotten to a point where only big flashy musicals are coming back to attract audiences. This is why Phantom has lasted so long and yet Race ran for a very short time. Personally, I like Race a lot more than Phantom, but it's not the money maker producers want. I think having a talk to discuss the future of Broadway is a great idea. We need to figure out a way to produce shows that make money, but that also bring more than just flashy shows to the table. I feel like Broadway has lost some of the art to spectacle. We need to get that back.
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