American Musicals in the UK

[CHGriffiths]

Hello all,
bit of a personal request I am afraid. I am currently doing my University Dissertation and am using the topic of "American Musicals in the UK" as my subject.

What i'm wondering is, if anyone here knows of any books, tv documentaries, journals or online articles that look into this topic. The things I am focusing on is audience reception of the same show in UK comparred to USA, changes that are made to shows to allow them to work for a UK audience and the success of different type of USA musicals in UK. Also briefly looking into why things such as "Next to Normal," "Bloody blody Andrew Jackson," and other 'contemporary' USA musicals that have failed to cross the pond at all.

If anyone knows of anything AT ALL that may help, PLEASE let me know!

THANK YOU!!!

[Nickhutson]

(Recent) US Musicals that have failed here:

Rent
Spring Awakening
Drowsy Chaperone
Every Sondheim show ever


Next to Normal won't come here because it's not a story the British can relate to; the majority of British theatre audiences are made up of coach trips from the "provinces" who'd rather see a show like Grease or Dirty Dancing than a depressing snooze fest with a title that means nothing to no-one. Harsh, but true :)

[peggyb2]

Sweeney Todd?

[SoonerOrLater]

Unfortunatly there's not a great deal written on your subject-I'm currently writing my PhD which in part deals with American musicals in the UK. What you'll probably find more useful is journal articles (which will have some more reccent examples) or general books about the American musical which will at least refer to British transfers.

One that springs to mind (because I was using it today) is 'The Theatre will Rock by Elizabeth Wollman, which deals with 'rock musicals' and refers in part to UK productions. Another is 'Directors and the New Musical Drama; British and American Musical Theatre in the 1980s and 1990s'

Nickhutson-while I disagree with some of the 'failures' you list that has to be the most amusing description of N2N I've ever read!

[bob8rich]

SO, nick, you are asserting that no one in the UK suffers from bipolar disorder or any other form of mental illness?

Obviously, N2N will not have a mass popular appeal - and it didn't have in the US either. But there are MILLIONS of people in the UK (myself included) who can very deeply relate to it. I found N2N THE most profoundly emotionally charged musical I have ever seen (each of the 4 times I saw it). It may be many things but a "snorefest" it is most certainly not.

Also, there is the issue of what constitutes a "failure". Personally I would judge a show by its artistic merits rather than merely by how much money it generates. (thus I would disagree that Sondheim shows have "failed" in the UK - just because they do not pack in crowds does not make them a failure).

[Musical-Matt]

I have a book which is called our musical ourselves which discusses the social history of ameican musicals but also talks of british imports like phantom and les mis