Jerry Herman's Best Score
#0Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 8/21/05 at 1:05am
I'm torn between Mack and Mabel and Dear World.
What is your favorite Jerry Herman score?
timote316
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/04
#1re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 8/21/05 at 1:09amI can't say I've heard many of his scores, but Mack and Mabel is great.
lvpblues
Broadway Star Joined: 2/18/04
#2re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 8/21/05 at 1:12amAs much as I like "Mack and Mabel", I think his best is "Mame"
#3re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 8/21/05 at 1:28amI'm giving my vote to La Cage aux Folles. There isn't a song on that score I don't love. Mame is great too, but I've never liked St.Bridget or We Need a Little Christmas. However, I'm not a very informed voter, I admit I haven't heard Mack and Mabel.
#5re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 8/21/05 at 3:00amI vote for 'Dear World' although I like 'Hello, Dolly!' a lot
#6re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 8/21/05 at 10:34amMack & Mabel - not nominated for a Tony
#7re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 8/21/05 at 12:54pmHELLO, DOLLY!
MusicalDirector109
Leading Actor Joined: 5/16/03
#8re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 8/21/05 at 12:57pmI love "Mack and Mabel" because its not "typical" Herman. In second place; a tie between "Mame" and 'La Cage"
#9re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 8/21/05 at 1:27pmLa Cage is the only score of his I can even remotely stand to listen to - and even that isn't THAT great a score to me. Still, Song on the Sand helps make up for a lot of weaknesses
#10re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 8/21/05 at 1:59pmI may be a little unfair in saying La Cage b/c other than Hello Dolly, it's the only full score I know, but I do really love it, and "I Am What I Am" and the message within is one of my absolute favorite songs of all time.
grizzabella
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/05
#11re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 8/21/05 at 2:14pmI have to admit I'm not terribly familiar with Mack & Mabel, but I have to throw my vote in with La Cage Aux Folles. I love this score, even Masculinity, which makes me laugh every time I hear it. And I think the little counterpoint song Herman added to "Ann On My Arm" in the revival was clever. I'm also crazy about "Look Over There" and "I Am What I Am," both powerful messages. I just find the whole score consistently strong.
#12re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 8/21/05 at 2:52pmAlthough La Cage is my favorite show, I would say his best score is "Mame." Every song is a gem.
#13re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:06pmDear World..."The Tea Party" is absolutely brilliant!
#14re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:38pmI like all of his scores. Don't think I can pick a favorite. Well, perhaps MAME.
#15re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 3/20/08 at 7:44pm
Thought I'd resurrect this thread.
I don't think I can choose, but if I had to, I'd say a tie between Mack and Mabel, Mame, and Dear World.
#16re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 3/20/08 at 7:53pmIt's like asking me to choose between my children!
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-
#18re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 3/20/08 at 9:23pmNo love for Grand Tour?
#19re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 3/20/08 at 9:40pm
"No love for Grand Tour?"
That's what I was thinking.
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-
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#20re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 3/20/08 at 9:42pm
Mame. Followed closely by La Cage.
Grand Tour is ok, Joel Grey made that show though.
#21re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 3/20/08 at 10:52pm
I love all of Jerry Herman's scores. What can I say? I just do.
That said, I think "Mack and Mabel" is probably his best. My favorite, though, is "La Cage aux Folles."
#22re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 3/20/08 at 11:16pmNext to Richard Rodgers, Jerry Herman wrote the best scores of anyone. I love them all, but if I had to chose just one, it would be Mame.
#23re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 3/21/08 at 6:03am
Mack and Mabel first and then The Grand Tour.
I think La Cage and Dolly each have a handful of good songs but are way below the standards of the above two. Song on the Sand is so banal it could have been written by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Mame and Dear World are almost as good as The Grand Tour and I would agree that The Tea Party (from Dear World) is brilliant.
#24re: Jerry Herman's Best Score
Posted: 3/21/08 at 7:13am
"I Am What I Am" is the only song from LA CAGE that I can stand, I dislike all the other songs from that show, ugh.
My favorite Jerry Herman score is MACK & MABEL, I can't get enough of it, but his best is HELLO, DOLLY! MACK & MABEL starts incredibly strong, but after "Wherever He Ain't" there isn't a good song until "Time Heals Everything." I still can't believe he didn't write a decent duet for the couple. HELLO, DOLLY! is strong from start to finish.
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