A show, any show ,closing is not a tragedy . Unfortunate yes but tragedy no
Tragedy is a plane crash or someone killed by a drunken driver or a child being beaten to death by her parents
the ending of the first act of "john and jen" is sooo tragic. i cry every time i listen to the recording.
Assassins was rather tragic.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/05
"Lestat"
I would consider Aida a tragedy. And though it's funny, Urinetown is somewhat of a tragedy.
"I'd say Miss Saigon definitely has tragic elements, though I don't think it falls into the greek definition for "tragedy". "
It's obviously tragic, *SPOILER* Kim's death even happens offstage...totally Greek.
I think most of the musicals mentioned here are not tragedies.
To begin with, you say you only know of RENT (which obviously has an uplifting ending, and refused its tragedy).
When "Broadway Tragedies" was posted and RENT was mentioned, I thought you meant the passing away of its author.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/27/05
"the ending of the first act of "john and jen" is sooo tragic. i cry every time i listen to the recording."
Nah, that's not tragedy, just poorly written soap opera.
Allison McKenzie
Peyton Place, New Hampshire
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/27/05
"the ending of the first act of "john and jen" is sooo tragic. i cry every time i listen to the recording."
Nah, that's not tragedy, just poorly written soap opera.
Allison MacKenzie
Peyton Place, New Hampshire
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/05
coughIdinasfallwasatradedycough
Assassins was very depressing and downbeat
West Side Story?
The hero goes to the Rumble to prevent the very thing he ultimately causes..his best friends death. This leads to his untimely death. I realise R+J is not regarded as a great Shakespearean tragedy but definitions change in my book.
I have never seen it but the Alan Jay Lerner "Lolita" certainly provides a tragic central character. Oh and Sweeney Todd is def a tragedy! He kills someone very close to him without realising it through his need for revenge.
I can see why some people have mentioned Ragtime but I dont think it fits. Oh and Bat Boy if viewed from meredith's eyes is certainly one if it were not so much of darn good black comedy!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Broadway's greatest tragedy was the birth of Frank Wildhorn.
Or Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Floyd Collins is a tragedy, he gets hoist by his own petard and foolish cave spelunkin' ways.
ASU, Lestat, Cats running for as long as it did, TOO LONG.
I would consider Wicked a semi-tragedy because pretty mch Elphaba does live a tragic life, things don't ever work out for her, at least throughout the show. Then again, there are redeeming numbers like Popular that kind of perk things up.
West Side Story: Well, Romeo and Juliet misses the classical definition of tragedy in a few ways- too much coincidence and bad timing, mostly (and Friar Lawrence is a nitwit). I think WSS solves some of these weaknesses by the major changes at the end. I've never thought about whether it brings it closer to a classical tragedy, though- it's an interesting question.
hm...what about Sweet Smell of Success? Pretty tragic in my mind...and in more ways than one...
Featured Actor Joined: 12/31/69
Broadway Star Joined: 10/20/04
Dracula closing was possibly one of the worst days of my life.
Swing Joined: 2/8/06
It's an oldie, but "Starlight Express" was one of the worst things I've ever seen.
Roninjoey has a point here with "Floyd Collins" - Other than the fact that I am clausterphobic - try watching that and having a panic at the same time!
Dollypop is also absolutely correct about that awful FW as well.
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