Christians Stop Broadway Show

[+ Lucky]

My favorite musical of last year, Jerry Springer The Opera, will not be coming to Broadway as planned due to the protest efforts of a small Christian group. Fred Phelps must be proud.

 

Now 'Jerry Springer - The Opera' is forced to stay off Broadway

By Anthony Barnes, Arts and Media Correspondent

 

27 February 2005

 

A Broadway run of the musical Jerry Springer - The Opera has been scrapped in the fallout from a Christian fundamentalist group's campaign against the award-winning show.

 

It is the latest twist in an extraordinary few days, which has seen Christian Voice - believed to be little more than a "one-man band" led by Stephen Green - pressure a cancer charity into rejecting proceeds from a gala performance of the show in London. A question mark now hangs over a UK tour of Jerry Springerdue to take place in the autumn, with one theatre having withdrawn and at least one other considering its position.

 

Jon Thoday, the show's producer, said the financial backer of the New York run had pulled out as a result of developments in the UK. "At the moment it's off ... because of the furore."

 

The developments have raised concerns that a fringe group can have such a devastating effect on a legitimate stage show, lauded by critics and audiences.

 

Mainstream Christian groups have distanced themselves from Christian Voice, whose past tactics have included circulating contact details for senior BBC staff - who then received threatening calls.

[+ bigjoey]

do not know why that would intimidate a new york crowd. i remember a few years ago crossing a picket line (including a man draging a 10 foot cross) and passing through a metal detector to see the terrance mc nally show about jesus being pictured as gay (the story was set in modern texas rather than bibical palestine).

 

now if pickets and bomb threats could not close down a show in new york, i doubt a small christian protest group could on this show.

 

does anyone know why they want it stopped? what is anti-christian about it?

[menrus]

Anthony Barnes - Arts and Media Correspondence for What Publication.. The above article is very opinionated if it is presented as "news." If it's on the editorial and opinion page of some publication that's fine.

 

Having said that, I would love to see the play on Broadway also.

Protest and demonstration is American free speech at work.

SO if we don't like what's going on in cancelling this production, them those who want it on Broadway shold get out and protest and demonstrate for it.

[BgMstr4u]

I saw Jerry Springer in London last spring, and while I can't say it is a great work of art, it is a wonderful show which would do a repectable run on Broadway, after suitable tryouts here and there to tighten up the Brit bits we Yanks won't get.

 

What amuses me is that Jerry Springer The Opera is in fact a classic medieval mystery play. It could be from the Towneley Cycle. Medieval mystery plays were about salvation, and were every bit as raunchy and irreverent as Jerry Springer. But the ultimate point of the opera is that evil does not win and that God is in fact in charge. What these simple-minded people can't do is look through the pop culture trash, which is in fact pretty disgusting -- but then, much of our culture is disgusting. Jerry Springer holds up a mirror to it, and what it shows is what is there. If they could look through the ephemera and address the structure of the drama, they would see that it is in fact a pure Christian redemption story.

 

Medieval Christianity was in fact pretty raunchy. And a lot more fun. The megachurch blondes-with-guitars crowd just can't deal with human physical reality and are trying to hijack Christianity and make it something it does not need to be.

[Guest Wildcat]

Does this mean that we will also not be seeing any rerun of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR or HAIR at any region anywhere here in the USA?

[londonbear]

If you can cope with reading their drivel, their current reasons are at http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/Springer.htm

 

Their pre-broadcast objections were based on the number of time swear words were used and claims that Jesus is shown as a pervert in a nappy. Their site now grudgingly acknowledges that the same actor plays both parts ;but with different costumes. The Act 1 costume isclearly a daiper and Act2 a styalised loincloth. They also backpedalled on the swearing claims when it was pointed out the only way that they could reach the thousands of times they claimed was by counting every member of the chorus individually.

 

Christian Voice is basically a one man band with hangers on. A current background piece is at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4303965.stm

 

The recording was broadcast late on a Saturday night and had warning annoucements both at the start and at the beginning of the second act which contains the religiously challenging material. It got 1.7 million viwers compared the the normal figure for an opera of about 1 million. About twice the number of 16-34 year olds watched compared to that expected for opera usually. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4159217.stm

[Guest ReturnOfS]

I wouldn't blame this on free speech.

