AVENUE Q is the latest show I recall actually laughing OUT LOUD at in a theater, as opposed to just snickering to myself.
Stand-by Joined: 3/3/06
How could I have forgotten the orig B'way production of NOISES OFF!
It's so hard to just name one...or even a few..
Urinetown
Spelling Bee
Spamalot
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
(most of) Falsettos
Drowsy Chaperone
and many more...
Bat Boy and [title of show] are pretty funny, but those are off-Broadway. Then, there's a LOT of reeeally funny off Broadway shows... For funniest BROADWAY musicals? Urinetown, Drowsy Chaperone, The Producers, Avenue Q, Forum, etc. For funniest plays, probably Lend Me A Tenor, Noises Off, The Odd Couple-- pretty much anything by Neil Simon, David Ives, or Oscar Wilde (although not sure how Broadway-related the latter two are.)
funniest EVER, is pretty broad but of the ones I've seen I'd say Avenue Q and Drowsy Chaperone
The funniest show I've seen on Broadway is probably Spamalot. The funnies off-Broadway show? Gutenberg! (Actually, as I was walking out of Gutenberg I remember I said to my husband, "That's the most I've laughed since I saw "Spamalot"!)
I agree that "Noises Off" is extremely funny when done right. I saw it in a small community production and it was hysterical. Then I saw the Broadway version with Patti LuPone and Peter Gallagher and, I don't know, something about it was "off." It just wasn't as funny as it could have been, IMHO. Maybe it was their timing or maybe they were all trying too hard to be funny individually and weren't working that well as an ensemble. Perhaps I just got it on an "off" night.
I don't know if they're the funniest EVER, but I always laugh at The Drowsy Chaperone and Noises Off.
Musical: Little Me. Nothing compares, it's just the perfect comedy.
Play: The Odd Couple, Arsenic and Old Lace, or Lend Me a Tenor
Broadway Star Joined: 7/24/06
Drowsy and Spelling Bee for me.
I agree.... Zombie Prom was probably the musical I laughed at the most *Johnny don't go to the nuclear plant!* Although I don't think it was intentional....
Spelling Bee is pretty stinkin' funny.
Did anyone see a play called "Scapino"? My local community theatre did it and I thought I was going to die.
I've never laughed harder than at Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and The Producers. I absolutely love Drowsy but it's not as hysterically funny (to me) as those other two.
I think Curtains has one of the funniest books ever. The Odd Couple is a hysterical play as is Noises off. I'd say mine are spelling bee, curtains, and odd couple.
The most I have ever laughed in the theater was during Dame Edna. Ave Q would be a close 2nd.
The big ones that come to mind are Hello, Dolly!, Bells are Ringing, Spelling Bee, Hairspray, and Kiss Me, Kate.
Broadway Blog: Drop That Name!
Musicals: LITTLE ME
BYE BYE BIRDIE
Plays: NOISES OFF
THE SUNSHINE BOYS
Touche ! the original Dame Edna
the original Fool Moon with Bill Irwin. We were literally on the floor gagging in hilarious hysteria!!
As for musicals, I'd have to say "Avenue Q" and "Spelling Bee."
Noises Off
I would say Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Spelling Bee are two of the funniest musicals I've seen. The Producers is also really funny and the songs in Avenue Q are hysterical, although I haven't gotten to see the show yet...
Broadway Star Joined: 12/31/69
Souvenir, Little Dog Laughed, the word Nougat in DRS, and, inadvertently, Whistle Down the Wind.
I have seen DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS eight times over the past few years and have to say it never fails to make me laugh. AVENUE Q is also hilarious.
As for plays: THE PILLOWMAN and THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE are both hysterical. Martin McDonagh has got to be one of my favorite playwrights.
Spelling Bee is the Funniest Overall but...
The scene in Wonderful Town when Brooke Shields (or Donna Murphy) is trying to pull out the sofa bed is the hardest I have ever laughed in a Broadway theatre.
Plays: Noises Off and Laughter on 23d Floor. (Didn't we have this discussion a short bit ago?)
Musicals: The most I've ever laughed was in Pippin when Charlegmane (Eric Christmas, I think in a 1978 Tour) introduced War is a Science by saying "Gentlemen, let me tell you about our battle plan. On second thought, let me sing it for you." I was in the third row and laughed hysterically. I was one of the few, and to this day, I swear Charlegmane stopped and looked down at me and smiled.
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