Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

#1

Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

Posted: 3/21/08 at 1:36pm

I've heard Gypsy referred to as "the greatest American musical" numerous times. I'm not saying that it is or it isn't, but I'm just curious why so many people in the theatre biz feel this?

Just curious.

#2

re: Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

Posted: 3/21/08 at 1:38pm

I don't know that I'd be able to come up with THE greatest american musical, but for me, GYPSY would certainly be on the list alongside:

SHOWBOAT
OKLAHOMA!
WEST SIDE STORY
THE MUSIC MAN
THE SOUND OF MUSIC

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#3

re: Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

Posted: 3/21/08 at 1:39pm

Great Book
Amazing Score
Great Dances
Several Great Roles For Actors
Mama Rose
Rose's Turn

Those are the barebones reasons. There are plenty of people who can go more in-depth.

For, it's definitely one of the candidates. I haven't decided what musical I think is the greatest, but Gypsy's way up there.

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With Clay Aiken in Spamalot, all of Broadway is singing a collective "There! Right! There!" -Me-

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#4

re: Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

Posted: 3/21/08 at 1:40pm

No love for the musicals after 1960, Munk?

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PLEASE! Do not post anything negative or dramatic! DidYouReallyHearMe has LOST the ability to ignore such posts and he will comment! Please, help him.


With Clay Aiken in Spamalot, all of Broadway is singing a collective "There! Right! There!" -Me-

"Not Barker, Todd is the only person I've ever known who could imitate Katherine Hepburn...in print." -nmartin-

Updated On: 3/21/08 at 01:40 PM

#5

re: Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

Posted: 3/21/08 at 1:45pm

HAIR might be added to that list.

What else did you have in mind?

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#6

re: Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

Posted: 3/21/08 at 2:13pm

Munk is right that it is ONE of them, but my list of greatest (most perfect?, not just historically important) would also include:

GUYS AND DOLLS
MY FAIR LADY
SWEENEY TODD

#7

re: Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

Posted: 3/21/08 at 2:22pm

I think it's certainly one of the best.

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I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#8

re: Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

Posted: 3/21/08 at 2:30pm

Top 5 or 3, no question.

#9

re: Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

Posted: 3/21/08 at 2:36pm

It certainly belongs in the conversation. I would add A Chorus Line to those already mentioned.

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"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

#10

re: Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

Posted: 3/21/08 at 2:41pm

Well, by greatest american musical, do you mean just the BEST musical written by americans?

Or do you mean the greatest american musical written by Americans that encompasses and explores a variety of American issues, cultures, eras, etc?

But if we're just talking about greatest musicals written by americans, the list would be quite long.

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#11

re: Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

Posted: 3/21/08 at 2:43pm

Well,

CABARET
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
COMPANY
A CHORUS LINE
SWEENEY TODD
RENT
CAROLINE, OR CHANGE

might be a few candidates.

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PLEASE! Do not post anything negative or dramatic! DidYouReallyHearMe has LOST the ability to ignore such posts and he will comment! Please, help him.


With Clay Aiken in Spamalot, all of Broadway is singing a collective "There! Right! There!" -Me-

"Not Barker, Todd is the only person I've ever known who could imitate Katherine Hepburn...in print." -nmartin-

#12

re: Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

Posted: 3/21/08 at 2:45pm

I would say excellence in the form of what is commonly known as the American Musical.

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PLEASE! Do not post anything negative or dramatic! DidYouReallyHearMe has LOST the ability to ignore such posts and he will comment! Please, help him.


With Clay Aiken in Spamalot, all of Broadway is singing a collective "There! Right! There!" -Me-

"Not Barker, Todd is the only person I've ever known who could imitate Katherine Hepburn...in print." -nmartin-

Updated On: 3/21/08 at 02:45 PM

#13

re: Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

Posted: 3/21/08 at 2:50pm

Of the golden age:

Guys and Dolls
Gypsy
Oklahoma
South Pacific

Of the modern age:
Hairspray
The Producers
Sunday in the Park with George
Sweeney Todd

Updated On: 3/21/08 at 02:50 PM

#14

re: Gypsy: Greatest American Musical??

Posted: 3/21/08 at 2:55pm

GYPSY
GUYS AND DOLLS
MY FAIR LADY
COMPANY
OKLAHOMA!
FOLLIES

I think those are the top American Musicals of all time.

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"I mean, sitting side by side with another man watching Patti LuPone play Rose in GYPSY on Broadway is essentially the equivalent of having hardcore sex." -Wanna Be A Foster. "Say 'Goody.' Say 'Bubbi.'" ... "That's it. Exactly as if it were 'Goody.' Now I know you're gonna sing 'Goody' this time, but nevertheless..."

#15

Xanadu: Greatest American Musical

Posted: 3/21/08 at 3:04pm

I think it's obvious that anyone who doesn't say Xanadu is the greatest musical of all time is a bitter queen who doesn't even live in New York.

#16

Xanadu: Greatest American Musical

Posted: 3/21/08 at 3:15pm

You took the words right out of my mouth.

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#17

Xanadu: Greatest American Musical

Posted: 3/21/08 at 3:28pm

What about Legally Blonde? I know some people who have seen it like 8 times! So that means it's a classic, right?

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....but the world goes 'round

#18

Xanadu: Greatest American Musical

Posted: 3/21/08 at 3:33pm

CAROUSEL
SWEENEY TODD
MY FAIR LADY
GYPSY
KISS ME, KATE
COMPANY (for me, anyway)

#19

Xanadu: Greatest American Musical

Posted: 3/21/08 at 3:36pm

CRY-BABY?

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Some people paint, some people sew, I meddle.

#20

Xanadu: Greatest American Musical

Posted: 3/21/08 at 3:41pm

GYPSY
OKLAHOMA
SWEENEY TODD
A CHORUS LINE
SHOW BOAT

#21

Xanadu: Greatest American Musical

Posted: 3/21/08 at 3:41pm

double post

Updated On: 3/21/08 at 03:41 PM

#22

Xanadu: Greatest American Musical

Posted: 3/21/08 at 3:45pm

scuse me, BARF.......no...am not a fan of Gypsy

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It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story... AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956

#23

Xanadu: Greatest American Musical

Posted: 3/21/08 at 4:18pm

well anyone who uses BARF to discribe Gypsy is so intellegent...
NOT

My list includes:

Gypsy
A Chorus Line
Ragtime
Sunday in the Park with George

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"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."

#24

Xanadu: Greatest American Musical

Posted: 3/21/08 at 5:03pm

I'd say Gypsy is arguably the Greatest American Musical.

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"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"

Updated On: 3/21/08 at 05:03 PM

#25

Xanadu: Greatest American Musical

Posted: 3/21/08 at 5:36pm

Yes I agree with everyone, it is one of the best American Musicals of all time.... it could be arguably the best, but who am I to say so?