If you could go back in time and see only one Broadway show, what would it be? — Page 4

What an intense question! to narrow it down to twenty five is difficult. But I'll choose three-two of them based on my father's account. The original production of Carousel, with its eternally majestic score, and the original Death of a Salesman with Lee J Cobb. My personal choice would be the 1927 Show Boat, even though Robeson wasn't in it. And just think-time travel would enable me to see all three for about $20.00!!

I'm treating the question as if I'm going to a new production that I know nothing about -- and become overwhelmed watching it. I think number one would be West Side Story. Second would be Oklahoma.

Jay G 2:

One of those 25 didn't happen to be "Home Sweet Homer", did it?

The one I pride myself most on not missing!

Grey Gardens

Show Boat. 1927. The dawn of a new American art form. A match for the European Grand Opera. Based on a popular novel with racial themes. Integrated cast. The first performance of a glorious score by Kern and Hammerstein. The first thrilling performance of the Anthem Ol' Man River.

Then the aftermath. The rave reviews. The long lines of people waiting to purchase tickets. The discussions afterwards. This show certainly influenced many with its depiction of race relations in the South.

It's always been a regret of mine that Bernstein did not compose a couple of more musicals. I wonder if he knew that he would be remembered more for West Side Story than for his legion of other great accomplishments?

No one else could have used his skills as a composer and orchestrater of complex classical music and created a score so exciting and unique whether whether heard on a cast album or in classical form as the Symphonic Dances.

But then he would have had trouble topping his own West Side Story.

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Can I cheat and say original West End production of Starlight Express?

Early in the run! Late in the run, the cast just stopped trying.

My choice would be the first Broadway performance of Oklahoma, not only to see the production, but to experience the reaction from the audience.

I would gave said Sunset Blvd. with Glenn Close...but my dream came true...so I will say Kiss of the Spider Woman with Vanessa Williams.

I'm honestly suprised that only one or two people said Ragtime. With that being said I would choose Ragtime.

Melissa25 said: "I'd jump on my magic carpet and fly back to September 26, 1957 for the opening of "the bold new kind of musical theater" West Side Story.

Take a look at this review from the Daily News. What I really enjoyed while reading this is that they included a snapshot of the page from the 1957 newspaper itself. If you scan to the right of the review you can see the listing of the other stage plays running at that time. Wow...would I have loved to have a binge weekend then to take in Auntie Mame, Bells are Ringing, Carousel, My Fair Lady to name a few.

NY Daily News -1957



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Thanks for posting that link. Wow, I would like to see that production of My Fair Lady with Rex harrison and Julie Andrews.

It's a tie between:

Chess - Original London

My Fair Lady - Original Broadway (if only to see Julie Andrews live in her prime)

For those that said Ragtime - I must say that I was fortunate to see the original cast, and it was far and away the most transcendent theater experience I've ever had.