Any Dream Will Do: The finalists’ experience

Is this a musical theatre competition or the search for the latest Mr "Gay UK?"
Funny how all these boys look the same, just like musicals today, they all look so homogonised, easy to prepare, boiled in a bag and completely without flavour.
All we need now is Pete Waterman to burst upon the scene telling the latest talentless wannabe clone that they are not (and I quote) "manufactured!"
Don't worry when it comes to London's West End I will be the one to turn the light off if you like.

First of all, I think you will find that out of the final 12, only three or four of the contestants are gay, and I think it's wrong and totally unfair that people associate males who are involved with any kind of theatre as being homosexual. I have been with Antony for over two years, and there are other contestants who are married, engaged or have long term girlfriends, and so I think it is unfair and unjust for you to call this a search for Mr Gay UK. So; maybe you should check your facts before you next decide to post another ridiculous comment. These boys deserve to be supported and celebrated for their talent and obvious committment and dedication to what they are doing. Standing up in front of millions of people each week is not an easy task, and in no way do any of the boys look the same or are, as you would say, 'manufactured'.

Lincoln Hudson, Thank you so much for your non-inspirational message to all men thinking of joining Musical Theatre. Your out dated view of this show clearly displays your lack of understanding of Musical Theatre and furthermore your comments about GAY men belong somewhere in the 1970's. I was at the show and watched my son and 11 other young men perform to a very high standard indeed. My son (Antony) is not gay, not that it would make any difference if he were. I am shocked that "The Stage" has published your message - I thought the publication was to promote the profession not slag it off. I will cancell my subscription to the stage.

Note: This message has been edited by the system administrator.

I have removed some posts from this thread, and edited one other.

To clarify: opinions expressed by individuals, whether in blog posts, opinion columns, comments, message board postings, etc. are those of the individuals concerned. The Stage does not necessarily agree with any of those opinions.

As a general rule, we would not delete opinions with which we do not agree. That said, we do expect all discussions and debate to continue with civility from all sides. We will not tolerate debates being brought down to slanging matches and personal smears.

I am leaving the comments above online -- in slightly edited form -- because, although they were veering down the personal attack route, the challenging of an oft-held opinion about men in musical theatre is a valid area of discussion. However, I have removed several posts which were extremely personal in nature, and the individual concerned is no longer welcome to contribute to The Stage website.

I watched the show on Saturday night and thought it was fantastic. All of them were brilliant, some where better than others but they all deserved to be there. Whats sexuality got to do with anything? I didn't even think about whether any of them were gay or not, it just simply did not come into my mind, its the voice they should be judged on and they were all amazing. There is no way they all look the same, they are all uniquley different in some way and all memorable. It will be hard to see one go each week they all deserve to be on the stage. Well done guys!

They are all very talented men, and men really do need role models in order to encourage them to sing - so this is potentially great. Boys tend to stop singing in their teens - so it would be good if this encourages teenage boys to think of singing as 'cool'. I am appalled at the 'gay' comments above, but concerned that this limited psyche/opinion could be echoed nationally - It is important that boys see singing as something that men can do WITHOUT being considered gay. The only negative comment that I would have about this show is the lack of ethnic minority performers. One out of twelve is a pity. Ethnic minority men need role models as our drama schools and the world of musical theatre is still predominently white.

Chris Barton to win !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The most delicious voice iv ever had the pleasure of listening too!
A really high standard this year and great energy too.
sexualty should have nothing to do with this programme and quite frankly its none of our business. theyr doing this programme to showcase their talent, not for their private lives to be disected in every detail by certain viewers.
and as for the comment made above about being manurfactured.....well they all will share one same quality and that is that they share the 'possibillity to be joseph' quality so if their are simarlarities it will be because their all going after the same role!
i hope this programe brings to each contestent lots of positive opportunities !
Good luck Chris Barton!
Sophie Rimmer

go keith go keith its ur birthday!!! we love u keith!!! rock on st,davids music dep where wee old keith started out!!! midlothian behind u all the way babe!xxxx

I think Chris Barton is ghey, whcih is a shame, cos he's hot!

well down to craig chalmers he is really hot plus a really good singer well down craig from ann and tina

can someone just say one and for all if chris barton is gay ? i dont think he seems gay but loads of people are saying he is ! it would be such a waste if he was cause he is gorgeus !

does anyone know the answer to my question above ? x

Chris Barton is defo not gay..i red in a forum some where that a girl had found out that her boyfriends sister used to be with chris..so there youuu gooooo!!!!

and soo what if they are gay its got nout to do with eny 1!!

x

hey does anyone know if Lewis Bradley is gay? if someone could tell me that would be great. i think hes fantastic xx

oh and its not that ive got anything against gay people, i actually think there awsome. im just trying to settle an argument im having with my sister xx

charlotte lewis bradley isnt gay at all e is rly fit n amazin so e int lol i want im 2 wid all da way!!!!! COME ON LEWIS BRADLEY

Intuition would tell me that Chris Barton, Johndeep and Lewis are all gay for sure 100% - too many clues - but that has nothing to do with how good they are - some of our very finest actors and stage performers are. I can always hope that Daniel is too but I guess not - I'd go to see him in anything he chooses to do!!

