Why is it that the general public does not like musical theatre?

Question:As an actor and Musical veteren, I tend to spend most of my time with people who love the genre, but as I read review after review of Tim Burtons film adaptation of Sweeney Todd, almost all of them preface or end the review with "I/Most people don't like Musicals..."

My question is, why is this? Are people not willing to suspend their disbelief for a few hours and go with the idea that people can spontaneously break into song? Personally I think REAL life would be a lot better that way, but I digress.

Anyone here willing to delve into the human psyche, put your finger on the pulse of society, and venture a guess as to why Musical Theatre is so looked down upon today? Best answer gets 10 points!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: As an actor and Musical veteren, I tend to spend most of my time with people who love the genre, but as I read review after review of Tim Burtons film adaptation of Sweeney Todd, almost all of them preface or end the review with "I/Most people don't like Musicals..."

My question is, why is this? Are people not willing to suspend their disbelief for a few hours and go with the idea that people can spontaneously break into song? Personally I think REAL life would be a lot better that way, but I digress.

Anyone here willing to delve into the human psyche, put your finger on the pulse of society, and venture a guess as to why Musical Theatre is so looked down upon today? Best answer gets 10 points!

Well, I personally love musical theater, but it does seem to me that most people don't share my love. I think it is a combination of a few things: for one, I think it is the unrealistic way the characters in a musical spontaneously burst into song at a moment that is supposed to be serious or sad. See, I personally wish life actually did work like that- where we all know the same dance, etc. But other people might not be able to wrap their heads around that.
For another thing, I am afraid that somewhere along the way, musical theater got a reputation for being a somewhat dorky thing to like. I don't know if it's because in high school, all the drama club members (like me) were considered "theater geeks," or maybe because the only people in high school who knew the words to musical scores weren't exactly prom queen nominees...who knows why, but I'm afraid most people associate musicals with hopelessly nerdy people. Unfair, to be sure, but that's the way it is.

I'm glad you love it, though, and I do too.

My guess is that a high school mentallity would find it "lame" ,
as in not macho enough.

Theatre is artistic expression. Shakespeare was the "cool dude" of his day.

Don't worry on the general public, and do your thing!

The only musicals I truly liked were Bride & Prejudice and Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.

I wouldn't say that the general public does not like musical theatre. Have you thought of High School Musical? That musical has become quite popular.

I guess it depends on the songs they sing and the storyline.

You Know, i have asked myself that same question a lot. I figure that we've just lost touch with the art of Theatre in general. It makes me mad that people perter movies over a musical or a play. Theatre is so much more challenging because if you mess up you have to go with it and there's no turning back, no second chance. You can do that in a movie. Theatre takes much more skill and I'm glad to be actively involved to Theatre! Despise what everyone else thinks, Theatre is a wonderful experience and is FAR from lame.

If you were in the choir or band in school, chances are you appreciate musicals because you know the effort and work that goes into it. Most movies are musicals, if you don't believe me, watch a horror flick with the sound off and see how mundane a genre it truly is. The soundtrack gives the emotional pizazz. Hollywood has made fun of musicals by making homosexual references about guys that sing show tunes. Since most guys are not gays, they avoid anything that might cast doubt. I good musical clicks and a bad one sucks toenails. 'Grease' is a classic. If you are looking for an action adventure, then the movies have the theater beat. If you show signs of ADD, then the movies has the theater beat. The theater usually requires an audience that is a bit more sophisticated, or a relative that is part of the cast or orchestra.

au contraire, but it is the general public who likes musicals, those who do not are not in the general public. That is the reason Broadway is almost all musicals that is what the general public will go see as opposed to dramas or classics. that is why almost all HS and college theatres do musicals. they are the shows that draw the crowds