If you could bring one show back to Broadway... — Page 4

So many people mentioning Ragtime as if that was from the distant past. I feel so old....

It hit me 2 weeks ago when I saw a very good community theatre group do this show that it will be 10 years ago this coming December that RAGTIME premiered here in Toronto.

I think it was show whose Broadway run was curtailed before its time. That it lost the Tony for Best Musical (after winning Best Book AND Best Score) to a show nowhere near its equal (in terms of writing) just adds insult to injury.

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I know this is not a popular choice, by far, but I'd like to see "I Love My Wife" back on Broadway with a reworked book. The songs are wonderful!

I would vote for SIDE SHOW even though it is a fairly recent show because it definitely closed before its time.

I would also include several classic Lerner & Loewe musicals, like CAMELOT and GIGI, which I've never seen on stage (unless you count high school productions). I know they aren't as popular as MY FAIR LADY, but they are still masterpieces.

is this "bring back" as in a revival of a show or as in the exact same production?

for exactness: "Carousel" (1994) or "Follies" (1971)
for revival: "Dancin'"

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Updated On: 4/3/06 at 11:26 AM

I'd bring back Aida, but on the non-Broadway I'd definitely bring back Mister. That was such a great show, I wish it had run longer.

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PARADE was sabotaged when the failing Livent pulled out its share of the funding. If that money had been in place the show might have lasted until Tony Time and might indeed have woon (it did take best book and best score) but with the reviews being mixed to unfavourable, it wasn't bringing in enough to stay open. Even so, it was a dubious project to pay off but on my Tony Awards listing I would rather list PARADE than FOSSE. (I would also rather list "No Award" rather than the dreadful SUNSET BLVD.)

RAGTIME will be back..it has been in regional stagings already and judging from the reaction of the capacity crowd I saw it with in Mississauga last weekend, it still has the power to involve and move people...and that makes it a success. It was a financial flop, but it is a sucess.

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A Little Night Music

Carrie

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King Steveos

I saw "It's A Bird, It's A Plane..." and believe me, it was not funny. It was supposed to be, but it was a real traain wreck. I was a kid then and although my folks made a point of travelling to NY all the time to see shows, I had not yet fallen in love with musicals (perhaps BECAUSE my folks worked in theater.) But SUPERMAN, wow. The show had been advertised in the back of DC Comics and it was the one show I wanted to see. It just wasn't very good because it was camped up. Like the Batman series, but without the self-knowing humor. Adam West knew he was in a farce ala Charlie's Aunt. Bob Holiday thought he was Superman. The real star of the show was Jack Cassidy, who was wonderful and the sets, which were amazing. At one point, a drop went up and they had an entire page from a comic book onstage, with action happening in about eigth pannels, each with a unique setting inside them. I seem to remember one of the panels had a hanging sign that said "meanwhile..." That was cool, but the obverall effect wasn't anywhere near as funny as they thought it was. I guess it was like when I heard they were making a movie about Doc Savage. I thought "cool" until I saw a picture of Ron Ely, dressed in character and he was wearing a beltwhat had "Doc Davage" logo carved in the buckle. I suddenly realized "they didn't get it." SAme feeling...

PS it's amazing when a forgotten sho can have one huge hit song. Superman's was "You've got possibilities" which I still love because it seems fresh and original fourty years later.

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Andrew Lippa's "The Wild Party", "Urinetown", "Fiddler Revival" (Yeah I wanted to see this one!!! and I would also have to say Over Here! from way back when. Good show.

Tick Tick Boom.

Erm. And All Shook Up.

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no question, Ragtime. Closing that show was ridiculous.

I would also like to see a new production of Liza's THE ACT, but only if she goes back on the pills and liquor.

Here are a few not mentioned:

1) The Mystery of Edwin Drood
2) Barnum
3) Shenandoah
4) Promises, Promises
5) Kiss of the Spiderwoman

I would like to see all 5 of these revived. Of course I also am in agreement with everyone who mentioned Chess, Ragtime, Parade, and The Secret Garden.

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