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Musicals 'are as hip as pop music for young people'
Musicals have become cool among young people again.
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Musicals in London theatres and around the world are having something of a renaissance because young people are now flocking to see them.
The Columbus Dispatch points out that since High School Musical and Glee arrived on our televisions, youngsters have been more accepting of plotlines in which the lead characters may burst into song at any moment, making them more receptive to stage shows.
Talent searches such as American Idol in the US and The X Factor in Britain may also have had a similar effect.
As a result, revivals of shows like Hair and new musicals like Legally Blonde have been attracting younger audiences than ever.
Oskar Eustis, artistic director of Broadway's Public Theatre, observed: "There's a more porous relationship now between popular music, rock music and musical theatre. It's all cross-fertilising."
Audiences of any age can still catch Hair at the Gielgud Theatre until September 4th 2010, while Legally Blonde recently extended its booking period at the Savoy Theatre until February 20th 2011.
