Dear Whizzer -- Ranking this Year's Upcoming Musicals- Page 2

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/1/19 at 4:40pm

Yes, I would rank them

1. Hadestown
2. Tootsie
3. The Prom

If I could make the rules, these are the only three shows I would nominate for Best Musical. I don’t think any of the others are worthy of nomination. If I kept ranking down:

4. The Cher Show
5. Ain’t Too Proud
6. Head Over Heels
7. Beetlejuice
8. Pretty Woman
9. Be More Chill
10. King Kong
11. Gettin’ the Band Back Together

I would insert Kiss Me, Kate in the HOH area and Oklahoma!, well that one kind of defies ranking. Though I had some pretty big issues with it, the craft and actors make it something everyone should see and decide for themselves.

If people are coming to NY for a trip and only have time for four musicals, I would suggest Hadestown, Tootsie, Prom and Oklahoma. If they can add in plays/swap out for plays, then What the Constitution Means to Me and would be top contenders; Choir Boy was my favorite show of the year though, play or musical, and Jeremy Pope gave EASILY my favorite performance. (I’m excited to see Ink, as I heard good things.)

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 4/1/19 at 5:34pm

I predict Hadestown will have a similar trajectory. A small, yet fervent group of followers who see the show 3x a week -- but little interest from the average theatregoer and no interest from the tourist market."

None of that is true given the interest across all kinds of theater goers. Sales are strong. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/1/19 at 5:45pm

WhizzerMarvin said: "If they can add in plays/swap out for plays, then What the Constitution Means to Me and would be top contenders"

And what?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/1/19 at 6:08pm

Oh sorry, I meant to write and The Ferryman.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 4/1/19 at 6:26pm

EllieRose2 said: "I predict Hadestown will have a similar trajectory. A small, yet fervent group of followers who see the show 3x a week -- but little interest from the average theatregoer and no interest from the tourist market."

None of that is true given the interest across all kinds of theater goers. Sales are strong."

 

And you are basing these assumptions on...???

[Rainah]

Posted: 4/2/19 at 9:37am

YvanEhtNioj said: "I second this. Comet was cool..but during a lot of itI had no idea what was going on. This show actually has a story thats pretty easy to follow and can cross-over between theatrical stans and just a casual theatre-goer like Hamilton does."

Exactly. Comet was glorious and boundary breaking and a triumph in so many ways... But it was weird. Very weird. It broke so many boundaries that it left audiences floundering. Hadestown has a much easier to follow story, less stuff thrown at the wall to see what sticks, and less genre defying in general, while still keeping a lot of what made comet great - actors with unique abilities/voices, allegory, rich and creative staging, playing to all parts of the theatre, brilliant lighting design...

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 1:56pm

Whizzer, whenever one of my pieces premieres in Manhattan, you're getting comped. A good review from you on here and the rest will take care of itself!!!

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 11:25pm

Rainah said: "Comet was glorious and boundary breaking and a triumph in so many ways... But it was weird. Very weird. It broke so many boundaries that it left audiences floundering."

By design, though.