THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM, which people either love or hate. Chalk me for the former camp.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
I agree with posters above about ROBBER BRIDEGROOM and IS THERE LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?
I love THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT, THE SMELL OF THE CROWD (which wasn't so obscure in the 1960s, though it only ran about six months (IIRC) on Broadway).
And one of my favorite scores is that of LI'L ABNER, which has become obscure because the book is so dated.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers- the stage version, anyway- can be either a somewhat dull musical romance or a sidesplitting comedy, depending on if you cast six hulking, hunky men as the six brothers, or six goofy young character actors.
It's plenty quirky either way though. Not a great classic musical but a few good songs and a whole lot of either eye candy or silly male bonding- the song where the men try desperately not to, um, indulge themselves while stuck in a barn is hysterical if done well.
FLAHOOLEY - a 1951 satire on big business about a toy company that manufactures a laughing doll. There's a magic genie, Bill Baird marionettes and Barbara Cook in there as well. Also Yma Sumac... You can't get much more off-beat than this. The OCR (originally a very rare Capitol Records Lp) is out on CD from DRG. Well worth checking out.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks." Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
I guess everyone's definition varies, but Assassins wouldn't fit for me--it seems to be one of the more performed Sondheim musicals, especially by smaller groups and universities, just looking at the Sondheim Review show listings alone. But outside of semi serious theatre goers it might count.
Love the Weird Romance suggestion--it's far from perfect but is a fun, two act Sci Fi musical with a good Alan Menken score. Speaking of, know some people hate it here, but I'm a big fan of Menken and Ashman's first show, God Bless You Mr Rosewater based on ther Vonnegut story.
I've seen two horrible versions of Seven Brides. I think what really makes the movie original--aside from endearing performances--is some of the best choreography Michael Kidd ever did. If you don't have strong dancers and choreography, there's no point.
(The same goes for Lil Abner and its great Kidd work, although I do like the score. Lil Abner is just so unrecogniable to most people under 40 or 50--at least in my experience--that that's why it went from such a very popular show among regional and amateur groups toone that is hardly performed--though much to my surprise I did meet someone a while back who did it 5 years ago in high school.)
I don't WANT to live in what they call "a certain way." In the first place I'd be no good at it and besides that I don't want to be identified with any one class of people. I want to live every whichway, among all kinds---and know them---and understand them---and love them---THAT's what I want! - Philip Barry (Holiday)