I agree with Birdie, although I think some consider it a bit too dusty. The failure of the Encores version may have put Birdie in it's grave for a while.
Though I'd like Bye Bye Birdie, unfortunately, bway is currently graced with its slightly dumber, ADD-afflicted younger sister "All Shook Up." Here's my list: Of Thee I Sing (time for a political musical!) Company A Little Night Music Evita Hello Dolly
Imagine how Baghdad as the setting could be changed in the revival version. You can take it from there, but...the music is pretty...and it could turn out to be fantasticly offensive!!
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'"
-- unknown
I would die to see Edwin Dood on Broadway again! Actually, and don't kill me for saying this, but I would like to see Seussical on Broadway again. I saw it once, and then I performed it, so seeing it again would give me another taste of it.
I'd love to see revivals of: Promises, Promises West Side Story (with the entire cast, except for the few adults, under 25) On The Town Camelot (with some book revisions by Terrence McNally) Babes in Arms Lady in the Dark Once Upon a Matress Ain't Misbehavin' Tommy Anyone Can Whistle Fiorello! My Favourite Year Once on this Island The Rothschilds Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Singing in the Rain
Company and Falsettos (march and land put together)
"No two shows are alike in the making. Each show is a living
piece of your life in a small unreal world with its own character
and integrity; its own new set of memorable experiences and
incredible happenings. You begin to love and adapt to its strangeness.
Dreams harden into substance. Values come into focus. You wish
it would never end. The dream world vanishes like mist before a
rising sun; part of you vanishes with it. And back you land in the
real world with a thud- fogged, uneasy, jittery, difficult to get
along with. There is only one cure. A new show. A new, small
unreal world; new visions, experiences, incredible happenings.
Again you love it, adapt to it, wish it would never end.
But end it does. Another part of you vanishes.
That's show business."-Anonymous
Ok, i have to agree with all the "Company" love. I'd like to add "dreamgirls" (with no stunt casting). But if the movie bombs, that probably wouldn't work. Evita is another one that needs to make a (short) return. I have to agree with the person who said we need a political musical right now. It would be forced and stupid, and if we are gonna do shows that are forced and stupid that can be political, let's just do "Strike up the Band"
and as for off broadway, we need Bat Boy back, NOW! and now that the movie has happened, Reefer Madness could easily find a loyal but laidback audience.
when ducks grow thumbs then maybe my opinion will change.
"Definitely seconding Bye Bye Birdie. It's just a fun family show. Like Wicked, only better."
I don't know if Birdie is better than Wicked.. I get pissed off at Wicked fans, but the show is still good. I don't think Birdie really should be revived; it's a little bit passe. I mean, i have an attatchment to the show, (grew up with it, and my first lead role was Rosie) but broadway doesn't need another mindless show.
"No two shows are alike in the making. Each show is a living
piece of your life in a small unreal world with its own character
and integrity; its own new set of memorable experiences and
incredible happenings. You begin to love and adapt to its strangeness.
Dreams harden into substance. Values come into focus. You wish
it would never end. The dream world vanishes like mist before a
rising sun; part of you vanishes with it. And back you land in the
real world with a thud- fogged, uneasy, jittery, difficult to get
along with. There is only one cure. A new show. A new, small
unreal world; new visions, experiences, incredible happenings.
Again you love it, adapt to it, wish it would never end.
But end it does. Another part of you vanishes.
That's show business."-Anonymous
I love "Bat Boy" and "Reefer Madness"!!! Shows that are actually done in a modern musical style and which young non-theatre people actually respond to!
"Spitfire Grill" was another 9/11 casualty that deserves another hearing (probably Off-Broadway).
As for older shows, "Pal Joey" is perfect for our cynical times--the book just needs some overhauling. And I adore "Kismet"--a ravishing score, a chance for a great physical production, and an old but compelling story with broad appeal. Unfortunately, it is not possible to present Baghdad as a paradise in these times. (But it is set ages ago! It's an Arabian Nights fairy tale, it's not real! Jeez!)
I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."
I doubt Company will be revived any time soon given the controversy with the 1995 revival. I would love it if Company was revived though! Megan Mullally would be great as Joanne. What about some of the less famous Kander and Ebb shows like Woman of the Year or Flora,the Red Menace?
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
BIRDIE would be better than most of the crap on Broadway, and all these jukebox musicals.
BIRDIE isn't a mindless show, it's a light and fun show. With some revisions (that I previously stated) this revival would be ready to go. Updated On: 8/7/05 at 07:09 PM
guys please!!! come on lets have some imagination so many people are naming shows that are so recent all wonderful yes but ther are so so so many great shows that you may never have heard about
i totally agree with Kismet, Bye Bye Birdie and esp Hello, Dolly!
Secret Garden is great but i think its not been long enough
Promises Promises also.
Id quite like to see a full scale 'Evening Primrose' and a new 'Mack and Mable'
but oh oh oh id so love to see 'on the twentieth century ' my god the show is good
I have to disagree with By Bye Birdie. Not one of the best musicals, in my mind at least. I do have to agree with Spitfire Grill. Even though it has a cast of six, it is really good. And one last one, that really needs a revival is CRAZY FOR YOU.
<--- the set of A Midsummer Night's Dream that I was assistant stage manager for during the 2007 season at the STNJ outdoor stage.
-Dre-
You must remember all the same that at the crux of every game is knowing when it's time to leave the table... And it's important to be artful in your exit. No turning back, you must accept the con is done... It was a ball, it was a blast. And it's a shame it couldn't last. But every chapter has to end, you must agree. ~Dirty Rotten Scoundrels~
There's a special kind of people known as show people. We live in a world full of dreams. Sometimes we're not too certain what's false and what's real. But we're seldom in doubt about what we feel. ~Curtains~
It is a far, far better thing I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest I go to, than I have ever known. ~A Tale of Two Cities ~
Bat Boy needs to develop it's cult following some more before a Broadway staging is considered. Let community theatres do it and then I'm sure it will be on the Broadway Stage (whether successfully or not) within 10 years.
BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"
I know this is wishful thinking on my part, since this show closed a relatively short time ago, but I think a revival of Ragtime would actually fare very well. If it was done properly (for instance-no Livent), the show would be good.
I don't think a minimalist approach should be taken, because there should never be a show where there's more chairs than actors. I think Ragtime had the potential of being a monumental musical to the likes of Les Mis (and it's American... go figure, the "American musical."