Best title of a musical

[Maureen_Johnson]

Best title of a musical#0

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:10am

What are some of the neatest titles of musicals? Lots are pretty basic, like The Phantom of the Opera or Sweeney Todd. Others like Hairspray, Hair, and Rent are basic, but have a title that only expresses a very small, fairly unimportant aspect of the show. Or maybe it's considered symbolic...?

My personal favorite title is Wicked, because it isn't that basic, but it shows the theme off the musical. And it sounds really awesome. Into the Woods is a cool title, too. What do you guys think?

[tophertilson]

re: Best title of a musical#1

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:28am

I'd vote for MISS SAIGON. It's a brand name now, and we're all used to it. Many may not remember the impact it had way back when. But I'll never forget my original reaction when hearing of this show and its title. Startling, original and intriguing.

TT

"Me flunk English? That's unpossible!" - Ralph Wiggum

[once a month]

re: Best title of a musical#2

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:33am

Into the Woods, My Fair Lady

[philcrosby]

re: Best title of a musical#3

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:35am

Some other great titles (though not necessarily great musicals):

Hallelujah, Baby!
How Now Dow Jones

and a great title for a great musical:

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

[west end artist1]

re: Best title of a musical#4

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:38am

zombie prom hehe

oh come on you know its funny ,straight to the point

lol

[zoomzoom]

re: Best title of a musical#5

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:45am

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, I loved it. It was originated from the movie's title, though.

[blueroses]

re: Best title of a musical#6

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:51am

Naked Boys Singing

[Wanna Be A Foster]

re: Best title of a musical#7

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:58am

Wicked is the title of the book from which the show was adapted. Not very innovative.

I find that the most special titles tend to be those that are some form of a metaphor for the show's theme--titles you can't fully understand until you've actually seen the show.

I know the thread asks for the best title of a "musical", but two thoughtful titles of plays that come to mind in this respect are The Retreat From Moscow and Rabbit Hole.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

[ashley0139]

re: Best title of a musical#8

Posted: 5/30/06 at 12:25pm

My favorite is See What I Wanna See. The show is so deep and the title describes it. That you really see what you want to see. I love it.

"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife

[wickedrentq]

re: Best title of a musical#9

Posted: 5/30/06 at 2:39pm

Urinetown is the one that comes to mind for me. I wish I saw the show.

"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli

[RentBoy86]

re: Best title of a musical#10

Posted: 5/30/06 at 2:41pm

See What I Wanna See

Little Shop of Horrors (Though I know it was based on the movie)

[Thesbijean]

re: Best title of a musical#11

Posted: 5/30/06 at 2:42pm

I am very fond of A Little Night Music, beautiful title.

[Yankeefan007]

re: Best title of a musical#12

Posted: 5/30/06 at 2:48pm

The Drippy Xylophone


errr


The Drowsy Chaperone

[justagirl2]

re: Best title of a musical#13

Posted: 5/30/06 at 2:51pm

I agree with A Little Night Music...it's really intriguing.

[To The Stage!]

re: Best title of a musical#14

Posted: 5/30/06 at 2:54pm

I second The Drowsy Chaperone, as a good title. When you first hear of the show, you think ..what? chaperone? But when you actually see it, I think it makes a great title.

So afraid of getting older

I'm only good at being young

[best12bars]

re: Best title of a musical#15

Posted: 5/30/06 at 2:55pm

I always liked "Pacific Overtures" as a title.

Also "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" seemed to make people stand up and take notice.

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

---

blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

[folkyboy]

re: Best title of a musical#16

Posted: 5/30/06 at 3:01pm

i'll second Urinetown. that's a great title...

also more that come to mind:

Reefer Madness
Hedwig & the Angry Inch

[best12bars]

re: Best title of a musical#17

Posted: 5/30/06 at 3:03pm

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enough

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

---

blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

[Maureen_Johnson]

re: Best title of a musical#18

Posted: 5/30/06 at 3:17pm

Mm, true Wicked is the same title as the novel. Les Miserables is also lovely, but taken from the book as well.

[peggyandvelma]

re: Best title of a musical#19

Posted: 5/30/06 at 3:17pm

^ My school is doing that show in the fall. Great title.

No one is alone.

[TheaterAddict7652]

re: Best title of a musical#20

Posted: 5/30/06 at 3:35pm

I agree that Urinetown is a great title. I remember when I first told my friends about it, they didn't know if it was "Urine Town" or "You're In Town". It's a great pun on words.

I also think that The Light in the Piazza is a beautiful title.

There's a lot I am not certain of...

Updated On: 5/30/06 at 03:35 PM

[WiiCKED x3]

re: Best title of a musical#21

Posted: 5/30/06 at 3:37pm

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. =)

[elphaba432]

re: Best title of a musical#22

Posted: 5/30/06 at 3:37pm

"Phantom of te Opera"! I like it because it gives me chills! That's weird isn't it?

Just because I got the lead doesn't mean you can't be my understudy!:)

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

re: Best title of a musical#23

Posted: 5/30/06 at 3:39pm

I would have to say The Drowsy Chaperone is great for a musical.

This thread is about musicals, but The Pillowman has an amazing title. It has so many different meanings. I find that plays tend to have better titles than musicals for some reason. But yes, The Pillowman, by far my favorite title for anything.

[MarkRascati]

re: Best title of a musical#24

Posted: 5/30/06 at 3:43pm

Showboat, Pal Joey, Little Shop of Horrors, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels


too catchy