by Claudia Tietze

Created on: April 23, 2008

This issue is so complex and can't just be put down to lack of creative talent. It is economical, changes in how shows are produced, changes in how audiences view theater, casting needs and a shift in our culture in general.

Many theaters were previously owned independently. Now almost every theater is owned by a corporation which owns multiple theaters. When they were owned independently, the owners of the theater had a say in what shows were shown in their house. Corporations are more interested in profits than in supporting the arts.

On Broadway the recent trend falls towards shows backed by large corporations, like Disney. It becomes more difficult for other producers to raise the required funds to back a show when the competition (Disney) has seemingly empty pockets. The Brits tend to take more chances on their West End productions. A few reasons for this include government subsidies, but also that theater is much more ingrained into the British culture than it is in America. Cameron Mackintosh and his Really Useful Company has a real love for the art, and has taken many personal risks to back shows that never would have made it to a stage in New York. Andrew Lloyd Weber has only produced a small number of shows, and more because he can versus that he can really be considered a producer. Don't forget that he has written a majority of musicals himself, and created the genre of the rock musical in the 1970's with Jesus Christ Super Star. It's kind of like a painter opening an art gallery. Also, never forget the long history that Andrew Lloyd Weber has with Cameron Mackintosh. Mackintosh produced Webers' Cats in 1981 and it was considered at the time never to survive. He took a huge risk, and the results is history: Cats not only became the hit of the season, it also became one of the longest running shows both on the West End and Broadway.

There is tons of talent in London, so I am not sure why the original poster feels there is not. There are more performing arts schools from grade school up than you can shake a stick at. Visit one someday and you will find it is overflowing with talent. The councils and government subsidizes a vast amount of training, talent, projects, and writers.

I think that some of the issue is directors and producers like to cast the same people because they know they can deliver consistent performances 8 shows per week and are reliable as well as talented. You often need to build talent by casting in smaller parts until that stamina

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