Music is one of the purest forms of art there is, so it should come as no surprise that it often goes hand-in-hand with other kinds of creative expression. Whether it's a live band accompanying an art gallery opening, a compelling soundtrack pushing a good movie to greatness, or even a musician drawing inspiration from a painting or sculpture, all types of art share a common thread. This has been the case throughout history, and some musicians are testament to that.
There are a number of bands that incorporate art into their music, but one group that does it extremely well is The Decemberists. Fronted by Colin Meloy, the Oregon-based band is no stranger to drawing inspiration across a wide spectrum of art forms. For instance, in their 2010 album The King Is Dead, they offered up a musical interpretation of the David Foster Wallace novel Infinite Jest in the form of the track "Calamity Song." The tune condenses a 1000-page book into a four-minute song, and it does so perfectly.
The Decemberists are certainly not the only band to draw inspiration from literature. Everyone from Iron Maiden ("Rime of the Ancient Mariner") to Dire Straits ("Romeo and Juliet") have done so. What's a little less common is having songs reflect a particular painting, sculpture or other similar works of art, but singer-songwriter icon Don McLean did just that.
McLean is probably most known for his eight-minute epic "American Pie," but he also paid tribute to Vincent Van Gogh with the equally emotive "Vincent." An shorter acoustic track, the song mentions several of Van Gogh's most famous paintings, such as "Starry Night" and "Sunflowers." It also clearly demonstrates a deep appreciation for his impressionist style as a whole.
While music can draw inspiration from both books and fin art, perhaps nowhere else is the artistic relationship more evident than it is on stage. Whether you're more of a purist and prefer classic works such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake or Aida, or are more drawn to the modern performance art, such as Wicked or The Book of Mormon, it's hard to deny that being on the stage goes hand in hand with music.
If you're looking to explore the exquisite artistic relationship between music and its counterparts, TicketsNow has a bevy of wonderful opportunities for you, from to Beyoncé to Broadway. Just click here to get started!
Many people think novels and plays exist on two entirely different levels. However, while they may be two different kinds of art, much of what makes the two mediums so appealing - captivating characters and compelling storylines - are the same. So it should come as no surprise that some of the best plays over the years have been adapted from novels and other works of fiction, many of which are still running today.
Everyone is familiar with the 1939 classic movie The Wizard of Oz, and before that the stage show of the same name, which debuted around the turn of the 20th century. However, both of those were based on the 1900 novel by Frank L. Baum, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
By now, the characters of Baum's classic work hold a place in pop culture lore. Nearly everyone knows who Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man are, and can recite their story by heart. Even though the play is more than 100 years old and iconic movie is almost 80, both are still as popular as ever. In fact, it has even spawned a number of spin-off plays including Wicked and The Wiz, which offer a unique look at the beloved story.
But Dorothy Gale is not the only literary icon that has made his or her way to the stage. Mark Twain's famous mischievous character Tom Sawyer has also made the transition. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer has been a popular musical since the 1970s, when a film version (starring a young Jodie Foster as Becky Thatcher), turned a new generation on to the famous story of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.
It's not just classic novels that have been turned into stage shows either. More recently, the Nick Hornby novel High Fidelity was adapted into a musical. It seems like a logical fit given that the book uses music as a backdrop for its main character Rob's troubled relationship. The novel was first made into a 2000 movie starring John Cusack and Jack Black before heading to the stage. Since debuting in 2006, the musical has been just as well received.
High Fidelity, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Wizard of Oz are just scratching the surface of books-turned-plays, with classics like Don Quixote and A Christmas Carol still earning rave reviews.
With the sun on display in the sky, temperatures at record highs and school out, it’s not rocket science to deduce that summer is not peak theater season. Generally people want to kick it outside and enjoy the weather, not be hanging inside. Which lends us to wonder over here at TicketsNow … Why are sales for Wicked tickets picking up in the middle of outdoor festival season?
Maybe the uptick in the public’s interest in the musical Wicked has something to do with the upcoming 2013 film “Oz: The Great and Powerful” starring James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz. Based off L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” the film, directed by Sam Raimi, is producing a lot of hubbub. Kunis and Williams made appearances at Comic-Con where they sat down and chatted about their upcoming roles.
It’s interesting to pull back from the trees to see the entertainment forest as a whole. Here film is influencing live theater and vice versa. The success of Wicked sparked a greater awareness of the Oz books, as people realized that there was more to Oz than the original 1939 film portrayed. This in turn inspired Raimi to take on the task of creating a film that showcased more of Oz than just the adventures of Dorothy and Toto. Coming full circle we see the public’s interest piqued in the greater Land of Oz by the upcoming film, leading to a resurgence of interest in the theatrical version of Wicked outside of theater’s peak season. It is so pleasant to see different aspects of the entertainment industry playing nice together.
To alleviate the headache that may have just been produced by following that last paragraph, check out the interview with Franco and Kunis below: