Variety has run with an interesting article on the re-integration of musicals into popular culture. The full article is available here, but here are a few choice quotes:

David Rooney and Gordon Cox wrote:
Musicals are once again becoming part of the pop-culture consciousness, exerting an influence on advertising, chart-topping songs and, of course, movies….

Pop shows like Wicked, Legally Blonde and Hairspray have helped shake the dust off the image of the old-fashioned Broadway musical. Those and similar shows haven’t always earned a unanimous critical embrace but have broadened the traditional tuner audience to a new generation, particularly – but not exclusively – teen and tweener girls….

The age of irony also has been good for the Broadway demographic, with self-satirizing shows like The Producers and Monty Python’s Spamalot, or irreverent comedies like Avenue Q contributing to make musicals more guy-friendly….

Shows that poke affectionate fun at the musical form, such as Curtains and The Drowsy Chaperone, have the double benefit of appealing to die-hard tunerphiles while making other folks feel they are in on the joke.

It’s a neat little summary of some of the trends that are current in musical theatre – and it’s always good to know that musical theatre has an impact on the world in a wider context.