The Glee Effect

The hit television program Glee has started a wave of interest in musicals.

Musical societies are reporting increased interest in productions, as the program inspires young performers.

Glee has been a big success in Australia, and its recent finale attracted 1.6 million viewers.

Linda Newstead, the secretary of Sydney Youth Musical Theatre group in Hornsby, told The Sydney Morning Herald: ”We have had a huge influx of young people … Kids who don’t want to do sport on a Saturday morning are coming here.”

Her son, Max, who performs in amateur musicals, agrees: ”I really think Glee is opening up musical theatre to the general public. It’s made it less nerdy.”

Other musical societies are expressing similar boosts in interest.