Broadway's Tragedies

[BlueAmerica07]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 12:26pm

Hey everyone! I was wondering what you would consider some of Broadway's greatest and most recent tragedies would be. Being a musical person, myself the only one I can really think of is Rent possibly (pathetic I know ) Any help is greatly appreciated!

[mozer27]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 12:29pm

Tracy Miller leaving hairspray that was a tragedy

[liotte]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 12:36pm

ASU closing was a tragedy.

[BlueAmerica07]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 12:38pm

lol no no I mean shows that are tragedies, not tragedies in broadway

[peach]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 12:40pm

Les Miz

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 1:06pm

Parade

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 1:07pm

I guess Ragtime could also be considered tragic

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 1:08pm

"ASU closing was a tragedy."

ASU being produced was the real tragedy.

[ashers2u]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 1:10pm

i cannot for the life of me figure out what ASU is...i know its probably so obvious

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 1:10pm

I always sort of thought "tragedy" inferred a tragic ending - I can't really think of many musicals that fit that bill - except for things like MARIE CHRISTINE and WEST SIDE STORY which are based on earlier tragedies of classical literature.

I wouldn't consider RAGTIME or LES MIZ to be tragedies because both end with main characters redeamed.

Hal Prince saw SWEENEY TODD as a tragedy - Sweeney being a victim of British society and class, though I'm not completely sure Sondheim would agree with that interpretation.

Ironically, Terry Hands who directed the legendary flop CARRIE said he saw the musical as a greek tragedy.

Updated On: 2/9/06 at 01:10 PM

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 1:15pm

In my post I meant that Ragtime had tragic elements in it, not necessarily the components of Classic Greek Tragedies (classic tragic Hero, tragic flaw, reversal, downfall, etc), but several sympathetic characters are killed.

Updated On: 2/9/06 at 01:15 PM

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 1:16pm

It could be argued that Molina in Kiss of the Spiderwoman is a tragic hero in the classic sense.

[CJR]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 1:18pm

Bounce was rather tragic

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 1:26pm

In My Life

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 1:28pm

Titanic

[Magdalene]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 1:30pm

What about Miss Saigon? (It's been a while since I've seen it, so my memory is a bit spotty)

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 1:49pm

What is ASU? eta: nevermind, it's "Al Shook Up" doi! :p

I'd say Miss Saigon definitely has tragic elements, though I don't think it falls into the greek definition for "tragedy".


Updated On: 2/9/06 at 01:49 PM

[jv92]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 2:32pm

Absolutely,
Kiss of the Spiderwoman!

[ashley0139]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 2:36pm

ASU is All Shook Up.

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 2:37pm

Ashley, I swear I edited my message before I read your reply. lol But thanks for the response to my dumb question!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 3:22pm

Well, Aida has tragic elements to it, as does Jekyll & Hyde.

[sweeedboy]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 3:30pm

Not yet a broadway production, but Sweden's Kristina Fran Duvemala is an incredible tragedy. Brilliant work!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 3:31pm

"Ironically, Terry Hands who directed the legendary flop CARRIE said he saw the musical as a greek tragedy."

Too bad he didn't communicate that to Debbie Allen.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 3:34pm

MARIE CHRISTINE.

Gotham - it's also a shame that when the Americans said they wanted "GREASE" they British heard "GREECE."

[Creative Lunatic]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 4:28pm

Edward Albee's "The Goat"