Celebrated film and Oscar contender La La Land has become one of 2016’s most fascinating love stories. The tale of two struggling artists—actress Mia [Emma Stone] and musician Sebastian [Ryan Gosling]—it showcases the positive and negative effects of pursuing your creative dreams.
The musical love story of Mia and Sebastian has garnered plenty of attention and Oscar noms for both Stone and Gosling. So, what do those in the world of musical theater think of La La Land? I caught up with Kirsten Scott and Matthew Scott—a real-life Broadway couple, to get their take on the film.
Kirsten, who originated the Broadway roles of Jenny Hill in Big Fish and Young Phyllis in the 2012 Kennedy Center revival of Follies, also appeared in Broadway’s Jersey Boys and Hairspray. Husband Matthew Scott, now fresh off his run as Adam Hochberg in An American In Paris on Broadway, has also appeared in Broadway’s Jersey Boys, Sondheim On Sondheim, A Catered Affair and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Here’s what we covered….
Spoiler Alert: Do not read the last question if you’re one of the few who has yet to see La La Land.
As a real Broadway couple, you both have experienced the highs and lows of an artist’s life. From good and bad auditions to hit shows that soar and sometimes close, life as an actor or musician is a winding and complicated road. Did La La land get it right?
Matthew: Elements of the film were portrayed beautifully. The artist’s struggle to create something truthful, we get that. Other parts of the film felt quite fanciful and over romanticized. But that’s the point. It’s a beautiful movie.
Kirsten: They nailed the highs and lows in the world of auditioning. As actors we are sometimes auditioning more than we are actually working. Auditioning becomes our job. We spend hours preparing material, finding the right outfit, getting our hair and makeup just right, so we can present the very best versions of ourselves. We take a lot of time to prepare, and sometimes, on occasion, we don’t feel like we are given the proper respect. Once I was in an audition singing a very emotional, high stakes song, and the man behind the table took off his glasses, cleaned them, looked at the overhead lights through the lenses to make sure they were clean, let out a huge audible sigh, rocked back in his chair and stared blankly at me. It did not feel good. So that part of the movie, I feel like they nailed.
An award-winning musical film has been a long time coming. What does that mean to someone who has grown up and pretty much breathes the air of great musical theater?
Matthew: I think it’s great. I think there have been some terrific musical films in the past several years. La La Land feels like less of a musical to me than Chicago, Into The Woods or Les Miserables to name a few. However, the content here is completely original and written for the screen. I would love to see more of that happening in Hollywood.
Do you expect that the success of La La Land has indirectly boosted the popularity of Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals?
Matthew: Not necessarily. Broadway is a billion dollar a year industry. People travel from far and wide to visit New York City and see a show. It’s certainly cost prohibitive and not all shows are destined to thrive in the age of Hamilton and Wicked, but people will always want to see live theater. There’s nothing like it. If anything, I would venture to say that successful Broadway shows like Hamilton have indirectly boosted the success of films like La La Land.
Kirsten: I think La La Land came about at a time when pop culture and musical theater are aligning. With the success of TV shows like Glee, and TV musicals on NBC and FOX, musical theater slowly began to creep into the zeitgeist. Then there is Hamilton, perhaps the biggest cultural phenomenon of the last few decades. Musicals were suddenly cool and hip, and the stage was set for La La Land to have great success. I do believe that it will boost public awareness of theater, and I hope that will translate into people buying tickets and seeing shows.
What is your favorite takeaway message from the film?
Kirsten: As a hopeless romantic and huge optimist, I loved the moment when they found each other, and in finding each other were able to find their art. I think it’s true that the best art mirrors real life.
Do you think La La Land has opened the door for more musicals in the world of film? What musical would get your first vote for feature film consideration?
Kirsten: Absolutely. It would be amazing to see a rebirth of movie musicals, and see them made more frequently like back in the 1940s and ‘50s.
Matthew: I hope so. I’d love to see some more original musicals. Although, I do think Hamilton and In The Heights would translate to the big screen beautifully.
SPOILER ALERT QUESTION BELOW
I can’t help but ask, as a happily married couple immersed in the world of musical theater, were you disappointed with the romantic conclusion?
Matthew: I was disappointed they didn’t end up together. Mostly, because it seemed like it would not have been very difficult to stick it out. I mean, she went to Paris for four months. I’d book myself a flight and take my butt to Paris for a free vacation while my girlfriend becomes a movie star. Sit in my little flat and write music. I mean…c’mon. In all seriousness, Kirsten and I spent three years apart while she was finishing college at Carnegie Mellon and I was doing Jersey Boys on Broadway. We got on buses and trains and planes, and we made a big effort to make our relationship work. It was difficult, but it was the best thing we’ve ever done.
Kirsten: Again, I am a hopeless romantic, so of course I want them to end up together. I cried so hard when I realized they were not continuing their love story. As an artist, I am constantly trying to find the balance between pursuing my career, creating meaningful work and being a good wife. It’s not easy, and I am not always perfect at it, but I do believe a balance can be found. I would like to think they could have made it work.
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