Broadway's Top Score is?

Posted: 7/27/03 at 4:53pm

Think of all the original Broadway musical shows you've seen in any level of live performance--Broadway, National Company, touring, stock or amateur; or you've seen on the screen, whether in silver or in Technicolor, whether 35:1, Cinemascope, Panavision 70, endlessly broadcast on television or on your just purchased DVD, or you've heard on 78, LP, reel-to-reel, 8-track, cassette or CD. Concentrate on the music and lyrics and strip all else away.

Of all those muscials that opened on or played Broadway this is the one, and only one, that would say is the top Broadway score. Which one is it?

Yours for a better Broadway! Updated On: 7/27/03 at 04:53 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 4:58pm

Geez, that is really hard. I mean, you can't really compare the more traditional shows with the pop shows and the rock shows. they all so different.
I mean, I love the Hairspray score (pop) because it so perfectly fits stylistically and it actually advances the plot and for the most part I enjoy the score to Jesus Christ Superstar (rock).

But, if I had to pick one score and only one score. I'd probably have to go with Les Miserables.




**Superstar, Phantom, Evita are the only Webber scores that I REALLY love. He tends to rip him self off sooo many times and not in good ways when he writes shows. Updated On: 7/27/03 at 04:58 PM

[Phantom05]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 5:01pm

SHEESH, this is a tough thread!!! Broadway Bulldog, do you think you can level the playing feild, and and ask for their top modern score, and top traditional score?!? If I had to answer those two, they would be.......

Top Modern Score: The Phantom of the Opera
Top Traditional Score: 42nd Street

See Ya!

Michael (Phantom05)

Updated On: 7/27/03 at 05:01 PM

[Phantom05]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 5:03pm

I'm sorry, I really can't just pick one or two, it's toooooo hard!!! I have to add Les Miserables, and Miss Saigon!

Bye!

[BatBoi]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 5:29pm

I would have to say JRB's Parade. The music is amazing in that show.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 5:31pm

Les Miserables is a pretty impressive score. So is 42nd Street. But if I had to pick one, and one only to represent all the musical scores on Broadway, with this one being the top, I would have to go with Les MIserables. The music is amazing.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 6:53pm

It's dreadful. in all 3 1/2 hours of Les Miz, there is not ONE measure of authentic, honest-to-God music.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 7:00pm

I hope you're joking!!!! You must not have an ear for music......OMG, I'm not going to comment anymore, or I may say something I might regret!!!

Updated On: 7/27/03 at 07:00 PM

[RagtimeRay]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 8:45pm

Drum roll...

You'll be surprised...

RAGTIME

Just listened to the Broadway Original Cast CD today. What a show!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 8:49pm

Ahrens and Flaherty wrote an AMAZING score for that show. Not to mention McNally's book.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 8:53pm

Yes- Ragtime is amazing, too.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 8:57pm

SEUSSICAL is nice, I love it, but I admit it is not the best.

42nd STREET...LES MIS...RAGTIME...all good choices, but I would have to say the best is INTO THE WOODS.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 9:08pm

yes, Into The Woods is great as well. I love the title song. What I love about the music is that it's not simple. It's really great to tell you the truth.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 9:18pm

It would be redundant for me to comment.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 9:22pm

The thing that I love about Into The Woods is the fact that the music doesn't help the vocalists at all. Sondheim has composed some of the most complicated music ever written for the musical theater stage! He never includes the vocal line in anything that the orchestra plays, so you've got to have some AMAZING performers!

See Ya!

Michael (Phantom05)

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 9:24pm

As Laura Benanti said, only a phenominal actor can pull off Sonheim's music in that show.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 9:29pm

I completely agree, Sondheim is all about acting!!! This is how I think of a Sondheim show "Sondheim writes plays with music". That may sound dumb, but oh well!!!

See Ya!

Michael (Phantom05)

[magruder]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 9:52pm

OK if I pick 20?

Great scores for me:

Show Boat
The Boys from Syracuse
Pal Joey
On the Town
Finian's Rainbow
House of Flowers
My Fair Lady
Candide
West Side Story
Gypsy
Camelot
Little Me
She Loves Me
Fiddler on the Roof
Promises, Promises
Company
Follies
A Little Night Music
Mack & Mabel
Parade

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 9:55pm

magruder- the point of the thread was to pick one! The best score ever to grace Broadway!

[magruder]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 9:58pm

I can't! I mean, I just realized that I didn't even pick a Rodgers & Hammerstein show.

OK...Just one? Whoop-Up is the single best Broadway score ever.

Posted: 7/27/03 at 10:16pm

Magruder, two disappointing responses.

Yours for a better Broadway!

[magruder]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 10:28pm

Nor did I pick a Frank Loesser score. Sheesh. WAY too hard.

I stand by Whoop-Up!
"Feel so good, I'll yell it! Yo-de-lay-eee!"

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 11:51pm

sweeney, sweeney, sweeney, sweeney SWEEEEENEEEEY!!!!

[Copeman63]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 12:02am

I would have to go with Ragtime as well. The opening number was incredible!

[Bret]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 12:32am

I would have to say-
Modern- LES MISERABLES
Classic- GYPSY or 42nd STREET

BTW, Capn Hook- I will have to disagree with you about SEUSSICAL . I saw it this spring, and found it to be profound and utter garbage. Oh well. To each his own.