Broadway's Top Score is?

#1

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

#2

re: Broadway's Top Score is?

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

#3

re: Broadway's Top Score is?

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)

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------- "We Drink Your Blood And Then We Eat Your Soul, Nothings Gonna Stop Us Let The Bad Times Roll" -------"Past The Point Of No Return, No Backward Glances, Abandon Thought And Let The Dream Begin"

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

#4

re: re: Broadway's Top Score is?

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!

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------- "We Drink Your Blood And Then We Eat Your Soul, Nothings Gonna Stop Us Let The Bad Times Roll" -------"Past The Point Of No Return, No Backward Glances, Abandon Thought And Let The Dream Begin"

#5

re: re: re: Broadway's Top Score is?

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

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

#6

re: re: re: re: Broadway's Top Score is?

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.

#7

re: re: re: re: re: Broadway's Top Score is?

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.

#8

re: re: re: re: re: re: Broadway's Top Score is?

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!!!

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------- "We Drink Your Blood And Then We Eat Your Soul, Nothings Gonna Stop Us Let The Bad Times Roll" -------"Past The Point Of No Return, No Backward Glances, Abandon Thought And Let The Dream Begin"

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

#9

My choice for top score

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!

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Ray is the author of the Brad Frame mystery series, and two suspense novels. He is also the author of a one man play based on Ben Franklin. http://www.rayflynt.com

#10

re: My choice for top score

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

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

#11

re: re: My choice for top score

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

Yes- Ragtime is amazing, too.

#12

re: re: re: My choice for top score

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.

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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

#13

re: re: re: re: My choice for top score

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.

#14

re: re: re: re: re: My choice for top score

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

It would be redundant for me to comment.

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"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

#15

re: re: re: re: re: My choice for top score

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)

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------- "We Drink Your Blood And Then We Eat Your Soul, Nothings Gonna Stop Us Let The Bad Times Roll" -------"Past The Point Of No Return, No Backward Glances, Abandon Thought And Let The Dream Begin"

#16

re: re: re: re: re: re: My choice for top score

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

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

#17

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: My choice for top score

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)

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------- "We Drink Your Blood And Then We Eat Your Soul, Nothings Gonna Stop Us Let The Bad Times Roll" -------"Past The Point Of No Return, No Backward Glances, Abandon Thought And Let The Dream Begin"

#18

re: My choice for top score

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

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"Gif me the cobra jool!"

#19

re: re: My choice for top score

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

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

#20

re: re: re: My choice for top score

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.

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"Gif me the cobra jool!"

#21

re: re: re: re: My choice for top score

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

Magruder, two disappointing responses.

Yours for a better Broadway!

#22

re: re: re: re: re: My choice for top score

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!"

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"Gif me the cobra jool!"

#23

re: re: re: re: re: re: My choice for top score

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

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

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PEACE.

#24

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: My choice for top score

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

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

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If Lincoln were alive today, do you think he'd be pleased with his tunnel?

#25

re: re: re: re: My choice for top score

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.

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"Wherever you go... I'll be right there. When you get your own private kick in the ass, just remember: it's a present from me to you." Rose's dying words to Louise