Favourite Obscure Musical(s)?

[Bal]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 9:22pm

I thought this topic might be really good for those of us wanting to expand our musical theatre horizons...

I'll start the ball rolling:

A Very Merry Unauthorized Childrens' Scientology Pageant. A very succesful off-Broadway show that had kids from (I think) 9-12 in the roles. The cast recording's available on Sh-K-Boom, and it's a lot of fun.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 9:25pm

Doo Wop Dracula - By William Electric Black. Quite possibly the most inspired dancing ever to grace an NYC stage, even if it was off-off.

[Julian2]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 10:25pm

It's A Bird; It's A Plane; It's SUPERMAN

Such a good show. I wish more people did it.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 10:30pm

Does Subways are for Sleeping count as obscure? Because I totally love the score. From what I heard of the original production, most of the problems were with the actors and the book... they should give it another try!

[ally_kay_on_broadway]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 10:42pm

cannibal: the musical

someday i will produce this...its fabulous..if you have the right sense of humour

[TomMonster]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 10:46pm

I Had A Ball.

Still waiting for Encores to do it!

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 9/28/06 at 11:50pm

PRETTYBELLE, arguably the most offensive show ever written -- and as a vehicle for Angela Lansbury, no less...

And I still have a real soft spot for CRY FOR US ALL, written by the guys who did MAN OF LA MANCHA. Very powerful score.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 12:10am

I suppose Anyone Can Whistle being a Sondheim show doesn't count...
So I'll have to say Nick & Nora.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 12:16am

I would love to have been able to see "Got Tu Go Disco."

[misto625]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 2:35am

I like My Favorite Year a lot.

[achancetofly]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 4:48am

I've recently been totally addicted to Bright Lights, Big City.


Ooh, and Ruthless! The Musical...man I cannot get enough of it.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who has massive love for this wonderful Gypsy parody...

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 6:53am

Sherry (never had a OBC recording - but the Nathan Lane, Carol Burnett, Phyllis Newman, Bernadette Peters recording is pretty damn good)

Minnie's Boys

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 7:45am

how do u define "Obscure"? a few that come to mind that might qualify:

THE FIX
DARLING OF THE DAY (more old than obscure)
VIOLET (becoming less obscure)

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 11:14am

CANNIBAL actually is a cute little movie musical - the love song the hero sings to his horse is... well, right up there with any musical number from SOUTH PARK. There's been talk off and on about an off-Broadway production, but who knows.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 11:22am

It wasn't a musical, but hopefully it will someday:


Tenessee Williams's The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore

If you haven't seen the film Boom! (based on the play) do it!!

[philcrosby]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 11:40am

Two by Alan Menken:

WEIRD ROMANCE
GOD BLESS YOU MR ROSEWATER

At least we have a cast album of the first one.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 12:25pm

WEIRD ROMANCE reminded me of one I havent thought of in some time, THE LAST SWEET DAYS OF ISSAC. The cast album is a gem of 60s Broadway-psychedelic-rock.

[Joanie]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 2:09pm

Goblin Market is a lovely little play for a cast of two women. It is adapted from the poem by Christina Rossetti with Music by Polly Pen

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 2:14pm

I've never seen MINNIE'S BOYS, but I like the score.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 2:23pm

I saw Rosewater. It was ok...

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 2:41pm

I love me some SEESAW...

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 2:44pm

Minnie's Boys was one of those shows that had major potential but unfortunately was poorly executed. The score is terrific and watching Shelley Winters was definitely a night to remember. With a rewrite of the book, the show could possibly have a successful "limited run" revivial - "Mama A Rainbow" is a beautiful song and I never tire of the OBC recording.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 3:02pm

Being that CO is Alferd Packer country, the name is inescapable here. We have a dining hall named for him at CU, and I thnk he has a museum dedicated to him somewhere. I live just a few minutes away from where he's buried. And yes, I've been to see it. I'm that much of a nerd.
The storyline about his horse, Liane, refers to the fact that Trey's fiancee, Liane, cheated on him shortly before he made the movie, and naming a slutty horse after her was his way of getting back at her.
I know, I know way too much about the movie... :P

[jv92]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 3:24pm

The Happy Time- an absoulutely beautiful Kander and Ebb score that ranks with Chicago and is even better than Cabaret and Kiss of the Spider Woman.

Golden Boy- Thrilling. Just thrilling. Strouse's most exiting work and Adam's most sardonic lyrics. I honestly like it better than Fiddler on the Roof. And yes I've read the book of Golden Boy.

Allegro- The concept and book outshine the score at times, but with gems such as "The Gentleman is a Dope", "Come Home", the title song and some others, it's an underappreciated masterpiece that really changed musical theater.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 9/29/06 at 3:51pm

Feeling Electric (i suppose its obscure or at least not widely known)