I sure miss Michael Bennett.
Hi Morosco, :)
So I can answer your question, what do you mean by 'innonative musical'?
Hmmmmm.....something that breaks the boundries of what's expected and something that advances the CRAFT of the musical.
Dreamgirls was probably the last great show that was pretty innovative in all departments, but I'd give some points to Sunday in the Park with George, City of Angels, Grand Hotel and Bring in 'Da Noise for pulling off some pretty startling things of their own.
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE came after DREAMGIRLS
EDIT:Posted before I saw Magruder's post
I know. All the shows I mentioned came after Dreamgirls.
I thought KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN broke a lot of new ground in its integration of movies into a stage musical.
Mary_Ethel,
Good point. SPIDER WOMAN was amazing!
Hey Morosco, :)
Did you see Chita Rivera in show?
Broadway Star Joined: 5/22/03
juile taymor broke new grounds with the lion king!!!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
AVENUE Q is different, too, in the way it connects with the audience ( the book and the staging).
I like Avenue Q, but I don't think it's a particularly innovative show. How do you mean, Jo?
I'm probably one of Avenue Q's biggest fans
but I can honestly say that nothing has yet to compare to Dreamgirls
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
I'd agree that DREAMGIRLS was the last innovative musical until CAROLINE OR CHANGE.
Before DREAMGIRLS was A CHORUS LINE and to a slightly lesser degree CHICAGO.
These shows are innovative, in my opinion, because of the way book, music, lyrics, staging and performances are integrated to created a seamless whole.
It takes vision to be innovative.
Bennett and Wolff are stage visionaries, ditto Fosse.
Hi Jose' :),
I agree with you about CHICAGO. Show is subtitled "A Musical Vaudeville" because charactrs all express themselves via vaudeville "tunrs."
For example, "Funny Honey" is introduced as Roxie's Opening Number by announcer. Court scene is played as a circus routine.
Unfortunately, film couldn't quite capture the same essence.
I saw the original CHICAGO twice--one with Gwen Verdon and one with Liza Minnelli. Both were mesmerizing for different reasons.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
Caroline, or Change
Urinetown
SITPWG
I'd even go so far as to say Rent did something innovative...combining Brechtian staging with rock music and vocals.
While not completely innovative, Passion was the first musical in a long time to be irony-free and have no applause breaks.
URINETOWN, much as I love it, was very much like any Brecht Musical- just of our period.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
I thought Ragtime was innovative.
It brought a huge cast and a moving score and amazing scenery into one big bad ass broadway show that is amazing.
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