Sweeney Todd

[bucklind17]

1. For me, it really was those three things that made Spring Awakening similar to Rent. It made me feel like the producers went: 'Rent worked, so let's do another show that's kind of edgy, geared to youth, and uses rock music.'

I can see that. I guess I just don't see it as anyone thinking "let's make a new Rent!" I mean, the play itself is over a hundred years old. It's an edgy work without the rock music, and edgier with. And young people flock to it and relate to it because of both of those things. Personally, I'm happy that shows like this are existing to get teenagers more into theatre. I saw Rent for the first time seven years ago and it opened my eyes to an entire world of theatre that I didn't even notice prior, and if Spring Awakening is doing that for a whole flock of kids, more power to it. Plus, the score (and emphasize on score) is amazing.

[David]

Originally Posted by bucklind17

I can see that. I guess I just don't see it as anyone thinking "let's make a new Rent!" I mean, the play itself is over a hundred years old. It's an edgy work without the rock music, and edgier with.

The synopsis of "Rent" sounds like "La Boheme."

[RavenOfRhiannon]

Originally Posted by David

The synopsis of "Rent" sounds like "La Boheme."

It is a retelling of La Boheme.

(And yeah, if either one of those is getting young people to the theatre, I am all for it.)

[strandinthewind]

^^^

I liked some of Rent.

In fact, onThanksgiving, we were all at a friend's house in Brooklyn and a friend who was in the cast of Rent was there -- we were all singing (they are all actors) way into the early hours of the morning. We sang some of the songs from Rent and he was incredible. Afterward, he was explaining to me how the structure of the music was similar to that of "La Boheme."

I am just torn on whether I like Rent. I certainly liked it when he was harmoinzing with me that that night. talk about having to pay attention despite the wine I also like the fact that it literally breathed new life into musical theatre and helped show there was a different way than the jukebox musical. I mean I LOVED Mamma Mia and Jersey Boys, but they are not really fresh music. So, I like Rent for that. And, the music is good.

[bucklind17]

I also like the fact that it literally breathed new life into musical theatre and helped show there was a different way than the jukebox musical. I mean I LOVED Mamma Mia and Jersey Boys, but they are not really fresh music.

Jukebox musicals really weren't too common until after Rent. It certainly did breathe new life into musical theatre, but the jukebox trend (All Shook Up, Lennon, Good Vibrations, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia, etc.) started a good five years or more after Rent opened on Broadway.

I saw Baz Luhrman's La Boheme not long after seeing Rent for the first time and it was pretty awesome to spot the similarities (and differences) to the story.

[strandinthewind]

^^

Touche'

But, Rent was in 1996 and they had been done by then, though to a lesser degree than since then, to wit:

List of jukebox musicals

Leader of the Pack (1984), music of Ellie Greenwich
Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story (1989), music covered by Buddy Holly (including many early rock "standards")
Return to the Forbidden Planet (1989)
Forever Plaid (1990)
Crazy for You (1992), music of George and Ira Gershwin
Saturday Night Fever (1999), music of The Bee Gees
Disco Inferno (1999), music of the 70s era.
Mamma Mia! (2001), music of ABBA
We Will Rock You (2002), music of Queen
Movin' Out (2002), music of Billy Joel
The Boy from Oz (2003), music of Peter Allen
Tonight's The Night (2003), music of Rod Stewart
On the Record (2004), music of the Walt Disney Company
Lennon (2005), music of John Lennon
Our House, music of Madness
Good Vibrations (2005), music of The Beach Boys
All Shook Up (2005), music of Elvis Presley
Jersey Boys (2005), music of Frankie Valli and Four Seasons
Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar (2005), music of the Spanish group Mecano
Ring of Fire (2006), music of Johnny Cash
Hot Feet (2006), music of Earth, Wind & Fire
Dusty: The Original Pop Diva (2006), music of Dusty Springfield
Daddy Cool (2006), music of Boney M
The Times They Are A-Changin' (2006), music of Bob Dylan
The Onion Cellar (2006), music of The Dresden Dolls
Xanadu (2007), music of Electric Light Orchestra
LoveMusik (2007), music of Kurt Weil
Never Forget (2007), music of Take That
Desperately Seeking Susan (2007), music of Blondie

List of jukebox musical films

Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Yellow Submarine (1968)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)
Everyone Says I Love You (1996)
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Happy Feet (2006)
Romance & Cigarettes (2006)
Across the Universe (2007)

[Betsy]

I admit that I have not read this thread but saw its title.

Upon seeing it ~ and having some time last night, I took the 20-year-old-daughter (before she goes back to college) to the movies and saw Sweeny Todd.

I had no idea what it was about. We watched Edward Scissorhands last weekend on some cable channel and knew it was a Tim Burton film ...

WHOA ~ !

Sweeny Todd is no Edward Scissorhands.

I think we were the only ones in the theater who covered our eyes... That movie is gonna take some "thinking" on...