Spotlight

Stories that deserve your attention

Movies OnStage Blog Staff Movies OnStage Blog Staff

Blame Lack of Intrigue for 'West Side Story' Bombing at the Box Office

West Side Story, released in over 2,800 theaters this weekend, earned only $10.5 million at the box office this weekend, underperforming even modest estimates. 2021 has been a disaster for the future of musicals in movie theatres, with three musicals wildly underperforming expectations, with 2 of them having strong critical praise.

So what do we make of this?”

Read More
Movies OnStage Blog Staff Movies OnStage Blog Staff

Does 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' work as a film?

“It’s not that a musical can’t ever translate well on screen. Grease, Rodger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Annie, West Side Story, Hello Dolly! – these worked. I also have hope for other upcoming adaptations, such as Lin Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights. In cases like these, the switch in medium makes sense and serves an artistic purpose. For Spelling Bee, it has the potential to do the opposite.”

Read More
Movies OnScreen Blog Writing Staff Movies OnScreen Blog Writing Staff

Check out these 'In the Heights' Easter Eggs!

“With the film adaptation of ‘In the Heights’ officially released to the general public (both in movie theatres, and on HBO Max), the time for Easter egg hunting has begun. Below are 13 of our favorite cameos, ranging from original Broadway cast members to legendary public radio hosts.”

Read More
Movies OnScreen Blog Writing Staff Movies OnScreen Blog Writing Staff

Is 'The Greatest Showman' Good? OnStage Blog Debates...

“To me, if half the soundtrack stays with the audience after it ends, the movie musical succeeded. Is it a low bar? I guess, but ultimately, the goal of a movie musical is for the music to engage the audience long after the performance ends.”

Read More
Movies OnStage Blog Staff Movies OnStage Blog Staff

Actor does Dr. Evil monologue for class and it's brilliant

“I love nothing more than when an actor uses creative or obscure material in an audition or in class. Out of context or perhaps with an entirely different emotion, you might find something in the text that you hadn’t noticed before. Actor and comedian Lisa Gilroy has figured that out and what she’s done is downright brilliant.”

Read More