[Muscle Lover]

Lots about very little

[joel304]

Too bad they don't come out in numbers to protest the pedophilia prone practices of their structure. Maybe if the Priests and Brothers took up the charge to reform the wayward girls of their flock, while the Sisters concentrated on the boys??? This takes away all the fun though. You probably won't see an argument for this generating from their press.

 

As far as violence ..... please ..... the Catholic Church is responsible for perpetrating and ignoring (WW II) more violence than this musical could ever hope to.

[noviceny]

"Too bad they don't come out in numbers to protest the pedophilia prone practices of their structure. Maybe if the Priests and Brothers took up the charge to reform the wayward girls of their flock, while the Sisters concentrated on the boys??? This takes away all the fun though. You probably won't see an argument for this generating from their press.

 

As far as violence ..... please ..... the Catholic Church is responsible for perpetrating and ignoring (WW II) more violence than this musical could ever hope to."

 

 

Wow...Just for the edification of the masses...the Christian Voice is NOT a Catholic organization, nor does anything in there website or on this thread point to the Catholic Church as the authors of this nonsense. At the mere mention of something negative and Christian, the anti-Catholicism begins

[bigpeteratlanta]

Novice, You really need to prescribe Joey some anti-psychotic

medication. He has totally lost contact with reality.

[joel304]

I'm Irish Catholic. Commenting on the "structure of the organization" does not reflect on the basis of Christianity, but, rather, the fundamentalistic fringes that distort religion for their own aims.

 

I, on the other hand, am challenging the blond guitar playing, former heroine addict, George W. luvin, (I did it already and learned, therefore I will save you from trying) authors of this rag, and others like it to challenge the greater evils.

[+ Lucky]

Well, I certainly don't follow what he is saying. The Christian Voice is not Catholic, and the Catholics haven't been trying to stop this show. So I would prefer if Joel start his own thread on whatever it is that is on his mind.

 

That said, it does amaze me that the producers of the Springer show would be so easily intimidated.

[noviceny]

I was just pointing out that this article has nothing to do with the Church. There are many things to faul the Church on, but lets reserve that for when they actually do something...dont worry it wont be long.

 

Im (part) Irish Catholic too, so we both seem to have a holiday coming up. In that tradition, I will name a few things that we should thank the Church for :

 

1) St. Patricks Day - what a fucken day !!!! Its like Irish Mardi Gras...its like Rio, but with too many White people !!! The day stands for everything that seems to go against Catholicism :

 

a) public urination - yes, you know you are Irish Catholic when either you or one of your close friends gets a ticket for peeing in an alley...that really should be illegal, cause we did take the time to go away from the crowds, and the line for the bathroom is a sin itself !!!

 

b) En media virtuo ? - there is no semblence of moderation on this day...we are usually given a dispensation from anything Lenten (at least we were when Cardinal O'Connor was alive) and can drink til we puke in the street. BTW, puking in the street is not a ticketable offense...if it comes out of the mouth, then its okay...the ass and the penis are what is considered dirty...hmmmm. very similar to Church teaching !!!

 

c) Public fornication - I know that its a very "straight" holiday, but I used to be one of them so bear with me. Heavy, deep kissing (or heavy petting as the Church calls it) abounds...titty fondling seems to be the sports of the day, and ass grabbing becomes the National Past Time...dont worry, unlike the Puerto Rican Day parade, the police will look away, cause after all, most of them are "us"

 

d) the Black and Tan - for those of you that dont know (and I bet thats probably very few) this is a half and half mixture of a regular beer (like Bud) with a stronger stout (like Guiness..sp?). Its named after the two ethnic groups that we oppressed and exploited :-) just kidding

 

e) Little know Catholic facts : when I was in high school, we used to get St. Paddy's Day off from school. By the time I graduated HS we were no longer given the day off cause there was too much underage drinking in NYC on that day...I went to an archdiocesan school in Westchester...many of us just cut that day, for which we were suspended from school and had to have our parents come to school to get us back in...those days fucken ruled !!!!

 

2) Ways to Combat werebeasts (includes werewomen and various shape shifters), vampires, demons, witches and all such creatures -

 

a) NEVER EVER FORGET OR DOWNPLAY THE CHURCH'S ROLE IN MEDIA WHEN

BATTLING DEMONIC FORCES !!!!!!!!!!

