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NYTimes.com: Lyndon Baines Johnson was a larger-than-life figure, no doubt, but is Broadway big enough for two plays about that president?
2 comments:
Christy D
said...
Huh. I'd never really thought of LBJ as someone to write a play about, but maybe that's a part of the appeal. There are plenty of shows out there about love and loss, but how many about Johnson? New subjects can certainly be risky, but we'd never get anywhere if nobody took risks. The idea that one production is trying to force the other out is a bit disturbing, though. Admittedly, the "let's all be friends" attitude doesn't usually work in the real world, but that level of professional competitiveness seems excessive. It's a bit worrying to see how competitive people in the theater business can be.
I would have to disagree with Dores Goodwin. Both plays running at the same time would just hurt each others sales. Each would only get a fraction of what they could have if put on by themselves. This interaction highlights the cutthroat business world that is Broadway Theater. In both cases money does not seem to be an issue. This makes me "All the Way" has a better chance of success because of its better credentials. "Great Society" has just as good a chance of being a good show or even better with the right cast crew and director. So, which one should be put on Broadway is a complete toss up. But i think the fact remains that only one should go to Broadway.
2 comments:
Huh. I'd never really thought of LBJ as someone to write a play about, but maybe that's a part of the appeal. There are plenty of shows out there about love and loss, but how many about Johnson? New subjects can certainly be risky, but we'd never get anywhere if nobody took risks. The idea that one production is trying to force the other out is a bit disturbing, though. Admittedly, the "let's all be friends" attitude doesn't usually work in the real world, but that level of professional competitiveness seems excessive. It's a bit worrying to see how competitive people in the theater business can be.
I would have to disagree with Dores Goodwin. Both plays running at the same time would just hurt each others sales. Each would only get a fraction of what they could have if put on by themselves. This interaction highlights the cutthroat business world that is Broadway Theater. In both cases money does not seem to be an issue. This makes me "All the Way" has a better chance of success because of its better credentials. "Great Society" has just as good a chance of being a good show or even better with the right cast crew and director. So, which one should be put on Broadway is a complete toss up. But i think the fact remains that only one should go to Broadway.
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