Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:25pm

Which top five shows have you seen that you would consider the most powerful, meaning at the end of the show you felt the most changed from when you entered the theatre. (Take the verb "changed" for what you will.) AND PLEASE DO NOT EXCLUDE STRAIGHT PLAYS OR PERFORMANCE ART!!

1) Aida (Original Broadway Cast)
2) Ragtime (Original Broadway Cast)
3) Les Miserables (2002 Broadway Cast)
4) West Side Story (Regional Production in Florida?)
5) Oliver (Regional Production in Raleigh, NC)

Updated On: 1/24/06 at 11:25 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:28pm

I don't know if I can put these in order, but...

Rent, Cabaret, The Normal Heart.

Just those three for now, I think. Nothing else hits those heights for me.

ETA -- duh, I forgot Caroline, or Change.

I'm on the fence about whether or not to say AIDA. I love it dearly, and it ran away with my heart, but I'm not sure that it did so for me because it was powerful. Yeah, the love story is powerful, and I cried, and....

alright, AIDA.

There, now I have five.

Updated On: 1/24/06 at 11:28 PM

[Cages or Wings]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:31pm

Rent, TTB, Ragtime, Sweeney, The Normal Heart (I'm Not Copying Emcee, The Normal Heart is one of my favorite shows ever)

[ALWrules]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:31pm

1) Les Miz
2) Phantom of the Opera
3) Sweeney Todd

I am in the same boat as luvtheEmcee.I think those are the only to accomplish that objective.

[rose&lark]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:32pm

I can't put this in order, but:
RENT
Les Miserables
Cabaret
Movin' Out
Jesus Christ Superstar

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:36pm

Aida
Cabaret
Wicked
The Normal Heart
The Color Purple

Oh, there are so many others I want to add to the list!

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:37pm

1. The Normal Heart
2. In the Continnum
3. Curse of the Starving Class
4. Angels In America
5. Dessa Rose/Color Purple
6. Violet
7. Caroline or Change
8. Hedwig
5 is not possible.

Updated On: 1/24/06 at 11:37 PM

[liotte]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:39pm

If I look at the word changed in different ways...

Rent- changed as in most moving and powerful, no day but today message.
Les Miz- To love another person is to see the face of God, just deep and profound story.
All Shook Up- changed my impression of jukebox musicals to something positive and wonderful.
Spelling Bee- changed the way I look at my students when I teach. Everyone is unique and has their own issues and ways to deal. (well, I already knew that but the show reinforced the message)
Wicked- changed my viewpoint of The Wizard of Oz story- not everything is as it seems, get the whole story first.
Sweeney Todd- changed my mind about ever getting a haircut again.

Updated On: 1/24/06 at 11:39 PM

[PJ]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:40pm

1. Gypsy
2. A Streetcar Named Desire
3. Sweeney Todd
4. The Light in the Piazza
5. Doubt

Honorable Mentions: Cabaret & Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:40pm

In no particular order, and not necessarily on Broadway:

Frozen
Ragtime
Dessa Rose
The Elephant Man
A Streetcar Named Desire

LC

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:44pm

Hell, I'm adding one more... SWEENEY TODD

[MouseInfo]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:52pm

Miss Saigon
Les Miserables
AIDA
Wicked

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:57pm

Rent
Bare
Nine
Sweeney Todd
Sixteen Wounded

in no order

[broadwaygiant19122]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:58pm

Gypsy
Virginia Woolf
Assassins
RENT
The Light In The Piazza
Sweeney Todd

6 is the new 5.

oh oh and Spamalot just for sheer enjoyment.

[littleredridinghood]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:01am

Angels in America, Sweeney Todd, Company, and Rent all come to mind.

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:02am

Sweeney
Assassins
Les Miz
RENT
I haven't really seen this one: The Pillowman. But I found it extremely powerful...and quite creepy.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:02am

Crap, I'm also gonna add Piazza and Assassins. This is just impossible for me!

[My Name in Lights]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:12am

LES MIZ

THE NORMAL HEART

MISS SAIGON

CABARET

LENNON

THE ELEPHANT MAN...oops that makes six!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:19am

A Streetcar Named Desire
Les Mis
Cabaret
Rent
Ragtime (not a fan, but it's powerful nonetheless)

[emo_geek]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:21am

Peter Pan
Wicked
Brooklyn

[C is for Company]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:24am

Wicked, Assassins, Les Mis, Sweeney, Doubt, The Color Purple

Anyone wanna pick one to eliminate for me? ha

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:27am

You mean the kind of show that leaves a knot in your throat and your face chapped with the salt of your tears?

In no particular order:

THE NORMAL HEART (2004 revival)

THE LARAMIE PROJECT (an outstanding college production in Toronto, 2005)

DEATH OF A SALESMAN (on the West End, with Dennehy and Claire Higgins)

INTO THE WOODS (silly, I know, but "No One Is Alone" hits a deep nerve in me)

KING LEAR (with Ian Holm, for the National Theatre)

[Attendthetale331]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:30am

Assassins
Sweeney Todd
Rent
Les Miserables
Wicked

[jimmirae]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:44am

CHICAGO - OBC
SWEENEY TODD - OBC
THE RINK - OBC
CABARET - OBRC
ELAINE STRITCH:AT LIBERTY - OBC

I must also mention:
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
A Streetcar named Desire
Look Homeward, Angel
Dark of the Moon
Master Class
and
Who's life is it anyway?
as well as all the works of Shakespeare ...and
MUST mention
The Divine Glenda Jackson
who made acting worth the while!

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 1:10am

Sunday in the Park With George, Passion, Dark of the Moon, Sweeney Todd, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf.

I haven't seen nearly enough obviously, but of what I've seen those are my picks!