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Shows, CDs, and other material built of
parody lyrics can do quite well. The notable examples below
certainly show that parody can find a market, when it's
well-written and presented, and when it's about something of wide
interest.
Back Fence Choir, in
fact, centers around the most universal
topic--the most perennial and popular theme
in entertainment:
personal
relationships--love & commitment
(as the Song List and script indicate). |
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Parody in theater (subject: health)
Menopause! demonstrates that a group
of parodies of old hits, linked by an original storyline--which
is the Back Fence Choir* structure,
too--can succeed
hugely, spinning off
multiple productions. Eight were
running, with five more planned (including three
overseas), as of
mid-2004.
*Copyrighted before
Menopause! opened. |
Parody in
pop (subject: pop music).
Weird Al's
long career shows that CDs
consisting of parodies can sell many
copies. His concerts, too, are
extremely well-attended, by both teenagers and
families.
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Parody in theater
(subject: show biz)
Forbidden Broadway has been a smash hit
since 1982,
using parodies of songs from musicals to satirize the
musicals themselves. (And sometimes targeting movies, too,
as Forbidden
Hollywood.)
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Parody in theater (subject: show
biz)
The Musical of
Musicals is another major (and very clever) success. It
has a more elaborate structure than most parodies: One story line is
told in the styles of five different famous Broadway
styles.
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Parody in cabaret (subject:
politics)
The
Capitol Steps has been an extremely successful cabaret act in Washington,
DC, for about a quarter-century. All the group's material
consists of satirical new lyrics to well-known pop
songs. |
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