What Musical to See?- Page 2

[MichaelUK92]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 6:55am

Next to Normal or Hair.


Not Billy Elliot, even if it's the only show you can go to, don't.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 1/2/10 at 3:29pm

If I were taking newbies to the theatre

I would chose Memphis:

Big sets
great choreography
Great performances.
enjoyable story.

I would avoid In the heights as I felt was boring predictable and only had one set
(albeit a very nice one that upstaged the show)

My second choices would be Wicked or Billy Elliot which are quite excellent.

Hair only has one set and is not indicative of what a Broadway Musical is. Its not even as spectacular as the original which had puppets and hydraulic lifts which are sadly missing from this version.

Next to Normal is excellent but not everyones cup of tea

Again: Memphis, Billy Elliot, Wicked or maybe Jersey Boys

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 1/2/10 at 3:37pm

Why does a show have to have a big set that moves? O actually perfer a show that has a smaller simple set.

Persoanlly I think the Hair revival is genius and In The Heights is original (especially the music)

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/2/10 at 3:42pm

See Finian's Rainbow. It's an absolute treat.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 1/2/10 at 3:44pm

Because the original poster asked for typical Broadway Musical Show Experience.

And these fit the bill.

I am tired of paying 125 per ticket while producer look to save money with scaled down sets, scaled down orchestras.

So a typical Broadway Musical Experience needs specatale (in my opinion)
Hair, In the Height, Next to Normal and Finians Rainbow (which I loved) simply don't fit that bill

[Jersey Girl2]

Posted: 1/2/10 at 10:52pm

I'd see Rock Of Ages.

[Will O'Donnell]

Posted: 1/2/10 at 11:15pm

Hair (if you can handle excessive sex, drugs, and nudity) is the best show on Broadway currently. Chicago (favorite show, but Ashley Simpson is not very good) and Next to Normal are also fantastic.

[Mamie]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 12:00am

Billy Elliot is fabulous and I don't know anyone who's seen it and didn't leave the theatre without a big smile on their face. Billy and Ragtime are two shows that are worth making a trip to NY just to see.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 12:06am

"Spectacle aspect"?

Billy Elliot...
Wicked if you haven't seen it on tour.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 8:52pm

"Because the original poster asked for typical Broadway Musical Show Experience.

And these fit the bill.

I am tired of paying 125 per ticket while producer look to save money with scaled down sets, scaled down orchestras.

So a typical Broadway Musical Experience needs specatale (in my opinion)
Hair, In the Height, Next to Normal and Finians Rainbow (which I loved) simply don't fit that bill"


A "Typical Broadway Musical Eperience" does not mean "I want to see a bunch of money on the stage with huge sets and elaborate costumes and lights"

I think a "Typical Broadway Experience" is having a good time at a show that takes you to another world for 2 and a half hours. You want to enjoy yourself with good music and a interesting story.

The reason producers have a small set or small orchestra is not necessarily to save money, that might just make the show better.

For example Hair is a rather simple show about hippies in NY in the 1960s. It's not supposed to have moving sets creating each individual scene. You are suppose to appreciate the art of the material.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 3:31pm

Chita-- you are drunk and misguided.

I've seen the original Hair and the revival.
While I enjoyed the current Hair revival for its tone, actors performance music and message ---- what is missing from the original is the 14 foot puppets of LBJ, the police,the hydraulic lifts, the bed that comes down from the rafters, the amazing Supreme costumes and Spectical in general.

What is passing as a Broadway Experience (Hair) is really a very good Off Broadway r Regional production that could have been done in any regional theatre. And I am still paying Broadway prices for a regional theatre or off broadway product.

Again, the original poster asked for a Broadway Musical Specatcular Experience.
I am not putting down smaller shows ( I love I do i do, Avenue Q, Next To Normal)
but they are not the Big Broadway Musical Experience.



Producers are pairing down orchestras of 24 to orchestras of 9. That would be fine if the price of the Broadway musical were one third of what it charges but why are we paying more and getting less?.

And they are skimping on sets.

Mind you I just saw the road tour of 101 Dalmatians. While the spectacal and production values were amazing, the experience was a dismal failure due to
amazingly embarrasing material (book and music)

When you have a Wicked or a Billy Elliot or a Gypsy or an Oliver or a Cabaret and the material and the substance and the music match the spectical, to me that is the true Broadway Musical Expereince.

[jpbran]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 12:18pm

Next to Normal's the best thing out there, but again isn't a SPECTACLE, despite being spectacular.

[Will O'Donnell]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 12:57pm

Hair is the best show on Broadway, in my opinion. Chicago (amazing show, but stupid Ashlee Simpson is in it now) and Next to Normal are awesome too though.