Lesser-known Musicals You Wish Others Knew About

[CardboardMoon]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 8:40am

I thought it'd be nice to create a thread that just gushes about lesser-known shows I positively adore. These deserve FAR more credit, imo. 

FUGITIVE SONGS - Miller and Tysen's song cycle that preceded TUCK EVERLASTING. Absolutely gorgeous score!! Features 19 songs documenting a group of runaways' trek across America. The studio cast album features the likes of Gavin Creel, Karen Olivo, Barrett Wilbert Weed, Matt Caplan, Joshua Henry, and Alysha Umphress. I will never understand why this isn't huge. If the opening number doesn't grab you, I don't know what will.

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY - Music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, whose past show, JANE EYRE, scored five Tony noms. First opened in Chicago in 2014 and was very well-reviewed, although, for whatever reason, it never caught on. While the songs are awkwardly short at times, the music is still incredibly beautiful, and the cast album is reflects that. I highly recommend (also, if you're a baritone, there's some SOLID audition songs here).

If you have any shows like these, post 'em! I'm so passionately obsessed with these, and I'd like to hear about what others have. 

Updated On: 11/9/17 at 08:40 AM

[Wick3]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 9:45am

JANE EYRE - Loved Marla Schaffel in it!

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG - I never heard of htis musical until I saw Maria Friedman's production in Boston where my friend had an extra ticket for $25. I mean WOW! I didn't even know that the 2 actors performing there (Mark Umbers and Damian Humbley) also performed in the 2013 West End production. I hope it'll do a Broadway revival transfer someday and I plan on watching the Lonny Price documentary soon.

[Wick3]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 9:45am

JANE EYRE - Loved Marla Schaffel in it!

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG - I never heard of htis musical until I saw Maria Friedman's production in Boston where my friend had an extra ticket for $25. I mean WOW! I didn't even know that the 2 actors performing there (Mark Umbers and Damian Humbley) also performed in the 2013 West End production. I hope it'll do a Broadway revival transfer someday and I plan on watching the Lonny Price documentary soon.

[AllThatJazz2]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 10:03am

I went to a production of Jane Eyre at the Seacoast Rep in Portsmouth and loved it. Had no idea it even existed and went to see it on a lark with my mother. Definitely underrated.

And I cannot praise Maria Friedman's production of Merrily We Roll Along enough. I saw it twice while it was in Boston. I wish only that I had a cast album of her production (either from the West End or Boston) because the musical really struck a chord with me and I was blown away by Mark Umbers and Damian Humbley. 

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 10:09am

It feels weird to say this since there was a Broadway revival and there are numerous recordings out there (and even a pro-shot full production of the original company), but Pacific Overtures.

[Malloythere!]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 10:10am

There's this tiny, unknown musical about the American revolution and its founding fathers that really doesn't get the buzz it deserves.

[CardboardMoon]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 10:33am

Malloythere! said: "There's this tiny, unknown musical about the American revolution and its founding fathers that really doesn't get the buzz it deserves."

You're absolutely right! 1776 is SEVERELY underrated.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 11:05am

Rage of the Heart because it just sounds like a damn hot mess.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 11:07am

"Venice" from the Public a few years ago! I know it got mixed word-of-mouth here on this board, but I think the score is to die for. 

[raddersons]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 11:18am

HamilHansen said: "Wonderland. A mess of a plot but a beautiful score and funny book.

Check out the OBCR. Janet Dacal, Kate Shindle, Darren Ritchie, Jose Llana..."

Honestly, Wonderland was crazy. It made absolutely zero sense. It's like someone gave Frank Wildhorn a ton of cocaine and free range to write whatever he wanted.

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 1:55pm

Zanna, Don't!

Bare: A Pop Opera

Baby

Ballroom

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 2:11pm

 Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge.It's a retelling of J.M. Synge's Playboy of the Western World set in 1930's Appalachia. It's a great show with a beautiful country-bluegrass score and some of my favorite lyrics ever written for the stage.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 2:41pm

TRIUMPH OF LOVE

OH BROTHER

ERNEST IN LOVE 

[CoercedBull]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 3:15pm

HeyMrMusic said: "It feels weird to say this since there was a Broadway revival and there are numerous recordings out there (and even a pro-shot full production of the original company), but Pacific Overtures."

Agreed. It's my favorite Sondheim musical, and even when I tell other theater nerds about it, the most common response is "Huh?"

[jkstheatrescene]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 3:18pm

GRIND

SMILE

TRIUMPH OF LOVE

[theater_tech]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 3:19pm

Dave Malloy's Preludes

[wicked4l]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 3:34pm

GIANT... one of my favorite scores of all time.

[tazber]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 3:38pm

Romance in Hard Times

Goblin Market

Death Takes a Holiday

Ernest Shackleton Loves Me (which is on HD Broadway and so worth checking out!)

Dessa Rose

 

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 4:14pm

The Rink, The Rink and The Rink. A superbly conceived and written show with a golden Kander and Ebb score that was overshadowed at the time by starry performances from a well-cast Chita Rivera and a wildly miscast Liza Minelli. Much like War Paint and Grey Gardens, it's a one-of-a-kind show built on two fascinating women characters and a faceless ensemble. It's long overdue a proper Broadway revival.

[SFJeffry]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 4:19pm

Birds of Paradise

 

[ethan231h]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 4:30pm

Venice, I know many hated the show when it was at the Public....but I ADORE the music. 

Children of Eden

35mm

[little_sally]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 4:33pm

A Man of No Importance

[SeanD2]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 4:44pm

wicked4l said: "GIANT... one of my favorite scores of all time."

I'll see your Giant and raise you The Highest Yellow

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 4:57pm

tazber said: "Romance in Hard Times

Goblin Market

Death Takes a Holiday

Ernest Shackleton Loves Me (which is on HD Broadway and so worth checking out!)

Dessa Rose"

I adore Goblin Market. It's never going to get a large revival, and it shouldn't since it's such an intimate show, but I would love to see one of the smaller companies take it on like the Keen Company or Transport Group.

Speaking of Dave Malloy, I love the recording of Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage and would love to see that onstage.

[little_sally]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 5:27pm

SeanD2 said: "wicked4l said: "GIANT... one of my favorite scores of all time."

I'll see your Giant and raise you The Highest Yellow"

And I'll raise you LaChuisa's terrific score for Bernarda Alba.