Hey everyone! I'm so glad to be part of the community :). Anyway, one of my friends is slightly interested in musical theatre, so for her birthday, I was going to get her a cast album. The only problem is that I can't decide wich CDs would be best for someone who's new to musical theatre. Can you please help me by suggesting some?
"I would dance in the moon; pale as a fading star that quickly falls from veiw-" Lucy, Dracul
A Chorus Line, Aida, Cabaret, Hairspray, Avenue Q, Dreamgirls, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Wicked, Rent, Evita, or Urinetown. Just a few... But, I could go on listing stuff for hours. Crap, I forgot Taboo...
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
When I was first getting into musical theater, the OBCs of Rent, Wicked, Avenue Q, and Les Miserables were the first CDs I got, but I think it kind of depends on the person. All the CDs that were mentioned by Chrysanthemum are great starters. I personally would go with Rent, Wicked, Avenue Q, Les Miserables, or maybe something that they're familiar with, like if they've seen the Phantom of the Opera movie you could get them the POTO OBC. It really depends. I would pick Rent, but this is coming from a big renthead.
The music ignites the night with passion and fire.
The narration crackles and pops with incendiary wit.- Rent
My name is Miranda, and I have a Godspell problem.
I would personally think Les Miz or Phantom. Classics. Or maybe something really fun that you can dance to... like Hairspray. Not a classic but very fun and reminiscent of what much of the music is like in theatre right now.
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
And for someone that has only a slight interest in musical theatre isn't going to be sucked in by PHANTOM, AVENUE Q (terrible music), GODSPELL, or a number of the other shows mentioned above. For someone barely interested in theatre, you need something like HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, RENT, WICKED, THE LAST 5 YEARS, TICK TICK BOOM, etc. to spark their interest, in my opnion.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."-Charlie Manson
I'm also saying RENT. It's what got me obsessed with theatre, and I know a bunch of people who had RENT as their first recording, and it made them explore recordings more.
well, drugs really... you can click my siggy to see the trialer for the new movie, the soundtrack will be out soon, but I suggest the original L.A. cast recording instead.
Updated On: 2/14/05 at 10:00 PM
avenue q or hairspray are the starters. rent is not for beginners (maybe the highlights version, but i still think no). those two are what people will find appealing and then they will delve deeper in collections
OK this is coming from a HUGE RENThead but I'd have to go with RENT. I disagree that it's not for beginners. On the contrary, it's pretty much what got me started with loving musical theatre. I think anyone (Even a non-broadway fan) can find deep connections and appeal in RENT. Wicked might also be a good choice. I say this because those are the two recordings that pretty much got me hooked for good.
I wanted to get something that an "ex"-junkie like him would really appreciate and cherish....it's a brick of heroin shaped like a heart.
-Scrubs
Hey, I'm new to the board and to the whole website, but I can't get enough of it. Very addicted... i'm a theater major in college, but just recently getting into musical theater hardcore. The first show that i saw and fell in love with was Rent. Just loved it - hands down the best musical ever made - in my opinion. My Top 5 Cds: Rent Tick, tick...boom Bare [even though i haven't really seen the show or heard the entire show] Little Shop of Horrors - Hunter Foster rocks The Full Monty
Runner-ups: The Last 5 Years, Taboo, Songs for a New World...
If he/she is not that into the musical theatre genre-I'm gonna go with RENT. Trust me, that is the only musical I have ever heard people who self-proclaimedly don't like musicals listen to. Plus, people won't think it's like a weird cd to own.
If they have expressed interest in musical theatre-then what everyone else said. Who really knows though people have such different tastes?
"I guess she is one very confident girl who feels if you see it, it shall be.
I hope she sees a room with a piano player and a bunch of scary middle-aged queens sitting behind a table, talking to each other as she auditions!!"
-Marc Shaiman on Kelly Osbourne in Hairspray
I agree, my friend who hates musical theatre is a RENT obsessive/compulsive extrordinaire. Maybe its because I'm one as well, but I think its pretty hard for someone to not like RENT a little bit or more.
I wanted to get something that an "ex"-junkie like him would really appreciate and cherish....it's a brick of heroin shaped like a heart.
-Scrubs
Wicked or Rent. I'm gonna go with Wicked though. It is what got some friends of mine into musical theatre... If they are totally new to musical theatre I'd go with Rent, it is more mainstream sounding.
I most definitely have issues with my word choices on this board.
I dont know if I'd call the sound of RENT mainstream...but that's just me. All in all, LSoH, RENT and Wicked for your friend. Those will, without a doubt, get them hooked on musical theatre for life.
I wanted to get something that an "ex"-junkie like him would really appreciate and cherish....it's a brick of heroin shaped like a heart.
-Scrubs