iBroadway

I saw “Glory Days” on Monday. It opened on Tuesday. I really feel bad for this show. It wasn’t particularly good or memorable but I always like the little show to win. I am curious to understand the producers mind frame when they decided to bring this show to Broadway. They had a few things in its favor; a small set, cast and orchestra (so the show can’t possible cost more than $3 million), and small intimate transfers have been all the rage in recent years (see: “Spring Awakening,” “Avenue Q”, “…Spelling Bee,” “Passing Strange,” and “In the Heights”).

Now the shows that have succeeded on Broadway from a transfer from either Off-Broadway or from out of town (see: all above shows) had something different than “Glory Days.” Their move to Broadway was appropriate and they now have a feeling of a Broadway Show. Even “Spelling Bee,” which played in the same theatre as “Glory Days” felt like a Broadway show and had the quality of a Broadway show.

“Glory Days” move to Broadway is, in my opinion (and the opinion of most of the critics) is not appropriate. I look at the show, and I felt that the show should be Off-Broadway. That’s not a bad thing at all but not all shows are made for the Broadway stage. I feel like if “Glory Days” opened in an Off-Broadway house the reaction from both critics and audience members would be very different. I think they would applaud the book writer and composer, who are new to the industry (“Glory Days” marks the debut of both). When “I Love You Because” opened a few years ago (which had the same quality and feel as “Glory Days”) it had warm, mostly positive reviews and critics were looking forward to any future work from the composers. I feel that if it opened on Broadway, it would shutter not soon after (of course, it did shutter soon after its opening Off-Broadway, playing only 110 performances but who is really counting anyway).

It will be interesting to see how long “Glory Days” has to left to live at their home at the Circle in the Square theatre. I think that the creative team does have talent, they are still very young (22 and 23 years old) and they just have to develop their ideas and their identity as song writers. I can’t slam this show. I didn’t hate it, it just isn’t a Broadway show, and there are worse things currently playing on Broadway, with much bigger budgets.

EDIT NOTE: I wrote this entry before they closed the show on May 7, 2008, after one official performance. wow….