Ten "Carefully Taught" Lessons at BroadwayCon 2024 (Today's MARQUEE)Un-"conventional" thinking at the Broadway Maven's three celebrity panels
Shalom, Broadway lovers!In today’s MARQUEE: The Broadway Maven’s Weekly Blast: a round-up of the highlights of The Broadway Maven’s celebrity panels at BroadwayCon 2024; a homework video for Monday’s Carousel class, and a Last Blast about Heathers. Premium subscribers also get a Piano Talk about “All I Ask of You” from The Phantom of the Opera; a Broadway Blast about Fiddler on the Roof; and a quiz about secondary couples in Golden Age shows. NOTE: The calendar for the second semester of 2024 Broadway Maven classes has been announced, and a July-December ALL-ACCESS Pass is now on sale. Get automatic access to 50 classes for just $99. Includes a 6 months’ Premium subscription to MARQUEE (a $30 value), access to the archive, two bonus classes only for ALL-ACCESS Passholders, and periodic drawings for off-Broadway and Broadway tickets, including at least one opening night. Classes offered include Rodgers & Hammerstein, Stephen Schwartz, “Sondheim Academy,” Jewish Broadway, Lyrics & Lyricists, and more. AUGUST: FREE three-part Rodgers & Hammerstein course every Monday in August at Noon and 7 pm ET; and a three-part Stephen Schwartz course every Tuesday in August at Noon ET.
ROUND-UP: Last month, thousands of Broadway fans gathered at the New York Hilton Midtown for a bustling three-day conference with panels, workshops, and scores of musical-loving costume-wearers displaying their inner Elphaba, Beetlejuice, or Phantom. And The Broadway Maven was there in full force. David Benkof and his team welcomed seven celebrity theatermakers. The septet had 20 Tony nominations, seven Tony wins, and two Pulitzer Prizes among them. Here are some highlights of those conversations, with the links connected through timestamps to the exact moment described. 1. According to Mean Girls lyricist Nell Benjamin, "the music you hear when you're young is the music that will never leave you." She cited research that while a person can appreciate many genres of music, the kind that will "never leave" them is what they heard when they were young (in Benjamin's case, it's Duran Duran despite their "incomprehensible" lyrics.) 2. Benjamin liked my "Mean Girls is about math" idea. She called it "an amazing theory" and explained that "the power of women scientists and mathematicians is central to the story.... I love science and math, and I was trained not to love those things." 3. Heathers creator Larry O'Keefe immediately confirmed my "Heathers is about deconstruction" theory ("excellent point"). He had a lot to say about the movie and what it deconstructed, and how the musical's project was somewhat different. 4. Benjamin and O'Keefe (who are married to each other) are working on a musical set in the world of Renaissance Faires. It's called Huzzah! 5. Not all my theories resonated with the panelists. Alfred Uhry said my theory about the names in Driving Miss Daisy and a possible instance of foreshadowing in Parade were both, frankly, wrong. 6. Uhry confirmed that he's not 100 percent sure that Leo Frank, the lynching victim in Parade, wasn't guilty of raping and murdering a young girl. He said the little doubt about Frank's innocence "made it interesting to me." 7. As Uhry tells it, director Harold Prince asked Uhry about the Frank case. After hearing the details, Prince put his glasses on top of his head and said, "That's a musical." For a while, Stephen Sondheim was attached to the project, but after writing Passion, Sondheim wanted a change of pace, and the team turned to Jason Robert Brown. 8. A film of Parade has been discussed but to no avail so far. Uhry said the musical would make "a very good movie." 9. Robert L. Freedman (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder) described his lyric-writing career's origins: creating song parodies for his United Synagogue Youth chapter. Similarly, Murray Horwitz (Ain't Misbehavin') said writing parodies of lyrics for relatives' birthday parties and other events really helps, "listen, listen, listen, listen." 10. All three "The Art of the Lyric" panelists including Dick Scanlan (Thoroughly Modern Millie) spoke of how moving both Broadway productions of Merrily We Roll Along were to them. Freedman described himself when he saw the show in 1981 as "one of those kids on the rooftop" (a key optimistic scene at the end of Merrily). CONGRATULATIONS: The first Maven Scholar for Fall 2024 has been announced. Allie Beckerman, 20, is a student at Brandeis. She is deeply involved in the intersection between social media and musical theater. Upon completion of a nine-week Broadway appreciation course, Allie and the other Scholars will receive a no-strings-attached $500 stipend, four invitations to Broadway shows, and a certificate of achievement. Know any students ages 16-26 who might be interested? Applications are available here.
HOMEWORK: Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel is a widely considered one of the best, if not the best, scores in Broadway history. Songs like "If I Loved You" and "You'll Never Walk Alone" have inspired generations of Broadway-goers, and the show's "bench scene" and "Soliloquy" played important parts in the evolution of the art form. Here's a 10-minute version, just in time for the August 5 FREE class on the musical, which meets at Noon and 7 pm ET. What's the theme of Carousel!? Explain your answer in the comments. 
Carousel is a timeless Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, renowned for its lush score and emotionally powerful story. Set in a small New England town, it explores themes of love, redemption, and the complexities of human relationships through unforgettable songs and heartfelt drama. This FREE class meets Monday, August 12 at Noon and 7 pm ET. Stephen Schwartz August continues Tuesday with Pippin. Pippin is a vibrant, Tony Award-winning musical that combines breathtaking acrobatics, captivating choreography, and a poignant storyline. It follows the young prince Pippin on his quest for meaning and fulfillment, set against a backdrop of magical realism and unforgettable musical numbers. Class meets Tuesday, August 13 from Noon to 1 pm ET. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to his work, this series is designed to enrich your understanding and appreciation of one of Broadway's most influential figures. $12 per session.
Note: Links to register for ALL classes are always available at TheBroadwayMaven.com.• Monday, August 12 Noon and 7 pm ET Carousel class (FREE) • Tuesday, August 5 Noon ET Pippin class ($12) • Monday, August 19 Noon and 7 pm ET South Pacific class (FREE) • Tuesday, August 20 Noon ET Wicked class ($12) • Monday, August 26 Noon and 7 pm ET The Sound of Music class (FREE) • Tuesday, August 27 Noon ET Lesser-known Schwartz class ($12) • Mondays in September: Noon and 7 pm ET Jewish Broadway series • Tuesdays in September: Noon ET Sondheim Academy Act Three NOTE: As always, ALL-ACCESS Passholders do not have to sign up or pay for anything. Just show up!
LAST BLAST: In Heathers, doomed antagonist Heather Chandler’s favorite snack is Corn Nuts, which is apt because Heather’s personality is rather like that salty treat. She’s bold, loud, and makes a lasting impression. However, Corn Nuts are highly processed and artificial (they in fact are not nuts at all), mirroring Heather’s fake and superficial nature. This choice of snack not only highlights her dominant personality but also underscores the theme of artificiality and the veneer of perfection that the Heathers strive for throughout the musical. Broadway Maven David Benkof helps students further their appreciation of musical theater through his classes, his YouTube channel, and MARQUEE: the Broadway Maven’s Weekly Blast. Contact him at DavidBenkof@gmail.com. Invite your friends and earn rewardsIf you enjoy MARQUEE: The Broadway Maven's Weekly Blast, share it with your friends and earn rewards when they subscribe.
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Ten "Carefully Taught" Lessons at BroadwayCon 2024 (Today's MARQUEE)
August 07, 2024
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