Lewis is FIT!!! I love him!!!!!!! GO GO GO LEWIS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think all the guys are really talented in this contest and I was really dissapointed to see Chris Barton and Antony go as I didn't think they deserved it. Johndeep's performance of "Close Every Door" was very emotional and had me in tears as did Antony's. Good luck to all these guys and I hope they get the recognition they deserve. Lee to win by the way, he is outstanding.

Yeah, they're all fantastic - is Lewis actually gay - not that I'm critisizing him - just wondering cuz Keith & Lee hav girlfriends but Lewis doesn't. Hoping Lee wins cuz he has a gr8 voice!!!
I think Lewis has a good look on him - it suits him - giving him the 'Joseph' look!! Good luck every1!

It is obvious Lewis should win. Lee is too old and Keith much too ugly (those teeth!). Ultimately, however good their voices are, they have got to have the look. Get in there Lewis, and as for being gay, I am and if you are in London on the scene we are in for a right treat!

The treat being????

I think Lewis is dead cute, so it would be a treat! Cuter than the other 2 anyhow. Lee's so far up his own ar*e, as is that ludicrous walking dental appointment Keith (thank the lord he's noy gay: imagine the bj with those teeth!) NY

omg y is every1 being so rude abt them all! just coz they've gt talent does not meen that they r gay! and even if they were so wot it's none of ur business! i luv them all especially lee! he is fit nd he deservered 2 win! GO LEE!!
xx

Daniel was the most professional out of them all...he sang the most amazing songs in an inventive and creative way. He didnt sing off or forget his lines...superb....he was a threat to Lee..and ALW. knew it. This has been an excellent spring board to put Daniel on the BIG stage.....with his talent....just watch him go. Joseph was not a big enough show for him.
DANIEL....YOUR SUPERB
XXXXXXXXX

Don't be so po-faced Rachel...it is fun to speculate about how gay they all are.
Quite right Caspar, Daniel was excellent and looked the part...pssst, is he gay!!!

lee you are so hot

lee you are so hot

lee you are so hot

lee you are so hot

Grr.
i am getting really angry with people thinking any1 to do with the musical theartre is gay..it not fair on them you dont even know them so u have no right to say these things it jean mean..anyway BEN IS SSSSOOOOOOOOOOOO FITTTTTTTTTTTTTT I LOVE BEN..BENTO WIN XXXXX

we totally agree wiv u lucy we think ben is MEGA MEGA MEGA HHHOOOTTTTTT WE SOOOO WISH HE'D WON

why is no1 writin bout ben he was the fitest 1 out of all of the josephs lee is the biggst minger of the century

we soooooo luv ben xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Yes- Ben! Fucking lovely. Heis clearly not gay but if I had a magic wand...!
Show itself is terrific- saw it last week, and Lee just about gets away with it- agewise.
Bradley or Ben would have been different class however.
Anyone (of either sex) slept with Ben or Bradley...? NY

I also am an amateur singer and as for guys to be involved in singing or the performing arts then why not. There are to many guys out there who wold love to have the courage and the bottle to perform, but because we are so stereo typed in this country we laugh and think of guys who are in the performing arts industry as either being wimpish or gay.
The progamme was great and I thouroghly enjoyed it and as for the comments to Keith being ugly, he had a really great voice talent does just rely on good looks alone but on the whole being. And as for Chris being Gay well if I was I would not mind a night with him. I have just watched a programme called Bouncers and in the opening sequence to the progamme it showed a bouncer outside a night club in Manchesters Gay Village and guess who was caught on camera giving the bouncer a kiss on the cheek! yes your right it was Chris. He said (Talking about the bouncer) I think this guy is really good looking and gave him another kiss. Chris themn realised that the camera was filming him and he dissapeared out of shot saying " Oh dear I feel ashamed now" Chris with those superb pearly whites that your dad has cared for, your a great looking lad and if I gay I would be after yer bod.
The only guy I did think was up his arse was Seamus he came across to my family as thinking he was better than anyone else.

Boys keep going for that goal you have exceptional talent and it's a pity that a musical was not produced to showcase all of you.

I went to lewis and ben's school (italia conti) he is defo gay but hot! and as for ben he is straight. They both did extremely well and glad lewis has fnally got the part.

i know im really late but oh well

jen? yeah chris b is deffo gay and i was gutted went so soon! altho im glad lee won =]

omg keith is sooo hott and my age i hate his gf though just for being his gf lol she is soo lucky he was sooo close to winning and he should have but its not like he will never perform im going to see him in joesph at braford alambra theatre in a few weeks and soo cant wait i love keith so muchxxxx

KEITH SHUD HAV WON X

I saw Craig and Chris B in Joseph 2day. Craig was Joseph and Chris was The Narrator. I couldnt stop staring at Craigs bod! Theyre are both lush. It was the best musical ive ever seen