Shows That Changed Your Life- Page 2

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 3/9/12 at 11:44pm

Wicked is the show that made me fall in love with Broadway when I was 11. Before that all I really knew is that I loved being on stage, but really did not know what "Broadway" was. It's the show that made me push myself as a performer. And when I finally saw it at the age of 16, I cried numerous times. As others mentioned, I saw myself in Elphaba, even if I am male. The outcast aspect deeply effected me and I found "NO Good deed" a strong point in my life and "Defying gravity" I was a bloody mess.
Another one was "Little Shop of Horrors." It was my first lead (I was Seymour) and that was where I felt a strong connection to the stage.

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 12:46am

The plays of yore filled me with an elation and wonderment I had never known before.

What I didn't know then, was that in subsequent years, I would never know those feelings again.

[Baiseur82]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 12:53am

Wow what a great thread!

For me there have been a few

RENT was my first introduction to musicals and as a young gay kid from PA It really made me feel like it was OK to be me. I was a RENT head and I'm not ashamed of that. I saw the show A LOT and I grew from it.

Passing Strange completely changed my relationship with my mother. The first time I saw the show I was crying so hard I could not breathe. It was intense. I saw myself on that stage doing that to my own mother, who is so accepting and loving. I took my mom to see it a week later, BTW she hated the show lol

Follies I first heard the OBC recording when I was like 12 or 13 I instantly fell in love with the score, truly understanding NONE of it lol. As I got older I would revisit the recording every year or so and find something new. I saw the Kennedy Center Revival which was the first time I had ever seen the show and I was completely blown away. My opinion of each character was completely changed. I saw it MONTHS ago and I am still thinking about it.

August Osage County I don't know if I would say that this show "changed" me but it really moved me.

[TRiceFan]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 1:45am

Wicked was the first musical I ever really got into, thank my 6th grade choir teacher for that one.
Into the Woods was the 1st Sondheim show I ever saw at the recommendation of my 8th grade english teacher.
I had never been in a show ever, went to a new school, and got cast as Steven Kodaly in She Loves Me. Best experience of my life. Great show.
Sylvia. First play I was ever involved in, and it was so emotional and funny and high energy, it was extremely memorable.

And I can relate to your Follies 'God-I-love-it-but-I-don't-understand-it' Blues, same with ITW.

[juggles]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 6:18am

Aladdin the pantomime changed my life. I was three years old and knew from that point, I wanted to go into theatre. I have still got vivid memories of that production

[budfrump]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 11:02am

Well,
The Wicked and Avenue Q OBCRs really made me love musical theatre and made me want to explore it and be a part of it. I have been doing straight plays since I was 10, but it wasn't until I listened to those that made me really want to be in a musical.

Then I did Jason Robert Brown's '13' at my local theatre company. It was my first singing audition and I got cast as Archie. THE best experience of my life. There are no words to describe. Then I did Joseph, and I played Joseph and that was a dream come true, and now I'm doing 9 to 5!

Some shows that I have seen that have been life-changing are La Cage, the 2010 revival. It was my first Broadway show and just adored it. Then Peter Pan and Jesus Christ Supertsar at THe Stratford Festival. Also Catch Me If You Can, and Norbert and Aaron's performances in particular really had an affect on me.

And then there have been shows that I just really loved:
How to Succeed (Daniel Radcliffe)
Spring Awakening (National Tour)
Rock of Ages (Toronto)
Hairspray (Toronto)
Hair (National Tour)
Wicked (National Tour)*
*Even though I was the farthest possible seat from the stage, I was still weeping.
I loved Wicked so much!

[NJBway]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 12:06pm

Normal heart felt like a brick wall it changed how i felt about many issues
Next to normal I don't think i've ever cried soo much it was like a cleansing.
Gypsy i strongly believe i saw their best performance & showed me what i want the audience to feel when i do theatre
Next Fall made me want to love soo much as they did

[sidjones09]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 1:26pm

'PASSING STRANGE' hit me pretty hard too, especially at The Public.

Here's my short list:

'JOURNEY'S END' - completely changed my understanding and outlook of war and it's devastating toll on humanity.

Nilaja Sun's 'NO CHILD' - changed my understanding of the power of the artist, the theater, and Arts Education all in one show.

'SPRING AWAKENING' - changed my understanding of the simplicity and complexity of adolescence. And how the environment around you (i.e. shool, parents, which aren't in your control) can ultimately decide which course your adult life takes.

'RAGTIME' - restored a faith in the traditional musical theater form for me that had been fading... quickly.

[ChildrenwillListen]

Posted: 3/12/12 at 3:15pm

Many. Wicked-First show I ever truly fell in love with. First time I ever identified with a character so strongly.
Godspell-First major show I was in. I had a solo and everything. I have a soft spot for it.
Les Mis
Next to Normal

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/12/12 at 10:09pm

Oliver. My first

[Snooze Button]

Posted: 3/12/12 at 11:30pm

West Side Story- The epitome of musical theater genius. It was the only show where everything about it fell together perfectly -- orchestrations, singing, choreography. And that's because the show is beautiful.

Next to Normal-inspired me to be more of an actress. I'd never seen such energy onstage in my life. I left the theater pumped and stayed that way for months. The music just made sense of all the craziness going on in my head at that point in my life.

Oliver- first musical I ever saw. I identified as a theater geek as a kid because of this musical.

Sweeney Todd- chills me to the bone. The most daring musical I've ever seen. The music also captures the essence of the characters perfectly.

Spring Awakening- My all-time favorite musical. It continues to haunt me years after I saw it. I saw myself mirrored in literally every character and song, and couldn't stop bawling about it. Breathtaking. Somehow it makes sense out of whats impossible to understand.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/12/12 at 11:32pm

- A Chorus Line(of course).
- Damn Yankees as it was my first Broadway show & first time being in a show.
- Contact - really showed my love of dance & theater.
- 42nd - I've never loved doing a show more than this one.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 3/13/12 at 4:20am

I forgot to mention the 2007 London Revival of Fiddler On The Roof at the Savoy changed me forever.

[castlestreet]

Posted: 3/13/12 at 9:34am

In 1995 my 8th grade took us to Toronto to see Phantom at the Pantages Theater- which is still my favorite of all the places I've seen the show.

For three months I could not stop talking about the show- it was only the second show I had seen (Les Miz on tour in Rochester was 1st) and I was blown away by everything. From that day on Theatre became a bigger and bigger part of my life. I look back on such fondness to that first time seeing Phantom in that theater in that city and think back on how much I didn't know about how it all works. I was totally mesmerized by everything and taken in by the magic that was and still is the musical theatre- I think its why no matter how imperfect a show it is, it will always be my sentimental favorite...