It's called Any Dream Will Do, and it's another version of last year's reality show Grease: You're the One That I Want. (To be fair, the BBC started the whole thing by doing a reality show to cast the lead in The Sound of Music - so it's not that they're copying us. Quite the other way around.)
On this show, the contestants are competing to see who is going to win the lead role in the upcoming production in London of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor™ Dreamcoat.
Since I'm involved in community theatre, you'd think this kind of show would be my cup o' tea - but I really had to fight to make myself watch it. I think I struggle with it because it turns the whole concept of theatre on its ear - instead of focusing on the creative process, it turns auditioning into a cutthroat competition, with each performer trying to out-cheese the other.
It's a shame, because I love the musical "Joseph" - I directed it years ago for First Stage Theatre and had a great time. But this show leaves me cold.
As a guy I know used to say, if you like this sort of thing, here it is.
Here's the description from the website:
BBC America shines the spotlight on the world of musical theater in Any Dream Will Do where judges and viewers search for a new West End star that has the charisma and star quality to take on the lead role in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor™ Dreamcoat.
Hosted by presenter Graham Norton, Any Dream Will Do features world-renowned musical composer and producer Andrew Lloyd Webber as the head judge. Also lending their expertise at the judges' table are Torchwood star John Barrowman, Broadway and West End leading lady Denise Van Outen (Chicago), acclaimed theatre producer Bill Kenwright, and opinionated voice coach Zoe Tyler.
Thousands of hopefuls auditioned across the UK with only 100 boys making it to the London callbacks. The Joseph wannabes have to prove their worth in front of the judges who test the boys on both their musical theater and pop ability before deciding the lucky 50 who will move onto Joseph School.
Only 12 boys will 'graduate' from Joseph School, and it's then up to the viewers to decide who will become the West End's newest Joseph.
4 comments:
I watched last week and this week, but have taken it off my DVR. It's actually pretty boring and very contrived. The only thing I've learned from it is that I say many of the same things to my students that the coaches/judges say to those young men, and that British Isle musical theatre performers are so far behind Americans that there is no comparison. And if you want to know who wins without having to sit through this silly show, I can let you know. (It's already been posted on the internet.)
Denise, I agree completely! And thanks for the offer, but I have to admit that I really don't care who wins. I'd probably be happy to see their production of "Joseph," but not "Any Dream Will Do."
I could never bring myself to sit through "You're The One That I Want" for the same reason, Chuck. Even after finding out that the more successful contestants came from theatre backgrounds.
While it's easy to understand the fascination people have with how a production is put together, I think shows like these are more of a detriment than a positive.
"You're The One..." and "Any Dream.." do for theatre what "Tough Enough" did for wrestling and that's cheapen the process of what it really takes to succeed in the field.
Melanie, you get bonus points for mentioning the show "Tough Enough," one of the few reality shows I followed, even though I agree that it took a lot of the fun out of the "sport."
But I think that's exactly why these shows don't work - the rehearsal part of a show is like seeing a work of art before it's finished. Better to wait and see the finished product as it was meant to be seen.
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