Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
#0Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
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)
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
Updated On: 1/24/06 at 11:25 PM
--Aristotle
#1re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
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.
Cages or Wings
Featured Actor Joined: 11/27/04
#2re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:31pmRent, TTB, Ragtime, Sweeney, The Normal Heart (I'm Not Copying Emcee, The Normal Heart is one of my favorite shows ever)
#3re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
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.
Keep your morals, I don't have time. Keep your lovers, I'm changing mine!
-The Likes of Us
rose&lark
Featured Actor Joined: 10/10/05
#4re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:32pm
I can't put this in order, but:
RENT
Les Miserables
Cabaret
Movin' Out
Jesus Christ Superstar
Q: What is the most weirdest or funniest thing a fan has asked you?
Joe Flanigan, Stargate Atlantis: When a fan asked me for help with his grammar. I'm available.
Chrysanthemum62001
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
#5re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
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!
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
Corine2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/14/03
#6re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
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
#7re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#8re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
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
Broadway Star Joined: 10/7/05
#9re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
#10re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:44pmHell, I'm adding one more... SWEENEY TODD
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
MouseInfo
Stand-by Joined: 2/20/04
#11re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:52pm
Miss Saigon
Les Miserables
AIDA
Wicked
#12re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:57pm
Rent
Bare
Nine
Sweeney Todd
Sixteen Wounded
in no order
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#13re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
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.
#14re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:01amAngels in America, Sweeney Todd, Company, and Rent all come to mind.
gavrochegirl
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/16/05
#15re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
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.
What the puck?!
Chrysanthemum62001
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
#16re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:02amCrap, I'm also gonna add Piazza and Assassins. This is just impossible for me!
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
My Name in Lights
Stand-by Joined: 7/26/05
#17re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:12am
LES MIZ
THE NORMAL HEART
MISS SAIGON
CABARET
LENNON
THE ELEPHANT MAN...oops that makes six!
Stand-by Joined: 12/31/69
#18re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:19am
A Streetcar Named Desire
Les Mis
Cabaret
Rent
Ragtime (not a fan, but it's powerful nonetheless)
#19re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:21am
Peter Pan
Wicked
Brooklyn
"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999
C is for Company
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/16/05
#20re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
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
#21re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
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)
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner
HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."
Attendthetale331
Featured Actor Joined: 1/8/06
#22re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:30am
Assassins
Sweeney Todd
Rent
Les Miserables
Wicked
"Listen to the song that I sing and trust me..."
#23re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
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!
"It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance." -
Elizabeth Taylor
#24re: Top Five Most Powerful Shows You've Seen
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!
"This ocean runs more dark and deep than you may think you know...I'll be the fear of the fire at sea."
-Marie Christine
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