In 50 years' time, I don't think anyone much except for theater specialists will recognize any of the names mentioned above--Herman's or any of the others--or the titles of most of their shows. Fifty years from now, it will be 2067, and nearly all the shows mentioned above will be at least 100 years old, if not 125. That's about the same distance away that we are now from Victor Herbert, John Philip Sousa, and Reginald DeKoven, and who today can so much as name even one of their shows? (Oh, I'm sure people on this board can, but "the man in the street"?) And when was the last time any of them was commercially revived?
I agree with the OP that in the future Herman will be "relegated" to non-commercial productions, as an occasional historical curiosity, but I think just about everybody else--including Sondheim--is likely to be, too. In 2067, the writers of the next 50 years will be the ones who are all the rage, and considered immortal. |
