Reaching New Heights: The Untold Story of the Empire State Building's Musical Journey

The article delves into the complexities of the theatrical landscape, challenging the notion that success is a linear progression from small-town productions to the bright lights of Broadway. It explores the diverse and often unconventional nature of the theater, where brilliant and unforgettable works can be found in unexpected places, beyond the confines of the commercial theater district. The review then focuses on the new musical "Empire: The Musical," which aims to capture the story behind the construction of the iconic Empire State Building, but ultimately falls short in its execution, leaving the reader with a sense of disappointment and a desire for a more nuanced and thoughtful exploration of the subject matter.

Uncovering the Untold Stories of the Empire State Building's Musical Journey

Challenging the Myth of Broadway's Supremacy

The article begins by challenging the common perception that theater is a straight path of ascending quality and fulfillment, from small-town basement productions to the grandeur of Broadway. It argues that the theatrical landscape is far more heterogeneous and horizontal, with a complex and sometimes even defiant relationship to its own resources. The author asserts that throwing money at a production does not necessarily make it better, and that it is just as possible to witness brilliant and unforgettable work in unexpected venues, such as a church hall, a high-school auditorium, or a tiny rural black box, as it is in the heart of the commercial theater district.The article acknowledges the paradoxical nature of the term "community theater," which is often used as a derogatory label, despite being the ostensible heart of the theatrical endeavor. The author refuses to compare the ambitious, expensive-looking new musical "Empire" to community theater, as that would be the wrong way around. Instead, the review suggests that if the show manages to make good on its "pre-Broadway engagement" billing, it could serve as proof that midtown is not the be-all and end-all of the theatrical impulse.

Dissecting the Flaws of "Empire: The Musical"

The article delves into a detailed critique of the new musical "Empire: The Musical," which is described as a "moldy lemon of a musical" that is "suffocatingly earnest" in its attempt to tell the story of the construction of the Empire State Building. The review highlights the clichés and clunkers that permeate the show, from the opening moments of the score to the convoluted and confusing plot points.The author takes issue with the show's reliance on exposition dumps and the lack of clarity around the central character's backstory. The review also criticizes the show's time-hopping conceit, which is used to invoke nostalgia and sentimentality, but ultimately falls flat due to the lack of chemistry between the characters and the uninspired lyrics.

Exploring the Missed Opportunities in "Empire: The Musical"

The article delves deeper into the shortcomings of "Empire: The Musical," highlighting the missed opportunities in its storytelling and thematic exploration. The review notes that the show's attempts to incorporate elements of feminism and diversity are undermined by the execution, with the "soda-pop variety" feminism represented by the character of Wally and the "bad accents, tired demonstrations of casual racism, and references to melting pots and immigrant dreams" in the depiction of the diverse workforce.The article also takes issue with the show's failure to address the deeper implications of its title and the colonial history it represents, arguing that the musical is a "queasy throwback" that is "content to stick its fingers in its ears and belt about hope and glory." The review suggests that the American musical as a genre needs to reckon with the "triumphal ism encoded in its DNA," and that "Empire: The Musical" offers no such struggle or broader awareness.

The Downfall of "Empire: The Musical"

The article concludes its critique of "Empire: The Musical" by describing the show's second act as an "outright mess," with a denouement that is "musically and thematically all over the damn place." The review suggests that the show's attempts to valorize hard work and American aspiration come across as outdated and lacking in nuance, and that the potential issues with the material are easily brushed aside in favor of a "sloppy soup of generic, under-examined inspo."The article ultimately condemns "Empire: The Musical" as a "queasy throwback" that offers no transcendence or broader awareness, and instead presents an "edifice built with bricks of banality and mortar of treacle" that "melts before our eyes."