Best Title of a Play or Musical?

#1

Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:21pm

What do you think is the title of a play or musical that works best for the piece? Perhaps it makes you think, perhaps its just hilarious, or perhaps it sums up the show and uplifts your heart.

What, in your opinion, is the single best title of a show, and why?

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#2

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:22pm

Urinetown!

#3

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:22pm

Urinetown


Pinklestadt in German

#4

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:22pm

Marat/Sade

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RIP glebby <3

#5

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:24pm

Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof


I love long titles.

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"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

#6

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:26pm

Boobs! The Musical

lol, jk, couldn't resist

Good question! I personally like titles that don't give anything away, ones that actually pose more questions than answers (to those that haven't seen the show). Therefore, my vote goes to Urinetown

#7

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:28pm

When I first heard of Urinetown I thought the show was about urine, which it is, but then I was like "It can't be about urine". So I was like, it's just about a town you're in. Ur-ine-town. Yeah, so I didn't have a freakin' clue.

#8

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:32pm

I believe the best is:

To Kill A Mockingbird

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#9

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:32pm

I like titles that can be looked at in a few different ways. The only one I could think of right now is "Take Me Out." Could be a reference to the song, or could be talking about coming out of the closet, both of which are themes of the show.

#10

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:32pm

lol, but it made you think before you saw it, which is the point (I think... lol)

#11

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:34pm

3 Guys Naked From The Waist Down
A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#12

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:35pm

Hello, Dolly!
The Wiz
My One and Only
A Chorus Line
Annie
A Little Night Music
the Music Man
West Side Story

Ad my personal favorite: GUYS AND DOLLS.

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Praying Decca Broadway will put "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" on CD!

#13

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:35pm

I thought Take Me Out was going to be about dates. You know, take me out to dinner and a movie. But I think it's a great title for a play about baseball.

#14

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:42pm

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES

#15

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:46pm

Urinetown, Bare, Chicago, Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors, Tick...tick...boom and Hairspray.

#16

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:53pm

Little Shop of Horrors. I recently saw the movie and the first thing I thought about when I heard the title was a shop filled with horror!

#17

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 6:16pm

Guess what? CAUSE IT IS! I watched it a few days ago too...but the dialogue was in spanish and the lyrics were in english. It was awesome to watch.

But I still say Urinetown is the best titled show.

#18

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 6:19pm

Ave Q
Wicked (yea I know)

and mosst of all SPAMALOT


I want to go around singing "Spamalot" like Lancolot sings "Camelot" in C'est Moi

#19

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 6:19pm

I'm big on one word titles, and titles that are really powerful or have multiple meanings.

Like... RENT. Sure, they don't have the money to pay their rent, but if you look up the word "rent" in a dictionary, there's a definition about being torn apart.
How can you leave the past behind when it keeps finding ways to get to your heart? It reaches way down deep and tears you inside out, 'til you're torn apart....
The show is also about testing relationships, and I love all of those different meanings that you can find in one simple, solitary word.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

Updated On: 12/12/04 at 06:19 PM

#20

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 6:24pm

COMPANY is one of the best, if not the best, one word title.

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"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

#21

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 6:26pm

Eh, however much I like the title of a musical reflects however much I like the musical itself.

I hate the idea of a title in the first place.

But they're ok for organization and word association.

Updated On: 12/12/04 at 06:26 PM

#22

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 6:28pm

I like La Cage Aux Folles because nobody I know can pronounce it, and its fun to watch them try. And of course Urinetown, just because its funny. And its fun to get strange looks from people if you say "I LOVE Urinetown!"

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HROK?

#23

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 6:32pm

"Your Arms Too Short To Box With God"

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"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"

#24

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 6:32pm

Best:
A Streetcar Named Desire

Worst:
Fat Pig

#25

re: Best Title of a Play or Musical?

Posted: 12/12/04 at 6:35pm

For StickTo Priest who loves long titles:

"For Colored Girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf"

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"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"