Could The Birdcage Be Successful as a Musical ?- Page 2

[LittleEdieFan]

Posted: 1/18/14 at 11:13pm

This thread puts a smile on my face.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 1/18/14 at 11:26pm

Exactly!!

[Wynbish]

Posted: 1/18/14 at 11:27pm

This thread puts a palm on my face

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/18/14 at 11:31pm

Ignore the fun others are having.

Go buy the documentary BROADWAY: THE AMERICAN MUSICAL on DVD. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is discussed at length on it. It might still be on PBS and/or Netflix for free viewing.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/18/14 at 11:48pm

So people aren't allowed to have fun with this? Poppycock. He had his question answered, and pretty early on.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 1/18/14 at 11:51pm

How come people never ask how something would be as a play? Must everything be stuffed and saturated with songs that, mostly, will feel unnecessary, especially since we already know the plot so the musical rumblings will not advance said plot?

Would Gravity work as a musical?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/18/14 at 11:52pm

Carol Channing's triumphant return to the stage - GRAVITY! THE MUSICAL

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 12:00am

[tazber]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 1:03am

GRAVITY - THE MUSICAL

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 1:14am

"La Cage Aux Folles isn't on anyone's list of Top Ten Musicals that everyone should be familiar with."

I've never created a list, but this would definitely be on it. Top ten may be a stretch, though...

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 1:15am

L. O. L.

[bobs3]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 3:23am

I think a musical comedy about Mormon missionaries would a be a good idea. But I could be wrong, would anyone really pay to see it?

Or another idea -- what if a composer and librettist were to take the character of the Wicked Witch of the East from THE WIZARD OF OZ and build a musical around her back story? I know, you don't have to tell me, it is a stupid idea.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 4:30am

I like henrikegerman. He/ she seems to be a considerate person (not just in this thread). That's not to say I don't enjoy the zingers as much as anyone, too.

OK, since a top ten list of musicals people probably ought to be aware of/ know exist, that has sent me thinking:
not in rank order
Grease
Phantom
Les Mis
The Sound of Music
Fame
Hairspray
The Wizard of Oz
Mamma Mia
Annie
Chicago

But then there is the much trickier list of musicals people should get to know if they want a broad knowledge of musical theatre, which is different:

Oklahoma! - to discover R&H
Sweeney Todd - Sondheim
Chicago- Fosse's original staging/ Kander & Ebb
A Chorus Line- for Michael Bennett & the insight into the life of Broadway gypses
West Side Story- Jerome Robbins and youth culture represented onstage
Phantom (or Les Mis)- the Brits of the 1980s
Hello Dolly- a Jerry Herman masterpiece
Hair- enter the rock musical
The Lion King- puppetry and the influence of Disney on Broadway/ the growth of the "family" musical
Mamma Mia!- to get a taste of the dominant jukebox form

I'm not suggesting these are the best ten musicals, just a representation of the genre's diversity. It certainly is not meant to ignore the importance and classic status of Gypsy, Cabaret, My fair Lady, Rent, Wicked, Candide, Follies, Dreamgirls, Fiddler, She Loves Me, The Producers, Evita or Guys & Dolls etc etc.

Nobody who is truly interested in the form could confine themselves to knowledge of just ten shows, after all.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 8:51am

The thing about La Cage is that none of the songs crossed over into popular culture so it's not that well known. Once in awhile you'll hear "These Are The Best Of Times" but not enough to really remember it. Everybody knows "We Need A Little Christmas". And most people are familiar with at least one "Hello Dolly" song from the movie. But La Cage belongs with Mack & Mabel and Dear World as a lesser known Herman musical.

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 9:33am

devonian.t, what do we mean by "top ten musicals?" If we mean the best musicals, then, imo. only one of your choices might be considered, and that's CHICAGO. The other nine that you list aren't particularly good, just extremely popular. Certainly, GYPSY, COMPANY and FORUM belong on that list, imo.

[hak5]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 9:42am

gothampc: I AM WHAT I AM was a a huge disco hit

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 10:03am

I've been spending hours upon hours meeting up with my actor and dancer friends we have all been discussing our life experiences, fears, expectations, triumphs and disappointments in the world of show business and of course the theater. I've been recording these meetings as I feel it may make a good book or even a play, but the more I think about it I may just turn it into a musical. Just a thought.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 11:24am

Thanks, Devonian. I appreciate that. I also have nothing against the zingers, I enjoyed them. And, to gleek's credit, once the message received he/she seemed to be ok with them.

I think what happened here is that many people - myself included - didn't know if gleek was being sincere or droll. And, as I said before, the temptation to zing was irresistible to many, quite understandably.

and, by the way, I'm male.



Updated On: 1/19/14 at 11:24 AM

[gleek4114]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 12:00pm

^ this is true. And while not wholly offndending my not having knowledge I would like to say a few things to my defense.

1. Musical Theatre is my life
2. I was born in 1997
3. While I know some early musicals (1930 - 1985) I am a lot more versed in musicals from 1985 - Now
4. May I have at least a shread of respect for even knowing what "The Birdcage" was (Not the basis but by popular opinion the inforor American version)? I bet if you asked the adverage 16 year old from Pewee Valley, KY they would have no clue.

And most of you are correct. After my (I admit it now) stupid question I did kind of enjoy the zingers. A few things I learned:

1. Google before you post
2. I should listen to La Cage
3. Never underestimate the wit of fellow posters

And for those who might want to know I am male.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 12:01pm

"gothampc: I AM WHAT I AM was a a huge disco hit"

Maybe in gay bars. I don't remember it being played in straight venues.

[justoldbill]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 12:08pm

I know it's a stretch, but how about a musical about the Shroud of Turin?

[devonian.t]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 12:21pm

jayinchelsea, what I said was:
a top ten list of musicals people probably ought to be aware of/ know exist

- that is, the ten most famous musicals- the ones even non-musical fans will be aware of. Certainly not the ten best!

Even the second list was not the ten best, but ten which represented key moments in the evolution of the musical.

I think it's impossible to choose the ten best; far too subjective a list. Plus my own list changes by the hour.

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 2:45pm

"gothampc: I AM WHAT I AM was a a huge disco hit"

"Maybe in gay bars. I don't remember it being played in straight venues."

Actually, I grew up listening to Gloria Gaynor's version of I Am What I Am on repeat as a kid (back when "on repeat" meant picking up the needle of the phonograph when it got to the end of the vinyl record and placing it back at the beginning again while the turntable was still spinning. Neither of my parents nor I were/are gay, yet the song just resonated very strongly with us - my mom bought the record and I used to listen to it more than any other record in my parents' collection. I found out that it was from the musical maybe 15 or 20 years later, and finally saw the musical for the first time during the 2011 revival's tour, but grew up loving the song for decades before that.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 3:12pm

Gleek -- that didn't really help your argument. There have been THREE b'way productions all within your own guidelines. (see link below) The most recent revival closing only 3 years ago.

Is it the end of the world that you don't know every musical? Of course not, but this isn't some obscure flop that barely got noticed.

That being said, thank you for taking the comments as good naturedly as you did. As my first post implied....I really didn't know if you were joking or not.
Listing of La Cage B'way Productions

[darreyl102]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 6:24pm

Making fun of someone’s mistake is not okay. It was a perfectly honest mistake to make as not everyone knows about La Cage or its plot. I accidently ended up doing it in another person’s thread. It wasen’t until Gleek4114 commented on it- And for that, I apologize.