Tell Us Your Frank Wildhorn Favorites!

[B3TA07]

Posted: 12/14/06 at 11:51pm

Okay, we all know deep down in our hearts that at least one miniscule moment in a Frank Wildhorn show touches us deeper than we'd like to admit. It makes us "L.O.L.," it makes us "cry," it makes us "W.T.F.?!," and even all at once sometimes! Maybe it's when Linda Eder yearns and croons and expresses almost two emotions in the course of one love song. Maybe it's at intermission when you choke on an ice cube in your drink.

Now be completely honest at tell us: what parts of what shows touch you?

I really like "Deep in The Darkest Night."

And there is also a very special place in my heart for whichever version of Scarlet Pimpernel that I saw, lol.

Updated On: 12/15/06 at 11:51 PM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 12/14/06 at 11:53pm

Loathe as I am to admit it, I actually really like the 2-Disc version of "Jekyll and Hyde"

[timote316]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 12:15am

I'll admit it - I like Wildhorn's work. In fact, in the case of Jekyll & Hyde, I love it.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 12:15am

husk....I love J&H. And unfortunately....that's all he can do for me now. I was lucky enough to see the show before it hit Broadway and they butchered it!

Updated On: 12/15/06 at 12:15 AM

[ashley0139]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 12:34am

I actually really don't like Frank Wildhorn. I don't know how that's helping. Don't mind a couple of his songs though, Someone Like You comes to mind.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 12:38am

I have never EVER choked on laughter like I did during Dracula, when a song that I believe could be called "Deep In The Darkest Night" began.

It was exactly "Into the Fire" from Scarlet Pimpernel... It was like Frank Wildhorn punched every word into a thesaurus and came up with a "new" song from it. Does anyone else know what I'm talking about?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 2:35am

It was exactly "Into the Fire" from Scarlet Pimpernel... It was like Frank Wildhorn punched every word into a thesaurus and came up with a "new" song from it. Does anyone else know what I'm talking about?

I really don't know what you're talking about, actually. Frank didn't write the lyrics for Dracula he only wrote the music so the idea of him personally "punching" words into a thesaurus for any lyrical reason is rather absurd. Plus Dracula and Pimpernel have different lyricists so the only connection, really, is that they're both the same kind of uplifting "onward we go" type musical theatre moments that exist in many different musicals.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 2:55am

Which show is it that got quoted in [tos] so brilliantly...

I kinda feel bad for Wildhorn, his music isn't atrocious, it's just the fact that, well, most gothic novels don't make good musicals, and the ones that do, can't seem to find someone to make them work. Jekyll and Hyde was SLAUGHTERED on Broadway, thankfully the tour kinda restored it a bit, but ya know, it still isn't gold. Is it wrong I get hopeful for all his new shows to be good...I mean if ALW can keep going with crap, from being good, can't it reverse?

[AtLeastIveBeenThere]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 4:11am

Personal favorites: (1) Jekyll & Hyde Concept Cast recording of "No One Knows Who I Am" when Linda Eder sings "Will I survive who will give a damn..." (I think she pushes the song too much in the OBC and it eliminates that feeling of reisgned hopelessness that's present in the 1994 version)

(2) the OBC recording of "In His Eyes," the line "...But sadly I'm not wise; it's hard to talk away the memories..."

I guess no one likes to admit it, but there ARE some good moments...

[musical_devotee]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 4:57am

I think the 2-disc recording of J&H is terrific. Linda Eder's numbers (Bring on the men, Someone like you, A new life...) especially.

'Pimpernel' also has a few nice melodies -- Where's the girl, Into fire, Madame Guillotine, to name some...

He has a gift for good tunes.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 7:38am

In my opinion, I think it is impossible to say anything bad about Frank Wildhorn (I have not heard Dracula yet.) I love Jekyll and Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and The Civil War. Great stuff. The Brooklyn lover has spoken.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 9:38am

I loved the pre-Broadway Jekyll and Hyde as well as Scarlet Pimpernel, but so far, that's pretty much been it. My favorite song has to be "When I Look at You" from Pimpernel. It is just excellent songwriting.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 9:48am

"When I Look at You" is a stunningly gorgeous song.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 9:55am

If w're talking strictly music....Frank AND company (Greg. Boyd,Jack Murphy, Leslie Briscusse. etc) are responsible for hundreds of songs. He's written for several big names including Julie Andrews, Whitney Houston and others. Google his name, visit his site and a site called "Someone Like Frank" to see what he's done.

Shows aside...team Wildhorn has turned out a pretty impressive song list over many years. Not to mention many stars who enjoy singing them.

At the risk of being called a "Wildhorn groupie"...again. Let me just say that it's been Wildhorn's music that has made me an admirer of his work more than any of his shows. And I am far from alone in this opinion among artists in the industry.

He's done some standout songs in Scarlet Pimpernel, Camille Claudell, Civil War and Waiting For the Moon and most recently Cryano. His "Bring Me Giants" is particularily good from this.

I've not found his shows without flaws, but I enojy some of his music. That's my 2 cents.

[nealb1]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 10:23am

"Jekyll & Hyde" is one of my all time favorite musicals. Love it, love it, love it!

[laura is broadway]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 11:00am

i love jekyll and hyde alot.
all recordings.

but the dvd with david hasselhoff.... i laughed so so so hard. wow he wasnt good at all. but really comical.

have you guys heard about the feature film possibility?

[HumATune]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 1:37pm

I like the music of Jekyll and Hyde—it’s the book that stinks.

And there’s always Scarlet Pimpernel.

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 1:44pm

I love Jekyll and Hyde! But the filmed version with David Hasselhoff was laughable. I couldn't contain myself when I saw it, especially the transformation and "Dangerous Game" (you know, the part where he tilts his head behind Colleen, eyes wide open). I don't really see anything wrong with the score though.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 1:45pm

I love Scarlet Pimpernel and will always be fond of Jekyll & Hyde. Even if the song "Murder, Murder" has some of the most god-awful lyrics ever to grace the Broadway stage.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 1:51pm

"In His Eyes" is the best song Frank ever wrote, IMO. I also happen to *love* "How Do You Choose?"

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 2:44pm

Kitz, and some horrible choreography to accompany that number.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 2:58pm

I love J & H very much. It will always be my favorite.

SP had flashes of pure brilliance- INTO THE FIRE and CREATION OF MAN. I will always have a fondness for it.

I was pulling for DRACULA, but...

Never got into THE CIVIL WAR.

CAMILLE seemed... odd. Linda sang the h*ll out of GOLD

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 3:48pm

"Love is worth forgiving for, now I realize...Everything worth living for is there...In His Eyes (key change)"

Pretty Much Amazing.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 3:58pm

Come on Dottie, you know Frank was just setting the stage for "Murder Poppins". That and those Bert chimney sweep character types in "Facade".

(I told him we sure didn't miss this in the J&H in Concert)

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 4:05pm

The Bremen production of Jekyll, and the concert, are (to me) the best versions

I wish he would return to "Svengali" as that has some PHENOMENAL music