Broadway's Top Score is?- Page 3

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 12:02pm

Papa, as much as you may like VIOLET, it has never been on Broadway. YET! I myself have never heard this score, but I hear it is beautiful.

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 12:33pm

Wow this is insanely hard...there are so many to pick from...but I think I'd have to go with 'Gypsy' for classic and...wow I can't decide on a modern score

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 12:34pm

Yeah, it was off-Broadway but, to me, that's semantics.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 12:45pm

More importantly...who's Broadway's best top?

[Victoria Grant]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 12:52pm

This is a really hard thread

I would have to say classic would be Carousel
and Modern would be City of Angels.

Posted: 7/29/03 at 12:57pm

Erik, I can't control what you post. That being the fact may I please ask however that you reconsider posting inappropriate questions or comments in this thread. There's a time and a place for everything. Your last posting is inappropriate for this thread.

Thanks for being considerate. BB

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 4:29pm

GYPSY

[Peter]

Posted: 7/30/03 at 2:23am

Well Scooter38432, just as Phantom05 "solidified your opinion", you have solidified mine.

You say things like "I'm sure I can guarantee that ALW will be nowhere on my "favorites" list of the future." Who's to say that his next musical isn't a masterpiece by anyone's standards? Do you have some sort of crystal ball? Some might call this an awfully snobbish attitude.

Another thing you say is "I'm not sure you realize how dismissed PHANTOM is in many showbiz circles." Could you please explain to me why Phantom05 should care that this OH SO IN-CROWD doesn't like Phantom? Are you really saying that to be part of the hip sophisticated OLDER theatre elite, you certainly can't say things like Les Mis or Phantom are one of the best scores? He in fact will eventually LEARN not to like them..if he is to become sophisticated and educated that is?

It's true that ALW, Boubil and Shonberg or even Wildhorn have played a big part in introducing a younger audience to broadway. Some of these new fans will return to broadway to see other shows and branch out with composers like Sondheim, etc. And of course when they do and come to appreciate the greats, they will then realize what hogwash that earlier stuff was. BALONEY!

Ever hear of never getting over a first love? Or just being able to enjoy different composers for different reasons? Theatre is such a personal thing and to me, NOONE should chastise someone for liking something passionately....IMO, theatre is ALL about passion.

Now before you say I'm young and will learn too...I'm in my mid 40's and the first broadway musical I saw was SWEENEY TODD(seen many, many since then). I can clearly recall quite a few people leaving the theatre in this preview performance..it wasn't until the critics told the "in-crowd" that they should like it that it started to become popular. For me, it was ALW who really hooked me and I'm not afraid to admit that I STILL like his music. I did come to also enjoy Sondheim's music, but I also like quite a bit of Wildhorn too.

I've believed for quite a while that some people are unduly influenced by other people's opinions in regard to theatre. It seems that you can' be part of the theatre elite unless you intensely dislike certain composers. Critics play a big role here in molding its audience. Maybe its just me, but for all the experience and sophistication that age brings, it also brings a good amount of closemindedness which IMO, could be a dangerous thing for broadway's future.

[musicals4ever]

Posted: 7/30/03 at 11:30am

okay, i just sat down and read every single response to this thread...some very interesting opinions, many of which i respect but just don't agree with at all.

first off, i would like to establish my definition of a good score as compared to a few good songs. a good score serves as one single unit. it tells the story of a group of characters and the action they go through the same way words would, but through music. a score should help a show, not hinder it. there are many musicals that i think would be better off as plays. most importantly, after listening to a good score you should know each of the characters on a more personal level than any play would allow.

PHANTOM, i'm sorry, is the worst score i had ever heard. it is literally 3 songs that have no heart nor character.
LES MIS, yes it is solid, but in my opinion it is also very boring. to me, a good score is one i will listen to in entirety in one sitting.
RAGTIME i will give you guys. it is an amazing score, with some amazing performances from the obc. my only qualm is that there are obvious weak points. i feel that L&F have written more solid scores.

i could go through an explain my problems with almost all of the musicals posted, but now i will move on to my opinions.

SWEENY...need i say more.
PARADE...hands down. JRB's masterpiece. he really can write songs for the character.
CANDIDE...i realize few know this show, but bernstein's greatest score. simply beautiful.

if i could add some off-broadway stuff...
JOHN & JEN...the best two-person show EVER, and up there in most amazing scores. my personal favorite.
Lippa's WILD PARTY...seriously. such an amazing score, wish it would have done better.
NEW BRAIN...wow. the most personal score ever written.


i could go on forever, but i have decided to stop. my top 6 scores. enjoy!

[sondheimfreak]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 1:53pm

I'll have to say "Ragtime" and "Sweeney". I know I can't pick two, but I did. The score for Ragtime is perfect. I love Ahrens' lyrics. As for Sweeney, it has such depth. You never see the end coming. I've said this before: Who knew the beggar was Lucy the first time you saw it? And just look at my name: I love Steve.

As for those of you who think Gypsy is great:

Don't kill me for what I'm about to say. I hate Gypsy. Sorry...but I do. I hate Ethel Merman and I hate Gypsy. It's more about Merman and her association with the piece, than about the piece itself. It's Sondheim, so I can't hate it completely, but I think Ethel has an annoying voice. I do like "You've Got to Get A Gimmick" though and "Rose's Turn" and I can't wait to hear how much better Bernadette is than old stinking Ethel.

[Melissa]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 2:51pm

I add my vote for Les Miserables. It is the only score that moves me to tears again and again.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 3:42pm

I'll have to go with a few:

Les Miserables
Sweeney Todd
Parade
Jekyll & Hyde Updated On: 8/14/03 at 03:42 PM

[PJ]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 3:44pm

Gypsy...by far.

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 3:47pm

Are we supposed to be picking a modern and a classic show? If not, then like I said before, GYPSY is my top one, but if it's both, I'll have to get back to ya on a modern one.

Posted: 8/15/03 at 12:26pm

RAGTIME, RAGTIME, RAGTIME....


(oh and for kicks and giggles...CARRIE)

[GottaGimmick]

Posted: 8/15/03 at 12:36pm

For me it's between:
GYPSY
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA