I think the real question is "Why haven't musical theatre creators been writing shows for Betty Buckley?" Or Bernadette Peters. Or Patti LuPone. Or Kristin Chenowith. Or whomever.
There are so many people in New York and around the country writing new musicals and we all know how tough it is to get attention for new work. At one point, pre-pandemic, I feel like there were a dozen different festivals running at all time of the year showcasing new musicals. If I was a musical theatre writer trying to bring attention to my work and maybe get it produced, the first thing I'd do would be to write something with a great role for a star like Buckley or whomever. Pick your favorite diva. Tailor the role to the star's specific talents and get her as enthusiastic about it as I am. And sell the piece to producers or theatres with the star's name attached.
If Betty Buckley or Patti LuPone is attached to a piece, people aren't going to just ignore it, even if they've never heard of the writers. |