 

I. Holy Water - were do you get holy water ? Do you run in to a mosque or a temple ? Do you run in to a Protestant Church or some New Age chrystal store ? I think not !!!! You see the hero run in to a Catholic Church (although some times we have to slum and go to an Orthodox Church or a Catholic Church of the Eastern Rites like Romanian Catholics...I believe that happened in Dracula...maybe they did go Orthodox though) !!! Of course you may have some foolish movie directors (like the nonsense that was in Constantine...very good movie, but not accurate when it came to the tools of Exorcism and sauch) that think you can make holy water by dropping a cross in regular water !!! This is a blatant lie and the gay community should band together against such a fallacy (sp?) !!!! They even tried to say that in extreme circumstances, a lay person can "make" holy water.

If you are stupid enough to try this the next time you run across a nest of vampires, then let it be on your head...you have been warned.

 

II. The Rites of Exorcism - the rite of Roman Catholic exorcism has been a turning point in many demonic possession movies. The Exorcist (the first one and last one especially) did an excellent job of using the exact words from this rite. Copies of the Rite can be found at any extra large Barnes and Nobles, in the back of "Hostage to the Devil" by Malachi Martin S.J. PS Only a priest can administer these rites...no Constantine can not do it...no the Ghostbusters are not properly authorized to do it either...only a Catholic priest...again, if you try to substitute a rebbi or a pastor or an iman, you will NOT live to regret it.

 

III. The wooden stake - now some may argue this, but I stand by my interpretation. Why does wood kill a vampire ? Some say that in the Old Times, that wood was considered one of the original elements and therefore had the power to kill an unnatural creature such as Dracula. I think this is a stretch cause why doesnt water (another original element) kill Dracula ? It is because by the Tree of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden we were damned by Adam and Eve, and by the Cross of Christ we were saved...ya see the wood metaphor people !!??!! Anyway, a similiar wood theme is found in Dante's Paradisio, if you have as much time on your hands as I seem to this evening.

 

IV. Silver - I never understood that one...just figured it was one of those precious metals and thus the lore was created.

 

V. Garlic - many Italians use garlic in cooking...Italians are from Italy...Rome is the capital of Italy...the Pope lives in Rome (vatican city...wahtever!!!)...thus garlic is holy. Do not try to argue with this logic...your musings are nothing before the power of Italian cooking

 

OK I really have rambled on and realize that I have left myself wide open for pedophilia jokes but I was in a very playful mood...as a matter of fact...I think I will cut and paste this and put it in Politics and Religion under the Heading "Our Debt to The Roman Catholic Church" hehehehehehehe

[+ Lucky]

The American producer of the Springer Opera denies the reports from the British press that the show wil be halted. Although true that the show lost a major investor because of Christian Voice, and still needing seven of the eleven million budgeted, he says the show will go on. We'll see. Chuck 50, here's your chance!

[+ Lucky]

Jery Springer: The Opera played Carnegie Hall the last two nights against the protests of Christians picketing outside the famed auditorium. am hoping that one of our posters saw this concert version of the musical to give us the unvarnished view, but, if not, here's Benjamin Brantley's take in the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/theater/30cnd-springer.html?pagewanted=2&hp

[Guest zipperzone]

>It is the latest twist in an extraordinary few days, which has

>seen Christian Voice - believed to be little more than a

>"one-man band" led by Stephen Green - pressure a

>cancer charity into rejecting proceeds from a gala performance

>of the show in London.

 

If the cancer charity rejected these proceeds because of lobbying by an idiot - Stephen Green, then IMHO they are not deserving of ANY donations regardless of where they come from.

 

A similar situation developed in Vancouver last year. The local strippers (female) held a fund riser for Cancer and spent the evening stripping and pole dancing. They raised about 6K but when they tried to donate it to the local cancer charity, they were refused.

 

Previously I had often contributed to Cancer - my mother died of it and I have always had a perhaps irrational fear of going the same way.

But from that point on they get no more money from me. I'm sure if they knew I sucked cock and rimmed butts they would tell me that due to their disapproval they didn't want my 100 bucks. So I'll just save them the trouble of notifying me.

 

Charities should be grateful for any monies presented to them without discriminating against the giver.

