“It hit me: No one on that screen resembled him at all,” Talbert says.
Cinematic staples since 1927’sThe Jazz Singer, musicals have never disappeared, but their popularity faded over the decades.
“There was an understanding that for some mysterious [reason], the movie musical was dead.
Credit: Gareth Gatrell/NETFLIX
Then people would go and watch the great [ones] and adore them.”
(Admittedly, not every attempt cough,Cats hits the right notes.
“Our show was always trying to [avoid being] too syrupy,” says Martin.
‘West Side Story’.Niko Tavernise/20th Century Studios
These new musicals are diverse in both their casts and the ideas they explore.
“I’m excited for people to fall in love with Lin all over again,” saysHeightsdirector Chu.
“Not to say they fell out of love, but [they’ll] be reminded.”
Melinda Sue Gordon/NETFLIX
“We’ve seen how it affects people especially young people struggling to come out,” says Martin.
And couldn’t we all use a little old-fashioned song and dance right now?
A version of this story appears in the December issue ofEntertainment Weekly, on stands now oravailable here.
