Girl-oriented themes seen in musicals like “Wicked” spark teen audiences

“Wicked,” which has become one of Broadway’s regularly highest grossing musicals since it opened four years ago, may be partially responsible for a new influx of girl-geared musicals, according to an April 2007 Times Magazine article.The fun and frilly script, much like those of some of Broadway’s hottest new shows like “Legally Blonde, The Musical,” “Hairspray” and “The Color Purple,” appeals to a younger audience, especially girls between the ages of 10 or 11 through late teens. With themes that center on misfits or underdogs who prove their worth in spite of the odds, these Broadway musicals are appealing to a younger crowd of girls who can relate emotionally to such topics, according to the Times’ article author Richard Zoglin. In “Wicked,” young girls can relate with the character of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West who is actually just misundertsood. These “tweens” - floating in a precarious stage between youth and adults - can easily connect with the musical’s themes of friendship, prejudice and self-realization, according to Zoglin.
As Broadway cracks down on drawing in a more youthful audience, the majority of those attending musicals such as “Wicked” are females, according to the Times Magazine. But that is nothing new for the theater hub - musicals have been traditionally geared toward female audiences, typically drawing in about 62 percent of women and girls. As these type of women-powered productions gain momentum, “Wicked” continues to bask in the successes of a national tour that has catapulted the show from Broadway to far corners of the U.S., London and Australia. To secure “Wicked” tickets in your neck of the woods, check out Stubhub.com for availability and the best deals.

Posted in Uncategorized on August 29, 2007

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