Skip to main content
My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!
Home For You Chat My Shows Register/Login Games Grosses

Musicals Without Overtures

New Post Search Report Abuse Rules

Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.

#1

Musicals Without Overtures

Posted: 12/22/03 at 11:42am

Can anyone name musicals with overtures?
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#2

re: Musicals Without Overtures

Posted: 12/22/03 at 11:44am

gypsy
peter pan
mamma mia
guys and dolls
.
.
.
.
.
#6

re: re: Musicals Without Overtures

Posted: 12/22/03 at 12:16pm

From my generation:

Music In The Air - 1932
Roberta - 1933
Lady In The Dark -1941
Sound of Music - 1959
Every movement has a meaning--but what the hell does it mean!
#7

Musicals Without Overtures

Posted: 12/22/03 at 12:40pm

Into The Woods - Sondhiem
Sweeney Todd....errrr maybe this has one hmm. Please correct me if I'm wrong
#9

re: Musicals Without Overtures

Posted: 12/22/03 at 2:35pm

"Sweeney Todd" does not have an overture - just a short "Prelude". And no production I have ever seen of "Into The Woods" has had an overture either. In fact, few Sondheim shows have an overture, the major exception being "Merrily We Roll Along", which has a wonderful overture - and "A Little Night Music" has an overture which is sung by the Liebeslieder singers.

Most "older" musicals had overtures (e.g. "South Pacific", "The King And I", "My Fair Lady", etc.) while most "modern" musicals do not, often preferring to ease into the dramatic content of the show more naturally.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
#10

re: re: Musicals Without Overtures

Posted: 12/22/03 at 2:37pm

"Sweeney Todd....errrr maybe this has one hmm. Please correct me if I'm wrong"

No, Sweeney does not have an overture - just a musical prelude.
An overture is like a musical preview of a show.

Other musicals with overtures:

Annie
Oklahoma
Kind and I

Just about any R & H show.
#11

re: re: re: Musicals Without Overtures

Posted: 12/22/03 at 2:40pm

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

All G&S Operettas

Candide

Urinetown

The Most Happy Fella

And plenty of others.

You will find that most older musicals have them, as another poster previously pointed out.

Cheers,
The Balladeer
"Someone tell the story...Someone sing the song...."
#12

re: re: re: Musicals Without Overtures

Posted: 12/22/03 at 2:43pm


No, Sweeney does not have an overture - just a musical prelude.
An overture is like a musical preview of a show.

I don't wish to be pedantic - but an "overture" and a "prelude" are musically quite different things. Most musicals have a prelude of some kind - often just a few bars which lead into the action - and is an intergral part of the action itself. A full blown overture is something that is played before the show begins and usually contains musical themes from a number of the songs in the show.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
#13

re: re: re: re: Musicals Without Overtures

Posted: 12/22/03 at 3:20pm

I'm confused - The topic is musicals without overtures, yet the question is musicals with overtures? Which is it going to be?
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#14

re: re: re: re: re: Musicals Without Overtures

Posted: 12/22/03 at 3:23pm

umm I was sure candide has an overture.. a very lovely one.. at least I have it on an overtures cd... or was that a listing for a show that did have an overture? This is the worst thread ever! lol
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men" - Willy Wonka
#23

re: Musicals Without Overtures

Posted: 12/22/03 at 8:15pm

A Chorus Line has no overture.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#24

re: re: re: re: Musicals Without Overtures

Posted: 12/22/03 at 9:46pm

"I don't wish to be pedantic - but an "overture" and a "prelude" are musically quite different things. Most musicals have a prelude of some kind - often just a few bars which lead into the action - and is an intergral part of the action itself. A full blown overture is something that is played before the show begins and usually contains musical themes from a number of the songs in the show."

I thought that's what I said. That's what I meant when I said "a musical preview of the show." Sweeney's prelude is the funeral organ music which leads right into "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," which, in the score is refered to as the prologue.

← Back to Message Board

BroadwayWorld TV

View all Videos

Ticket Central
Ticket Central
Ticket Central
Hot Show
Tickets From $59
Hot Show
Tickets From $71
Hot Show
Tickets From $71
Hot Show
Tickets From $95
More Hot Shows Discounts
Recommended For You