Best musical for those who don't know them

#1

Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:03am

I have a friend who is going to New York in a couple of months with his family and they're planning to go to a show. He isn't interested in musical theatre, and I'm trying to recommend something that he will enjoy, but as I haven't actually SEEN them, I'm not sure.

Which would be the best show for him to see?

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#2

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:04am

Well, I would rule out DROWSY.

I hate to say it, but I'm inclined to think that he would love THE WEDDING SINGER.

My vote goes for SWEENEY, but I'm partial.

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#3

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:04am

Spelling Bee

#4

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:09am

Hairspray, Wicked, Spelling Bee, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Spamalot...


Those shows are the best for tourists. You dont need to be a musical theater lover to like these shows.

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#5

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:09am

Yeah, Spelling Bee is what I thought, as it's one that I have seen, in San Francisco, but he seems to want to go to one of the bigger ones that are perhaps more of a spectacle

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J'ai compris tous les mots, j'ai bien compris, merci.............

#6

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:11am

I would say Wicked then or Hairspray

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#7

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:12am

sweeney is a must see, but DRS could also be good. I wouldn't go for drowsy if he isn't hugely intreasted in musical theatre

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#8

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:15am

Wicked for spectacle.

#9

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:17am

OUt of everything people have listed, I would say Wedding Singer.

(Though my vote also goes to Sweeney.)

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#10

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:17am

Wicked will be too hard to get tickets... I'd say something like Spelling Bee or DRS, something lighter and fluffy. Whatever you do, don't let them see Sweeney or Drowsy.

#11

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:28am

Wedding Singer! It needs people to go see the show and it has Stephen Lynch who appeals to most straight guys. It's a very fun show too and I had some of my buds who don't even know how to spell theater and they loved it

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Updated On: 8/8/06 at 01:28 AM

#12

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:50am

I had this same dilemma with my family. They want to see a show but they aren't really theatre people. I think I'm going to get tickets to see The Producers.

It has your typical theatre spectacle and dancing, and it's hilarious, and it's pretty much easy entertaining that they don't have to think too hard about.

#13

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:51am

Avenue Q. Not Wicked. Ever.

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#14

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 2:03am

Ohhh! How can I forget? Avenue Q will be great, but ONLY if his family is very easy-going and can manage to see muppets having sex and listening to "Internet's for Porn" and "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist"

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"Hey, you! You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!" -Family Guy

#15

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 5:51am

I hadn't even thought of Avenue Q! Although I'm not sure HOW easy-going his family is.

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J'ai compris tous les mots, j'ai bien compris, merci.............

#16

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 10:46am

I'd say Hairspray.

#17

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:16pm

Definitely Hairspray.

#18

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:22pm

yeah, either WEDDING SINGER or HAIRPSRAY

#19

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:27pm

I completely agree with you Wanna Be A Foster. Never Wicked, you can go to any city and see it (ha ha), see DRS or Hairspray. Maybe TWS or Drowsy

#20

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:31pm

i would recommend something that he's familiar with. Maybe The Lion King, Beauty & The Beast, The Wedding Singer, Chicago, Rent, or Tarzan. Whatever he knows. Or something not depressing for the first one (I dont think Sweeney Todd is the best FIRST musical, although it is great). I personally would recommend The Wedding Singer but im a little biased. But it really is a great show!

#21

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:35pm

They're going in a couple of months...Sweeney will be closed by then people.

#22

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 2:02pm

You don't mention the age ranges of the kids.

For people not particular fond of musicals, definitely not Sweeney or Wicked.

For the whole family with young children, Beauty & the beast or Lion King. Lion King is a spectacular show for first timers.
I could see B&B or Spelling Bee over and over. I have never laughed as hard at any show as I did for Spelling Bee.

#23

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 2:04pm

Besides the fact that it will be closed (as Mandi so aptly pointed out), why on earth would you send someone who is completely unfamiliar with musical theatre to Sweeney, a consummate musical theatre piece? The score isn't immediately accessible, the production isn't immediately accessible, and most of all, the poor person would likely be confused as all hell by the storyline and the singing in counterpoint.

Pick something with a pop-ish score. I'm not a fan of Hairspray, but it wouldn't be a bad pick. Something with a healthy dose of humor could also work, like Avenue Q. There's always Rent with its catchy, rock-like score, although the cast seems to always be a question.

#24

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 2:20pm

Try The Color Purple.

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#25

re: Best musical for those who don't know them

Posted: 8/8/06 at 3:37pm

Spelling Bee and Hairspray