What Makes You Love A Musical?

[~*Triple Star On Broadway*~]

Posted: 3/25/04 at 8:52pm

What are the components you look for in a musical that makes it worthy of people to enjoy it? What encaptures you? What makes you get so inside of a musical that its hard to get out?

[Ruffian]

Posted: 3/25/04 at 8:57pm

I couldn't get out of "TABOO" nor did I want to

The Great Score by The Boy pulled me in, I like to go to a crazy place, I remember The Day .. as they say...really felt I had been transported...same with CABARET

Great Great Talent on the Stage in that kind of Show makes my Day

[HunterFosterIsMyGod]

Posted: 3/25/04 at 8:58pm

funny, great music, good storyline, talent in cast (star power, but not always needed), good choreography (sp?), and cute guys! woot!

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 3/25/04 at 8:58pm

Whether the perfomers are nice and sweet and pose for photos and sign every scrap I throw in their faces, natch!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/25/04 at 8:58pm

Oh dear.... this is a hard question, but usually the big thing for me is how I feel the moment I walk out of a theater. If I walk out feeling like "Oh my God I MUST see that show again," then that means I really loved it. It's rare for me to see things that I don't absolutley fall in love with more than once.

I don't think there's any ONE component that makes a show for me, considering that my favorite shows are all pretty different... and I don't think there's any ONE component that makes a show something that EVERYONE will enjoy. I think that from especially on this board, we know that peoples' opinions will always differ greatly. A lot of it is the basic premise, and a lot of it is the way it's presented I guess.... encompassed in that would be everything - the acting, the music, the book, and even the sets, to a degree - as a whole package. I guess there just has to be *something* really special, but that "something" can be any one of a million thing that really makes the show get under your skin. Cabaret, Rent and Aida did it for me. There were characters that I cared about, and I really felt like I was transported into their world. That's what makes a show for me.

Well, yay for more rambling, roundabout, "must-waste-time-so-I-don't-need-to-study" posts from me....

Updated On: 3/27/04 at 08:58 PM

[Elphie]

Posted: 3/25/04 at 9:48pm

I wish I could just break out into song and sing about my life everday. Like in FAME the movie, how they are eating lunch and someone starts tapping and they all start making a rhythem and someone starts dancing and someone runs to the piano and everyone is going crazy and the singing begins. I think thats amazing. I think real life should be like that- I'll walk down the streets and some random boy will be doing switch leaps infront of me and it would all be normal. That is why I love musicals.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/25/04 at 9:58pm

What does it for me is hard to put in words. How do you describe one's aesthetic tastes. If something moves me, takes me out of myself and makes me feel something good-well, then that's enough for me. Taboo did that but even more so - the music of Dance of the Vampires. And I don't give a rat's ass what the popular opinion on that show was. I LOVED IT.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 3/25/04 at 10:20pm

hmm...good story line, talent (doesn't matter if it's a bit star), music, and sometimes the sets and lighting have an effect.

[iminsidethemusic]

Posted: 3/26/04 at 3:45am

There's a lot of things about a musical that make me fall in love with it.

I'd probably have to say the number one thing is the music MUST hit a chord in me somewhere. I say this because I have been a fan of musical theater since I was about three or four years old, a good 21 years before I saw my first professional stage musical (Sorry, I'm not counting countless school musicals, or even ballets which number in the thousands.)

For so long, I only had the music itself, not the visuals to go with it, to make a musical work for me. Case in point, Phantom. I always knew I would LOVE it when I got to see it for the first time, because the music - even on the OLCR - moved me to the point where I would listen over and over and over again. Sound of Music did the same thing for me, as did a few others in those early years.

Now that I've seen Phantom numurous times, and have many, many recordings of it . . . cast makes or breaks it. Out of eight times, the only time I really didn't totally fall into it was the very last time. Partly because of a minor lack . . . a brand new phantom who wasn't comfortable in his shoes yet coupled by a Christine who . . . um, was having a very OFF night and my favorite Raoul being out that day . . . every other time I've left the theatre with a feeling of euphoria. Although I think part of the letdown was knowing it was the last time I'd see it for a LONG time.

I've fallen in love with other shows because of staging and dancing (DOTV, Sound Of Music, Aida, etc) although the music, there's got to be at least ONE song that touches me, maybe even makes me a bit misty, if not downright makes me cry.

(Which I know when I finally DO Get to see Wicked, I'll be bawling during "For Good" . . . I already do from the cast recording!)

