My favorite musicals

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/21/17 at 1:49pm

So you all to get to know me better as a new member, I would like to share my favorite musicals I've seen either national tour or regional theatre. All in chronological order

1) Grease (national tour starring Taylor Hicks as Teen Angel)

2) Memphis (filmed OBC performance, national tour and Musical Theatre West last year)

3) Mamma Mia (national tour was great but sound was off in bits and pieces making the band pit louder than the singing)

4) Oklahoma (Musical Theatre West)

5) A Chorus Line (Musical Theatre West)

6) Motown (National Tour)

7) Newsies (filmed performance starring Jeremy Jordan)

 

Other musicals I enjoyed are in no particular order Wicked, Hairspray, 42nd Street, Dreamgirls, In the Heights, Next to Normal, La Cage Aux Folles, the Music Man, Jersey Boys, Sister Act, Pippin, Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, Rent and An American in Paris.

Updated On: 10/21/17 at 01:49 PM

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/21/17 at 8:42pm

BwayLB,

 

Welcome to Broadway World.

I like a number of the musicals on your list.

 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/21/17 at 9:35pm

After Eight said: "BwayLB,



Welcome to Broadway World.

I like a number of the musicals on your list.

"

Thank you very much. What musicals on my list do you like in particular?

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/21/17 at 9:57pm

BwayLB,

 

Cinderella, Oklahoma, La Cage Aux Folles, The Music Man, 42nd Street.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/21/17 at 9:58pm

I saw 42nd Street twice one time at Musical Theatre West and the other was the recent national tour. I forgot to put I saw Billy Elliot at La Mirada Theatre

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/21/17 at 10:09pm

^

 

I saw the original production of 42nd Street, which was quite impressive. The Broadway revival impressed as well.

 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/21/17 at 10:12pm

The recent national tour was based on the revival. Although it features new sets but same cheography and costumes. Impressive. I don't consider 42nd Street a favorite but I respect its reputation

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 6:02am

Aw, welcome to the boards!! Was Emily Padgett your Sandy?! I thought she was spectacular in that show.

[Dave28282]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 7:03am

I like that you love Grease too. I think the show is often being being brushed aside by people, while in fact it's an amazing show.

[Itonlytakesajourney]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 8:09am

Dave28282 said: "I like that you love Grease too. I think the show is often being being brushed aside by people, while in fact it's an amazing show."

I agree. People always say "Sandy changed for Danny", but they both changed for each other. It's just a really fun show, the recent revival showcased that. 

I also love Cinderella! It's another night of pure fun and stage magic.

[bear88]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 9:12am

After Eight,

I know you're a fan of the musical, and your screen name did cross my mind after I saw La Cage Aux Folles recently. I like a lot of the newer musicals you disdain, but I must give you credit for making me a little more curious to see this one. The San Francisco Playhouse's version of the show a couple of months ago wasn't perfect, but the actor who played Albin, John Treacy Egan, was terrific, and the musical itself is warm-hearted and quite funny - especially in the second act. For a show that won a bunch of Tonys in its day, it feels underappreciated. 

Oklahoma gets a lot of grief on this board as being hopelessly anachronistic, among other critiques, but it has one of the most beautiful scores ever written. 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 9:55am

CindersGolightly said: "Aw, welcome to the boards!! Was Emily Padgett your Sandy?! I thought she was spectacular in that show."

Why yes she was and not being from New York I haven't seen her in anything since.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 10:39am

I hate to double post but I agree itonlytakesajourney about Cinderella. Last year I saw the national tour with the new script by Douglas Carter Beane. It was beautiful and surprisingly hilarious

[Itonlytakesajourney]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 12:01pm

BwayLB said: "I hate to double post but I agree itonlytakesajourney about Cinderella. Last year I saw the national tour with the new script by Douglas Carter Beane. It was beautiful and surprisingly hilarious"

Glad you agree! It's the type of show that is very silly and dreamy and just plain old-fashioned fun- similar to Dolly and She Loves Me recently. The ongoing tour looks great as well, I could hardly believe it was non-equity. 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 12:18pm

I just saw She Loves Me on PBS last night. I loved it. Especially Zachary Levi and Laura Benanti's chemistry

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 9:49pm

Regarding La Cage Aux Folles, Bear88 wrote: "the musical itself is warm-hearted and quite funny - especially in the second act."