 

I sometimes think Christianity is as big a threat to our world as Islam

[+ deej]

>If the cancer charity rejected these proceeds because of

>lobbying by an idiot - Stephen Green, then IMHO they are not

>deserving of ANY donations regardless of where they come

>from.

 

Yup. I'm with you there!

 

>Previously I had often contributed to Cancer - my mother died

>of it and I have always had a perhaps irrational fear of going

>the same way.

 

I lost my Dad to cancer 25 years ago and will lose my Mom to it within the next few weeks. I share your feelings.

 

>Charities should be grateful for any monies presented to them

>without discriminating against the giver.

 

Sadly, this myopic view is not limited to Cancer charities. When I was involved in the Bad Boys Pool Party franchise the biggest annual hurdle wasn't finding a venue, or volunteer porn stars, or donated liquor or food, or entertainers, or any of that. it was finding an AIDS charity that would lower itself to accepting a six-figure donation from an event that featured <gasp!> porn stars.

 

Sad, but true.

 

Every charity has its Achilles Heel. You often don't find them until it's too late.

[+ ArVaGuy]

>

>Every charity has its Achilles Heel. You often don't find them

>until it's too late.

 

You hit that one on the head that's for sure. I work for a conservation nonprofit. Nearly all the conservation gropus take corporate donations and it's a complex issue on who to do business with in that regard. Once, we were accused of taking "tainted money" by a radical group like these alleged Christians. Our CEO replied "The problem with 'tainted money' is that there 'taint enough of it." Well that remark brought down the house and the issue was quickly despensed with and we never heard the complaint again.

[+ deej]

Yeah. No shit.

 

I recently did some pro-bono work for a charity helping them automate mailings and other correspondence with donors. This required me having access to their accounting/pledge tracking system.

 

I could easily see they were hemorrhaging cash for inappropriate expenses.

 

I regret investing time in them, halted my involvement, and within six months they'd closed down completely. Every other door closed for them too, it seems.

 

I still spend a fair amount of time on philanthropy, but I'm damn choosey who I'll support.

[foxy]

>Jery Springer: The Opera played Carnegie Hall the last two

>nights against the protests of Christians picketing outside

>the famed auditorium. am hoping that one of our posters saw

>this concert version of the musical to give us the unvarnished

>view, but, if not, here's Benjamin Brantley's take in the New

>York Times:

>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/theater/30cnd-springer.html?pagewanted=2&hp

 

 

I just got home a little while ago from seeing "Jerry Springer, the Opera" at Carnegie Hall.

 

There were 5 very bored looking protestors outside that everyone ignored. It was cold out so maybe religious people don't like to suffer for their convictions.

 

Anyway, the show was really impressive. The music quite beautiful and the performers first rate. It was a little over-miked so I didn't always get the words (which were usually "dirty"). It wasn't as shocking as I thought it would be given all the hype. I see no reason why it couldn't open on Broadway.

 

I had been told there were a number of celebrities the previous night so I kept my eyes peeled. I didn't have to look too far since Neil Patrick Harris was peeing next to me in the men's room during intermission.

 

He's really cute in person and tall. I didn't see too much more because of those damn partitions between the urinals, not that I would have looked mind you...I would never do that........

 

Anyway, I'd say go see the show, but you can't cause it's over.

[J-Man]

Well, let's hear what that doyenne of good taste, Cindy Adams, had to say about the show:

 

"Jerry Springer - the Opera" is filth. The dregs. Despicable, debasing, disgusting, degrading, dehumanizing, revolting, repugnant, repulsive, frightful, awful, disgraceful, discreditable, shameful, terrible, horrible, horrendous, horrific, nauseating, offensive, depraved, loathsome, vile. It is taking a roll in a sewer. It is the pits. The lowest. The slimiest. You not only need a bath after, you need an exterminator."

 

Wow ... guess maybe she didn't like it.

[+ Lucky]

The Southern California premier of Jerry Springer: The Opera, has been extended two weeks at the Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills. Friends joined me for what was to have been the closing performance last night, but the popularity of the show has caused two more weeks of fun to follow. Although not the huge production I saw in London, this local show is really good. Lots of talent, and lots of fun. Lots of letters from protesting Christians, too. !9, 167 as of last night.

The Chance Theater

5552 E. La Palma Ave.

Anaheim Hills, CA 92807

chancetheater.com

 

(This thread would now be appropriate to the Comedy & Tragedy forum.)