ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.
ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.
Joined: 12/31/69
ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#0
Posted: 12/13/04 at 3:56am
So last night I realized that almost all recent shows have been based on an excisting work. Theres a huge amount of shows that are opening or in the works that are based on popular movies (Legally Blonde, Spamalot, etc). Theres even talk of a Shrek musical. Now these shows might be very good, but im concerned that there is no more originality on Broadway. Last seasons only truly original musicals, Caroline or Change and Taboo were big flops. Avenue Q was totaly original and a success! This season has given us The limited run of The Frogs, and Brooklyn which is apparently just god aweful. Theres also a ton of "jukebox shows" opening. I dont know about all of you, but can someone write a brand spanking new musical, based on a completely original idea! We used to get them all the time in Broadway's Golden age. Where are they now? So I started a game with my friend of how many recent (1990-present) musicals that were totaly original. Not based on a movie, book, tv show, story, or a Jukebox show.
So Start naming some! Also, what are your thoughts on this issue?
Chorus Member Joined: 10/23/04
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#1
Posted: 12/13/04 at 4:00am
Just to be weird,
nothing is ever completely original.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#2
Posted: 12/13/04 at 4:02am
What I mean by original is: Not based on a movie, book, tv show, story, or a Jukebox show.
I know nothing is completely original, but it defiently seems like most things opening soon are totaly un-original things.
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#3
Posted: 12/13/04 at 4:18am
the ones that I can think of off the top of my head are:
Finian's Rainbow
Anyone Can Whistle
Sunday in the Park with George
1990 - Present
I'm not sure, but I'm thinking Parade, Steel Pier and Contact.
I know Urinetown is original
The Frogs is based on a play of the same name by Aristophanes, therefore is not original
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#4
Posted: 12/13/04 at 4:19amI think that, with the exceptino of Broadway's early Golden Age, original musicals have always been a rarity, so this lack of shows based on original material isn't anything new. Adaptation has always been something that fueled musical theatre. What's disturbing these days is how many new musicals seem to be cardboard cutouts of their source material, rather than take that material as a starting point.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#6
Posted: 12/13/04 at 4:20am
btw...I reallyhad to think about them...
nice question!
Joined: 12/31/69
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#7
Posted: 12/13/04 at 4:21amThank you Blue Wizard, you said what I think I was trying to say in my original post.
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#8
Posted: 12/13/04 at 4:21amRent isn't original. It's based on La Boheme...
Joined: 12/31/69
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#9
Posted: 12/13/04 at 4:23amoh Thats right. Thanks...its kinda late. Cant believe I blanked on that.
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#10
Posted: 12/13/04 at 4:25am
The Last Five Years
Songs for a New World
Joined: 12/31/69
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#11
Posted: 12/13/04 at 4:26amIm suddenly seeing a pattern of originaltiy with Jason Robert Brown. ALthough he did write 3 songs for Urban Cowboy: The Musical.
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#12
Posted: 12/13/04 at 4:31am
Some original musicals (just off the top of my head...I should really go to bed....that rhymes...):
Avenue Q
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Caroline or Change
Urinetown
The Last 5 Years
Bare
Sunday in the Park with George
Company
Hair
A Chorus Line
tick tick...Boom
Into The Woods (I know I know, it's based on fairy tales -- but it's really a reworking of them, not a retelling)
Bat Boy
Zanna, Don't!
Company
Follies
Assassins
(I don't really count Taboo because its narrative was based on a person's life, and is in particular inspired by parts from Boy George's biography.)
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#13
Posted: 12/13/04 at 4:33am
Jason Robert Brown is incredible! Not quite Sondheim, but he certainly has the potential.
Oh and technically Assassins fits your criteria
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#14
Posted: 12/13/04 at 4:37amWell Company is actually based on a series of plays by George Furth about marriage, so it doesn't count.
Chorus Member Joined: 10/23/04
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#15
Posted: 12/13/04 at 4:57am
Avenue Q is loosely based on Sesame Street. So it isn't totally original. But it is imitation of style versus plot points corresponding.
I don't think originality necessarily dictates how good/bad a musical may be-- you can put a lot of work into being unoriginal.
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#16
Posted: 12/13/04 at 5:27am
These are based on the life of a person, but not a piece of literature: Barnum, Evita, Funny Gril
Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is loosely based around the story of a Texan brothel.
Bye Bye Birdie
Bells Are Ringing
Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk
Chess
Chicago (i think)
City of Angels (I also think)
Crazy For You
Dreamgirls (I'm still thinking)
Grease
Guys and Dolls
and I will be back with more...
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#17
Posted: 12/13/04 at 5:40am
I'm pretty sure about
Brigadoon
Thoroughly Modern Millie (which was really just written for Julie Andrews, but still)
42nd Street
La Cage Aux Folles
Wow, I'm bad at this.
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#18
Posted: 12/13/04 at 5:45am
Roughly based on the lives of a hollywood couple : Mack and Mabel
The Mad Show
Nunsense
Pacific Overtures
Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowds
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Salad Days
Stop The World I Want To Get Off
The Will Rogers Follies was based on his life...
and I am spent
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#19
Posted: 12/13/04 at 5:48am
well Lael...
La Cage Aux Folles was based on the French film of the same name
42nd Street was originally a film that was updated and had some songs added
Thoroughly Modern Millie is the same as 42nd Street
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#20
Posted: 12/13/04 at 5:52am
Er...oh. But I thought the french film of La Cage was based on the play! *runs off to check*
Okay, on the back of the case (yes, I have the original French La Cage in my dorm room) it says "based on the play by Jean Poiret."
Just goes to show, eh?
I didn't know about 42nd street. Okay, so I'm just...wrong. Interesting.
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#21
Posted: 12/13/04 at 5:55am
true true. I forgot about the play. I am tired and smelly though, so cut me some slack!
But if you knew about the play then why did you say it?
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#22
Posted: 12/13/04 at 6:06amI forgot, of course.
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#23
Posted: 12/13/04 at 7:19am
does anyone else have any ideas of Original Musicals?
I have run out...
re: ORIGINAL Broadway Musicals.#24
Posted: 12/13/04 at 7:25am
Pippin
I Love You You're Perfect Now Change
BARE
Millie was based on the movie.
This season there are few orignals.
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