I'm glad you enjoyed it. So have I. I've seen it many, many times.

"For a show that won a bunch of Tonys in its day, it feels underappreciated. "

Well, it's not too  hard to understand the reason for that. It had the unbridled nerve to win the Tony Award (deservedly --- there's no contest, really) over that pretentious, lifeless, tuneless bore, Sunday in the Park With George --- the ne plus ultra of elitist snobs' darlings They simply can't abide that fact! And to make matters worse, Jerry Herman won the best score award (deservedly) over you-know-who. For the latter's devotees, that is a wound that never heals, and their anger never abates.

"Oklahoma gets a lot of grief on this board as being hopelessly anachronistic, among other critiques, but it has one of the most beautiful scores ever written. "

 

Absolutely. I'll take it any day and every day over the painful items that win raves and awards nowadays.

Updated On: 10/22/17 at 09:49 PM

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 9:53pm

Oh lord. Many of us enjoy both La Cage and Sunday. 

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 9:53pm

BwayLB wrote:

"I just saw She Loves Me on PBS last night. I loved it."

Yes. One thing's for sure: they don't make 'em like that any more ---unfortunately.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 9:57pm

After Eight said: "Regarding La Cage Aux Folles, Bear88 wrote: "the musical itself is warm-hearted and quitefunny - especially in the second act."

I'm glad you enjoyed it. So haveI.I've seen it many, many times.

"For a show that won a bunch of Tonys in its day, it feels underappreciated. "

Well, it's not hard toounderstand the reason for that. It had the unbridled nerve to win the Tony Award (deservedly --- there's no contest, really)over that pretentious, lifeless, tuneless bore, Sunday in the Park With George --- the ne plus ultra ofelitistsnobs'darlingsThey simply can't abide that fact! And to make matters worse, Jerry Herman won the best score award (deservedly)over you-know-who. For the latter'sdevotees, thatis a wound thatnever heals,and their anger never abates.

"Oklahomagets a lot of grief on this board as being hopelessly anachronistic, among other critiques, but it has one of the most beautiful scores ever written. "



Absolutely. I'll take it any day and every day over the painfulitemsthat win raves and awards nowadays."

I saw La Cage five years ago on tour with George Hamilton as Georges (wasn't that exciting) and Christopher Sieber as Albin (I Am What I Am is one of the most powerful Act One finales I've ever seen). I don't find it that great but it was hilarious and full of heart. Not that hard to find a musical like that these days.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 9:58pm

SUNDAY was boring, but never amateur.

LA CAGE was amateur, but never boring.

Take your pick.

 

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 10:03pm

GavestonPS wrote:

"LA CAGE was amateur, but never boring."

La Cage was masterful, and good, too!

"Take your pick."

I'll pick good over lousy any day. It's the easiest of choices, really.


 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 10:09pm

After Eight said: "BwayLB wrote:

"I just saw She Loves Me on PBS last night. I loved it."

Yes. One thing's for sure: they don't make 'em like that any more ---unfortunately."

I had not seen a filmed performance on PBS since South Pacific seven years ago. Zachary Levi and Laura Benanti had CHEMISTRY!

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 10:13pm

BwayLB said: "Zachary Levi and Laura Benanti had CHEMISTRY!"

Yes, and beautiful songs to sing! How I miss hearing songs like that on our stages.

[Andy51]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 10:19pm

Welcome to the board. And it is lovely to see a "legend" of the board who is widely loathed and viewed as an ignoramus finally find someone to bond with.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 10/22/17 at 10:24pm

Thanks and my favorite songs are Vanilla Ice Cream Ilona Romantic Atmosphere Will He Like Me and Good Morning.