Well, it’s official…The Sound of Music Live! is a big hit. Maybe not when you take to reading some of our industry colleagues’ Facebook and Twitter posts, but according to the ratings, last night’s performance was a win. So why is the industry up in arms? We actors are a passionate people, albeit perhaps a little judgy.
While few, if any, would deny that last night’s television event was a huge boon for the industry, it is hard for actors to not feel critical. After all, we all work so hard to fine-tune our craft and find our footing in the business that when someone walks up who has never done what we do, it’s hard not to watch her with a keen eye. It doesn’t matter if she has 10 CMAs, 7 AMAs, 6 Grammy’s, and countless other awards that we could only dream of…she’s not one of us. She’s not an actor.
I get it. I am just as critical as the next guy or gal. I am very protective of our little musical theater world too. And I’ll address the elephant in the room- just like many of you, I’m jealous. When some starlet waltzes into a Broadway musical having never sung a note in her life, or that Hollywood hunk takes the lead in a new mounting of Shakespeare when his feet have never touched anything but a sound stage, I feel that twinge of anger in my gut. It’s that bit of green rage we all get when someone else gets what we deserve- what we strive so hard to achieve.
But let’s get real for a second folks. Why do you think so many people tuned in to that performance last night? While we all love our dear Audra, I can guarantee you it wasn’t for her. And while Christian Borle and Laura Benanti have appeared in many peoples’ living rooms already, I don’t think anyone would call them household names. Sure, all us musical theater lovers would have paid big bucks (and do) to see those performers. But the average family has no idea who they are and frankly, they really don’t care. What they do care about are pop stars, American Idol winners, TV stars they’ve gotten to know over time as they’ve tuned in to their shows every week.
When I lift that veil of jealousy off of my eyes I start to understand two things: 1. maybe big budget producers are right- getting butts in seats is of utmost importance. What is live theater without an audience? And while I’d like to think that brilliant art is enough to get them there, that would just be naive. And 2. if I hope that the industry will take a risk on me (as a no-name actor with aspirations to star in major productions), it is unfair for me to not want them to take risks on others too. Putting a country star who has little or no acting experience in an iconic legit musical theater role for all the world to see is a big risk. But if it goes well, as it did, the benefit to the industry greatly outweighs the risk. And you never know when that risk taking will lead to a discovery of hidden talent- e.g. Justin Timberlake on SNL…who knew he was hilarious?!
As the title of this post says, the hills are alive with the sound of viewers. And that roar of the millions of viewers is a very important sound. It means that people who would perhaps have never experienced theater may now decide to support their local theater company. Maybe they’ll put the whole family on a plane and visit our beloved Broadway. Perhaps a young child out in midwestern farmland who never new her love of singing and dancing could be put to good use will be inspired to learn more and enroll in some theater classes. It is experiences like last night that ensure the future of our field. And for that, I am truly grateful.