As a theatre and musical aficionado, I am always keen to keep tabs on the latest trends and hits in the Broadway and West End sphere. But, perhaps one of the more annoying trends in the theatre world today is the shaming of Broadway’s past. I have heard many groans at the mention of "Oklahoma," "Guys and Dolls," "The Music Man," or other mid-twentieth century Broadway productions, a time considered to be its “Golden Age.” It seems that we are entering a time where a show needs to be edgy, modern, or boundary-pushing in order for it to be well-liked. Meanwhile, this trend shuns the classics of old or musicals that embody older ideas of theatre, relegating them to eye-rolling and reluctant participants who do them “for the love of theatre.”

I experienced this all too well at my high school: shows like "Curtains" and "Cabaret" became the cast and crew’s instant favorites, while "Annie," "Alice in Wonderland," and even "The Wiz" were shows that took some warming up to. "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" and "Scapino," I might add, were met with general apathy – plays with “old text” that were more academic than anything else, but were still fun for what it was worth.

The first ever BroadwayCon in New York City highlighted this past month, and as expected BuzzFeed helped to cover some of it. One post, entitled “19 Musical Theater Songs Every Human Should Listen To Before They Die,” demonstrated my point exactly. Among the shows included in the listing included "Memphis," "Wicked," "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," "Les Misérables," "Into the Woods," and "Waitress." Other strong musicals "Rent," "Book of Mormon," and "Fun Home," appeared twice each, while "Hamilton" appeared a whopping four times.

Only three musicals from before 1987 appeared on the list: "Company," "A Chorus Line," and "Gypsy," all of which critics and audiences considered edgy and progressive for their time. In fact, only five musicals on the list made it to Broadway before 1996; the two additions, "Les Misérables" and "Into the Woods" have had enduring legacies, especially in the forms of recent movies.

It is frustrating to see this disconnect. While I understand there should be a need to look toward the future of theatre and toward the merging of different artistic styles, that does not mean that one should retroactively scorn the past for not doing so.

Many of the people I have talked to about "Oklahoma" despise the campy romance story, the supposed simplicity of the music, and the cheesy choruses and dances. But, it is my recommendation that people understand the musical as a product of its time. The musical debuted in 1943, in the heart of World War II. It needed a display of American patriotism and spirit, a story filled with optimistic adventure. Furthermore, cultural expectations and therefore, depictions of love and romance were to be much different than today’s standards. It is especially important considering the show is set in 1906.

The show revolutionized musical theatre and helped kickstart Broadway’s “Golden Age.” Theatre as we know it today would not exist had it not been for shows like "Oklahoma," and other earlier Broadway productions. Rodgers and Hammerstein are legendary in the theatre business. I understand that audiences will like the shows that they want to like, and shun the ones that do not suit them; however, these shows deserve better respect. One does not have to like the show, but at least acknowledge its pivotal role in bringing us more modern shows today. Once upon a time, shows like "Oklahoma," "Guys and Dolls," and "South Pacific," were considered edgy and progressive, just as shows like "Hamilton" and "Book of Mormon" are today. And I guarantee that in the year 2066, you will not want people dissing on “premature” or “primitive” qualities in today’s Broadway; but rather, prefer them to receive the respect that they truly deserve.

As Doctor Who’s twelfth Doctor relates it, in perhaps a more serious manner, but that still gets the point across, “You're not superior to people who were cruel to you. you're just a whole bunch of new cruel people. A whole bunch of new cruel people being cruel to some other people, who'll end up being cruel to you. The only way anyone can live in peace is if they're prepared to forgive. Why don't you break the cycle?”