12 Comments
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Arkansas Blue's avatar

If this show comes anywhere near Arkansas, I will definitely be there. I have always loved ABBA.

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Patric Martin's avatar

I had tickets for last year but had to cancel the trip. Reading this piece makes me wish I hadn’t.

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KnockKnockGreenpeace's avatar

As an artist, I beg to differ about the value of fake productions. Next up: Meredith Blake column minus Meredith Blake.

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Meredith Blake's avatar

I get the aversion! But the artists were deeply involved in the whole process. They just aren't physically present.

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KnockKnockGreenpeace's avatar

Imagine the time when they aren't deeply involved in the process. That is the time that those selling the technology are waiting for, and some day, we won't have a choice. I'm a writer, too, and I really, really don't want to see that time come.

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Michelle Jordan's avatar

My local Broadway Theater League presented Momma Mia onstage. It was outstanding! The movie version was great too! I really enjoyed the performance of Amanda Seyfried and Meryl Streep. I might be willing to spring for an AI version especially if it’s something I like. Thanks for bringing this up!

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KnockKnockGreenpeace's avatar

So, my question is: when do the drawbacks of a technology negate its positive points? Take guns, for instance. Effective tools in the right hands; death machines in the wrong ones. Regulation could work, but the will to regulate effectively does not exist across the board because, money.

I feel this way about AI. Do we really need one more way to be entertained at the expense of so much? Read this article by a high school student lamenting the supplanting of critical thinking by AI tools. Is "convenience" or cool entertainment really worth losing our cognitive abilities? Because sooner or later, we won't have a choice.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/09/high-school-student-ai-education/684088/?gift=Mdw5_R3Xgh3-ik45bq5z11eIOZzFPZ1-dZ45ILwkNYc&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

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Lauren's avatar

Meredith, do they/does it perform "Mamma Mia"? Thanks.

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Meredith Blake's avatar

Yes!! They do/it

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Lauren's avatar

Thanks. The song is a running joke amongst friends.

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Lauren's avatar

Meredith, I saw right after I posted that you had included the song in your original post. I'm sorry. It was a loooong day. I only saw the headline. I have to send your piece to a former teacher who named her daughter Mia.

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