Musicals for people determined to hate musicals . . .

[JenM9]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:45am

I'm going to New York (only my second trip) with a friend this spring. I really want to take him to see a musical with me, but he has never seen one before yet has very strong opinions about them and some incredibly lame preconceived notions. He has already decided that he hates musicals and they are just for "girls and gay men" which is stupid. He's adamant on hating anything to do with them.

I saw my first musical this January (the touring production of Wicked) and really enjoyed it when I wasn't expecting much - I never heard of it before or of any musical really. Then I went online and realized it was a very popular musical. Anyway because as you probably have figured out I don't know much about theater, I'd like advice on what show I could take my closed-minded friend to that might shut him up and realize musicals aren't boring.

I might be helpful to know I've also seen Legally Blonde and thought it was okay. I realize a lot of people here don't have the best things to say about the two shows I've seen - especially Wicked, which I thought was amazing - but I enjoyed them.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:48am

Jersey Boys tends to sway the straight men.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:49am

In The Heights, if it's opened by the time you are there.

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:51am

well i dont know your friend but if he liked monty python and the holy grail you could maybe take him to see spamalot. If he has a sort of silly sense of humor Xanadu is fun (i actually just saw it tonight) Avenue Q might be a good choice too it's the right mix of cute and raunchy (k, maybe not raunchy, but definitely in the PG13-R range) it's a lot of fun. In the heights is a wonderful musical if you're going after february but idk if he'd like it. Also check out Jersey Boys, Rent, Young Frankenstein, and Spring Awakening.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:54am

NAKED BOYS SINGING!

That'll put 'em in their places.

[george95]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:55am

I'm a high school teacher in an inner city (i.e. crackheads, drive-by shootings, drugs, guns, gangs etc) high school and I take my students to see shows all the time, and most of them are reluctant to go just like your friend--they have also been raised to think musicals are for girls and gays. But, over the years I have noticed that some shows are easier for nontheater people to get into. So here's my advice:

definitely take him to see Avenue Q.........if he grew up watching Sesame St he'll think its funny and enjoy it, but you should tell him its a Sesame St send-up before the show so he'll be a little less grumpy about it.
And you can also try Spring Awakening, because I think a lot of the shock value stuff in the show is enough to keep non-theater people interested.
Chicago might be a bit of a tougher sell, because a lot of the enjoyment in that show involves appreciating the dancing, which may be too much of a "gay" thing for your friend, but, there are lots of girls in underwear.
And then there are always the Disney movie musicals, which even the grumpiest guy should warm up to just to be like "oh yeah! i remember that from the movie! wow!" Its funny how musical theater can turn even the most thugged out gangsta into an art lover.

[patti+bettysgirl]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:59am

My husband is the same way but he is actually excited about seeing Young Frankenstein because he is a Mel Brooks fan. He also is a huge Monty Python fan so he loved Spamalot. According to him, those are apparently "guy friendly". Although, if given a chance, he has been known to admit to liking some very uncharacteristic musicals - like the movie versions of Chicago and Hairspray. So you really never know...

[Pippin]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 1:02am

jersey boys or avenue q

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 1:12am

You've picked an unfortunate time. I'm a musical lover, and I don't think there are any musicals playing that I even like very much. Your best bet might be with Young Frankenstein, Spamalot, or Avenue Q, but...eh.


EDIT: OH, I just saw that you said spring, so...definitely Passing Strange. That is 100% a musical for people who don't like musicals, and I enjoyed it very much . It's all rock music by a witty, biting singer-songwriter who seems to hate most cheesy, flashy musicals himself.

I don't think you'll get many recommendations from others on the board yet, because it hasn't started on Broadway yet (it was off-Broadway this summer), but I'd vote 100% for that.

Updated On: 1/4/08 at 01:12 AM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 1:16am

According to him, those are apparently "guy friendly".

Apparently he has never met a gay man.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 10:50am

Jersey Boys appeals to most everybody.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:06pm

I would say AVENUE Q definitely..if he enjoys that sitcom humor..perverse sitcom humor. and definitely not XANADU because he will hate you. I sat close to this heterosexual man, and he was miserable as hell

[Jon]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:09pm

Spamalot.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:10pm

Save your money.

Sit him down in front of a TV. Turn on sports. Give him some snacks and beer, and go out and with your open-minded friends and enjoy some good theatre.

It's obvious he doesn't want to go, and doesn't want to see anything with or about or even with a whiff of homosexuality to it. And theatre is gay. All of it. So keep his hatred at home. He's not going to like theatre because he doesn't want to like theatre.

[beldew]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:29pm

WOW, I can't believe no one has suggested Rent! I mean my husband is mr Jock-o-matic and he hates musicals. But when he saw RENT he thought it was awesome. There is cursing and there is Rock and my husband loves rock, and r&b. You should try it. I mean it will never be as good as the OBC, but its still a great and rockin show!

[AvenueQResident]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:29pm

I took one of my university friends, who hates musicals, to Avenue Q. He absolutely loved it.

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:34pm

Many musical theatre haters loved Avenue Q

Howard Stern
Tom Hanks (who even said "I hate musicals but this was great")
My cousin Chris heard the cast recording and laughed hysterically
My dad is the same as my cousins

[pandajen14]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:52pm

Jersey Boys or Avenue Q are both great suggestions. I would say Spamalot only if he is Monty Python fan. I think In The Heights is awesome, but it probably would be a better next step if he enjoys one of the above. My friend who hates musicals really enjoyed Sweeney Todd. Maybe take him to the movie of that, test the waters, and then take him to the real deal from there?

[kate2]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 1:05pm

I disagree with people saying Spamalot, ONLY if he's a fan of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. My dad laughed so hard I thought he was going to have a heart attack. I think Spamalot is a safe choice for someone against seeing a musical.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 1:07pm

Sunday In The Park...

LOL.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 2:28pm

This is kinda random but, my boyfriend hates musicals but for some reason ,LOVES Phantom of the Opera. I have actually gotten him to see the show twice=-)!

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 2:43pm

Avenue Q, Young Frankenstein or Jersey Boys

[george95]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 2:47pm

yo your boyfriend rocks! he doesnt believe the BWW anti-phantom propaganda! yahhh!

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 2:50pm

Avenue Q!

[jigblob]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 3:21pm

Definitely Jersey Boys....in fact, one of my friends that HATES musicals and "over his dead body will he ever see one" ended up getting dragged to it in chicago yesterday and he ended up loving it!