So all in all, it's about the MUSIC and the way it makes you feel! I think maybe my screen name says it all

*I'm Inside The Music*

[alterego]

Posted: 3/26/04 at 7:16am

Firstly, if I am familiar with the music (and of course like it) seeing how it actually all comes together on stage...performances, set, costumes etc. Secondly, the surprise element, that totally unexpected moment in the staging. It could be something inventive in the choreography, staging or just an unusual/unexpected scene change. If the aforementioned have happened by curtain call, I'm in heaven and am already thinking of a return visit. Sadly it doesn't happen enough these days.

[mmFan]

Posted: 3/26/04 at 8:32am

Great musicals are ones that you walk out singing and want to go right back to the box office and purchase another ticket. There's something about the music that captivates you and your feel tap along the entire time (at least in the fast songs). I also love it when musicals have fun, upbeat songs along with beautiful slower songs (e.g. Mamma Mia, Rent, and even Les Mis). Of course, you need great actors / singers ... people that give you chills when they sing. They can make or break a musical.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 3/26/04 at 10:20am

"If I walk out feeling like "Oh my God I MUST see that show again," then that means I really loved it"

I feel the same way!
This goes for Musicals as well as Plays. If I can sit in the theatre, and be SO captivated by what is going on up on the stage (so much so that I am not distracted by anything or anyone around me), then that's what makes it great in my book.
There has to be a believable storyline and good actors. I prefer it when there is a strong overture that just draws me right in; but it's not what makes the show for me.
I don't necessarily have to walk out singing the songs for it to be good...but I do have to walk out thinking, "I have to see that again!" And even if I know I won't get a chance to see it again, I have to be thinking, "That was a wonderful theatrical experience that I will remember for the rest of my life."

Also a key element:
The song lyrics/music/choreography/dialogue all HAVE to go together. I don't like it when there are certain songs just thrown in for the audience to be saying, "Hey! I know that song", meanwhile the song really has nothing to do with what's going on in the storyline.

[MusicalDirector109]

Posted: 3/26/04 at 5:12pm

A musical, or any theatre for that matter, should be able to transport me to the actors world. The musical score and the choreography must serve the strong book. The musicals that I love have it all - high energy casts, great costumes, a wonderful score, great dances and a strong story. It must give me something to chew on days after I've left the theatre.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 3/26/04 at 5:40pm

lots and lots of nekkid girlies!

[Shawk]

Posted: 3/26/04 at 5:45pm

You know what makes me love a musical? The opinions of people here on Broadway World!

I'm a Broadway World shill.

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

[beacon1]

Posted: 3/26/04 at 6:08pm

Characters you wish were "real" people you could meet.

And sing-able tunes. Stuff ya just can't get out of your head.

[racerchiquita76m]

Posted: 3/27/04 at 12:00pm

High quality music, an entertaining plot, and an energetic cast.

[WestEndBird]

Posted: 3/27/04 at 3:26pm

A good book that can keep me mentally involved with the subtle jokes and details...I love feeling like I get a joke that no one else does..the music has to make me wanna just get out from behind the wheel of my car and dance around like crazy...I also love music I can sing along with that is fun to play with.

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 3/27/04 at 3:40pm

the hotties,the music,the story, the characters and the actors.

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 3/27/04 at 4:24pm

The story, songs...

[Juliette Capulet]

Posted: 3/27/04 at 6:22pm

The music.

Tendres Baisers,
Juliette Capulet

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 3/28/04 at 10:39am

I think the best musicals are shows which are not even thought of as music and a book, but rather one seamless show, flowing easily from words into song. Now, to break that down, this only happens when a composer and book writer work incredibly well together and seem to have a common vision for a show. If this happens, the result usually is a fantastic musical, full of depth, feeling, and power. For me, shows fail when the two--music and book, seem to clash, as if the two's creators never really had the same vision.

[Broadwaygirl4life]

Posted: 3/28/04 at 11:10am

music, acting, a non- confusing storyline, and the sets.

[TheGirlinTheFrock]

Posted: 3/28/04 at 11:33am

I gotta agree with LuvTheEmcee. If I love a show i am usually walking out of the theatre saying, "I can't wait to see this again!" Some of the recent shows I said that about included CABARET WICKED and RENT. I saw Hairspray and thought it was great, but i didnt leave the theatre saying i wanted to go back.

Casting is a make or break it thing for me. If the actors arent believable as the characters they are playing than i sit there watching an actor look stupid on stage for the next couple of hours. (hmmm, maybe thats why i dont like stunt casting - but that another topic).

One line from Cabaret sums it all up, "Leave your troubles outside, there are no troubles in here, in here life is beautiful..." If i am sitting at a show and start thinking of what i have to do the next day or where we are going to eat after the show or anything besides the show I probably won't be "in love" with it. I want to be captivated by the show, drawn it, and forget about anything else.

DANCING! SINGING! MUSIC! EVERYTHING! i like the whole package

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/28/04 at 12:52pm

At this point--good writing at all, especially the book.