Shows that work better as a recording
Shows that work better as a recording
Martijn-j
Chorus Member Joined: 7/19/21
#1Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 4:01am
Or in others words: shows with a beautiful score that you listened to over and over, but once you got to see it, it didn't really add anything.
I experienced this for the first time with Titanic. What an amazing score. I absolutely love it. But then I got to see the show and it didn't move me at all.
Another example is The Lion King. Such great music. And although I think The Lion King is worth seeing at least once because of the beautiful set and costume design, it wasn't as overwhelming as the recording was for me.
I would love to hear other experiences.
bwayobsessed
Broadway Star Joined: 5/28/13
#2Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 6:13amI generally don’t listen to whole soundtracks before seeing the show but I’ve sorta had the opposite happen. Sometimes I see the show and am not obsessed with it then listen to it and like the music a lot. 2 examples I’ve been listening to a lot recently but didn’t love the shows are A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder and Waitress. I think part of what is good about listening to it is I can skip the songs I don’t like to the really amazing songs in there.
#3Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 7:45am
Wonderland immediately springs to mind. Some fun and catchy songs for sure, but when it was put onstage with that godawful book... OOOOF.
#4Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 8:59am
The Last 5 Years, to me, is a good example of a show that works better in my mind's eye than on stage. Also, to a lesser extent, Jesus Christ Superstar. But these examples might have to do with the fact that I wore out the recordings before I ever saw them on stage, lol.
Det95
Featured Actor Joined: 10/14/19
#5Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 9:12am
I love the ALW Phantom score. However, ever since the first time I saw it on Broadway I've never enjoyed it as much since. I've tried too, twice on Broadway, twice on tour, and once in London. I always feel underwhelmed leaving the theatre. When I see Phantom it's for the music not the staging.
¿Macavity?
Broadway Star Joined: 1/29/16
#6Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 9:35am
^Yeah, I feel similar. I used to love POTO based solely on the score. But man, I sat through the Broadway production in 2018, and while the stage craft was wonderful, it was a dull piece to sit through. Mad respect (as always) to Hal Prince and the designers, but the show felt like a drag most of the time. Tried watching the 25th Anniversary tape, but that was even worse.
Also, I always skipped around on the OLCA of POTO so I never realized how repetitive the score was. Not my cup of tea.
#7Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 11:54am
The first time I listened to Mack and Mabel I was blown away that it had flopped, and never had a successful remount. Then I read the libretto! Oof.
veronicamae
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/13/09
#10Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 2:07pmFrankly, a lot of shows right now and in the last several seasons given their lackluster books.
#11Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 2:11pmWonderland, as mentioned above, was also the first show I thought of. Love every song on the album but the book was a mess.
#12Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 2:24pm
I often find myself listening to the OBCR of Jerry Herman's DEAR WORLD with Angela Lansbury. It's a really well produced, rich-sounding album of, what I gather, was a terrible show.
Despite this, Lansbury won the Tony Award for her performance.
Broadway61004
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/11
#14Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 2:48pm
I'm sure I'm in the extreme minority on this one, but Hamilton. While the staging by itself is fascinating to watch, I feel like there's so much going on with it that it distracts from what is already an extremely wordy and plot-driven book and score instead of enhancing it.
And I second the OP's mention of Titanic: Truly one of the most beautiful scores of the past 30 years, but a horrendous book that's impossible to stage.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#15Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 2:50pm
Wildcat
#16Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 2:54pm
I think the Sunset Boulevard recording Glenn Close sounds like a terrific radio play. I think staging Sunset can be a slog and easily look cheap and drag. However, that cast recording is a marvelous stand alone.
I don't know if it was ever staged but Bright Lights, Big City is a terrific thrilling listen. I feel it could be hard to stage in all it's mania.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#17Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 3:01pm
Bettyboy72 said: "I think the Sunset Boulevard recording Glenn Close sounds like a terrific radio play. I think staging Sunset can be a slog and easily look cheap and drag. However, that cast recording is a marvelous stand alone.
I don't know if it was ever staged but Bright Lights, Big City is a terrific thrilling listen. I feel it could be hard to stage in all it's mania."
Yes, it had an Off Bwy production that didn't last long.
#18Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 4:54pmHamilton, the OBCR is thrilling and seeing the show on stage adds very little to the experience
#19Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 5:23pm
Bettyboy72 said: "
I don't know if it was ever staged but Bright Lights, Big City is a terrific thrilling listen. I feel it could be hard to stage in all it's mania."
There was a production in Philadelphia back in ‘06 w Jeremy kushnier, Andy Karl and Orfeh
https://www.broadway.com/buzz/95608/kushnier-karl-orfeh-set-for-bright-lights-big-city-at-the-prince-arima-to-direct/
Owen22
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/11
#20Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 7:55pm
William Finn's "A New Brain". I love almost every song on that recording ("And They're Off" might be my favorite show tune of all time...) but I have seen the LIncoln Center recording and numerous productions (including the Encores off-Center version with Groff) and it never works for me as a whole piece. Though slightly before the pandemic I saw a student production at the University of Michigan which I thought oddly the best I had seen.
RunnyBabbit
Stand-by Joined: 2/3/20
#21Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 8:40pm
imeldasturn said: "Hamilton, the OBCR is thrilling and seeing the show on stage adds very little to the experience "
I get so awkward telling people this after seeing the show. The music is what makes the show so extraordinary. With the exception of a few scenes, the stage production doesn’t add anything.
I’d add Catch Me If You Can to this list. I still listen to the music, but I remember being underwhelmed seeing the show.
sassylash3s
Stand-by Joined: 7/5/11
#22Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 8:42pm
I thought Anastasia was boring disappointment on Broadway, but the cast recording is pretty solid. I sometimes wonder whether a better-directed version of the same material might have made a decent show, or if the book itself is insurmountable.
#23Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 8:48pm
Jesus Christ Superstar.
Every Easter my family listens to the original recording. I add in the movie addition of "Could we start again Please".
I have seen renditions in Chicago (not Broadway but...) and of course the film and I just rather listen to original which was awesome.
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#24Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/26/21 at 11:18pm
DooWahDiddy said: "The Last 5 Years, to me, is a good example of a show that works better in my mind's eye than on stage."
To an extent, I agree. The best productions of the show are the ones that get out of the way of the score. And while there are some fabulous cast recordings, I think you get so much more out of hearing this music live.
#25Shows that work better as a recording
Posted: 8/27/21 at 11:33amWaitress. Great score that falls flat in the theatre.
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