[denverroad]

Is it me - am I getting old or is there a distinct lack of new musicals or revivals that have made any impression on me in the last 12 months.

Pricilla and Legally Blond which I've seen over the last month have left me completely baffled as to all the fuss about them - felt the same about Sister Act.

Even feel the last 5 years have been pretty dull - other than Wicked - loved the spectical and performances (hated the music).

Whilst not ALW's greatest fan you have to admit - love them or hate his musicals you leave the theatre feeling you've seen something pretty emotive.

Can't think of anything in the last 12 months besides Piaf that I've actually really enjoyed.

Are there any new musicals planned or coming into the West End that are going to have the impact of some of the 80's or even 90's musicals did?

[Red Momma]

I have heard a rumour that "The Fantasticks" is heading for the West End in May

[Mark_E]

^Yep, at the Duchess from May.

Also there is obviously Love Never Dies opening.
Hair Transferring

Rumours of Rock of Ages/Shrek opening.

[Weez]

It's not just you, I've not found musicals as thrilling a prospect these days as I have done in the past. I loved Spring Awakening and La Cage, and I enjoyed Priscilla and Legally Blonde, and who could forget Ernie Get Your Gun (no matter how much they wanted to)?! But not much else is really registering at the mo. Hopefully with Hair, The Fantasticks, and Love Never Dies coming, the musical is going to pick up for 2010! Fingers crossed, eh? At least we've still got plays.

The Fantasticks looks distinctly more than rumour to me: http://www.nimaxtheatres.com/nimax/play/S1...The+Fantasticks

[RH1234]

I think the problem is that producers are rightfully wary about will be a hit. We haven;t had any successful new musicals of late that are not jukebox musicals, musicals of films or Broadway transfers. Broadway is certainly ahead of us on the new musical front. But when producers (from Broadway as well) see inventive shows like The Drowsy Chaperone and Spring Awakening folding in a few months, but see Jersey Boys, We Will Rock You and Dirty Dancing doing tremendous business, who can blame them for not producing challenging and exciting new theatre. I'm not saying that these shows are bad and not enjoyable, but we need variety. This year's run of Priscilla, Sister Act and Legally Blonde is really a perfect example of the problem: 1 jukebox, 2 films and no others with any success - we need more variety. Imagine how exciting it must have been when Phantom and Les Miz first opened within a year of each other.

I think mega producers like Cameron Mackintosh have a duty to produce new, original musicals, by new talent. The only original show he's done for year's has been the Broadway transfer of Avenue Q. Why isn't he now getting behind and encouraging new writers and shows. I honestly felt when both Drowsy Chaperone and Spring Awakening announced they were closing at one of his theatre's that he should have stepped in and helped. Even just having his name linked with a show would probably sell tickets. Instead he's doing cash-in revivals like Oliver. Not saying that Oliver is bad, but I think Cameron could be doing more than reviving a past success of his for a TV show. Yes he's now doing Hair, but with excruciating prices (£65 top price + booking fees), he's ensuring that the show will not attract younger audiences. It would be the perfect show for low, accessible prices and day seats. I think prices do play a large part in why audiences are now choosing to see what they know.

(Sorry for writing so much!)

[Pharaoh's number 2]

Why can't Cameron charge prices for Hair like he charges for Avenue Q (hope it transfers btw).
I've heard that he's producing a new musical by Styles and Drewe about the two years after World War Two. I agree that we need more new original musicals (well, we're getting Love Never Dies), but apart from that, nothing confirmed. I think it's producers seeing original musicals (Spring Awakening, Imagine This, Too Close to the Sun(!) etc), failing, it's not worth the risk. We should also be getting shrek and Wizard of Oz, but they're not new and original.

[mjr]

I think the first half of this year looks exciting, with Love never Dies, Hair and The Fantastiks opening in the next few months. Its still a bit to early to cast judgement on the whole year yet as it will be a month or two yet before we hear about whats happening past the summer.

Was interesting reading that Shrek is looking to go into a Really Useful theatre, looks like we shall be seeing it in the next year or two.

With Legally Blonde having its press nights this week, maybe it may get the ball rolling for a year of exciting new shows. I must admit, although i loved the Oliver revival, and Loved sister Act, apart from those two, I didn't think there were any other big openings that made an impact on me. Maybe its just me? But i have spent a significant part of the year visiting older shows and have started seeing alot more plays than i normally would.

[VelmaMaureen]

Avenue Q and Spring Awakening have really been the only two really original, exciting musicals of this decade to hit London. I know that Wicked's succesful, but for me it's nothing that special.

I'm excited for The Fantasticks, and I thought Legally Blonde and Sister Act were good, but not amazing.

What really needs to happen is for some new British composers to have a chance for their work to be in the West End. There must be some talented people out there. I suppose it's just the risk that producers would have to undertake. As much as it annoys me, average people who go to the theatre once a year will go and see something like Billy Elliot or We Will Rock You, not something less obvious or less thrust in their faces by marketing/TV.

For now, I'd love for Next to Normal or In the Heights to transfer, even though they probably wouldn't find a massive audience over here. I really wish I lived nearer Broadway because there always seems to be so many more new musicals.

[RussH]

"Is it me... or is there a distinct lack of new musicals or revivals that have made any impression on me in the last 12 months."

Is it you or have recent shows not made an impression on you? Well... only you'd know ;-)

"Whilst not ALW's greatest fan you have to admit you leave the theatre feeling you've seen something pretty emotive."

You don't have to agree. That's the thing about opinions.

"Are there any new musicals planned or coming into the West End that are going to have the impact of some of the 80's or even 90's musicals did?"

That's entirely subjective. Personally, I think productions like Jerry Springer: The Opera, Avenue Q, War Horse, Jersey Boys, Hairspray, Billy Elliot (to name a few) have had an impact. It's all just what you happen to be into.

No, we don't have the kind of network that routinely throws up new musicals like Next to Normal or Grey Gardens but then we never did. The '80s mega-musicals were produced by a very small group.