Link: Broadway discovers teen appeal - Entertainment News, Legit News, Media - Variety.
Teens aren't just hot in Hollywood.
Broadway, too, has discovered the Jonas Brothers demo, as producers plot to lure tween auds, and depictions of adolescent angst gain artistic cred, thanks in part to 2007 Tony winner "Spring Awakening."
For the new musical "13," it's all teens all the time. Although the rock tuner was conceived and composed by an adult -- Jason Robert Brown, whose resume includes such sophisticated legit offerings as "Parade" and "The Last Five Years" -- the production's entire cast and orchestra is made up of performers who range in age from 13 to 17. (Under New York state law, those teen cast members can perform with a valid work permit.)
Naturally, the production aims to attract younger auds with an aggressive marketing push via Facebook, MySpace and text messaging.
While Broadway usually tries to rejuvenate its old-fogey demo with new blood, "13" has a twist: It must convince adults that the show has something in it for them, too.
The plot centers on a soon-to-be 13-year-old New Yorker who finds himself uprooted to Indiana, where he becomes enmeshed in the universal teen dramas of peer acceptance, party invitations and kissing with tongue.
The budget is moderate by Broadway tuner standards but hefty for a show with no known brand name or marquee talent. And as an original musical with a cast of unknown youngsters, the $8 million production needs as much support from kids and adults as it can get.
