Musicals are impacting the entertainment industry and have been for decades. Turning more Broadway musicals into movies has become more popular as cinema continues to grow. While most musicals start as short films, turning them into full-length movies has helped the growth of cinema. The style of musicals has been known to be American, but other countries, like Germany, Japan and England, have helped to develop the musical style of today. Creating a fun and engaging experience for the viewers, musicals have become a popular form of cinema. Musicals can revive older movies in a new way, making nostalgic and joyous feelings return while watching. Though the new year brings many new movies, there are a couple of new musicals as well, including the Broadway hit “Wicked” and a revamp of the classic teen movie “Mean Girls.”
Addyson Crocker (11) saw “Wicked” at the Peace Center and loved it.
“The music and special effects were amazing. I’m a little nervous for the movie version because the Broadway version is now so good, but I’m hoping for the best,” Crocker said.
After being on Broadway for over 20 years, “Wicked” is coming to the movie theaters in November of 2024. The journey of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good from “The Wizard of Oz” before Dorothy’s arrival has held viewers on edge for years. The effects and lighting can help the look of a movie be realistic, as well as having actors people are familiar with – and in this case, both of these will help in making the movie production of “Wicked” a success in the theaters. Well-known celebrity actors and singers are joining the cast of “Wicked,” like Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, and they will bring in a variety of audiences from across the generations. Having celebrities join the cast for new movies can help the movie gain popularity and increase the chances of the movie doing well.
“Mean Girls,” the popular 2004 movie, had lines and scenes that were enjoyable to viewers at the time. The recent stage -production of “Mean Girls” is opening the classic movie to a new generation of viewers and ideas. The new girl versus popular girls is a typical storyline, but having the right characters and lines can make all the difference. In the updated version of “Mean Girls,” Cady Heron, played by Angourie Rice, meets her peers at a new school, and she plans to take down Regina George, played by Reneé Rapp, and her friends. Based on reviews of the movie so far, the actors fit their characters well, making the movie relatable. Though the movie wasn’t originally advertised as a “musical,” some thought the movie was still memorable due to the fact that the Broadway production has been such a success.
Emma Shaw (9) thinks the acting in the newer version of “Mean Girls” was different and had an interesting view, different from the first movie.
“I think it wasn’t as good as the original but was still a nice experience. The actors were new and unique to their characters which made the movie interesting,” Shaw said.
Still, when a performer is perfectly suited for a role, even if the movie is a remake of a classic, the reaction of the audience will most likely be positive. The updated version of “Mean Girls” has fit into this category, and as a whole, continues to do well in theaters.
Cassidy Scherer (12) went to see the new “Mean Girls” movie and thought the actors were great for their roles and songs.
“Reneé Rapp is such a talented individual, and since she was already Regina on Broadway, she was perfect for the role. Some of the songs were different from the Broadway originals, but overall, a really good movie,” Scherer said.