What Older Shows Should I Get Into?

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 7:23pm

Hey. I pretty recently got into Broadway (2 years) and I have seen lots of shows. I have researched and listened to a bunch of new shows, and I have pretty much just been focusing on that. I would now like to get into older shows, I have recently really gotten into Sunday in the Park With George (Saw the Revival) and Gypsy (Saw it twice) and a few other shows. But what other shows should I get into/listen to/research?

[laura is broadway]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 7:29pm

Old meaning.... Like more than 50 years, or like more than 10? I tend to think of SITPWG as relatively recent, as I do most shows past 1980 or so.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 7:31pm

Try looking at some of the Rogers & Hammerstein classics such as Oklahoma! and The King and I.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 7:45pm

Old Meaning- 1990 and back.

Thank you for the info Millie

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 7:51pm

What kind of "old" music do you like listening to?

Jazz, Big Band, Classical, '60s pop, '50s rock?

Or are you more interested in the stories, as opposed to the genre of music?

[Amalia Balash]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 7:51pm

If you liked Sunday and Gypsy, I think there's a lot to dig into with any Sondheim show. Some are more accessible than others -- I think A Little Night Music is beautiful (even if I've been tired of Send in the Clowns for twenty years) and could be good place to start. But I think Follies is the biggest Sondheim treasure trove. While ALNM is waltz, waltz, waltz, Follies pays homage to lots of different musical styles from the 20th century.

I also think researching the transformation of Pygmalion into My Fair Lady and then the controversy as it moved from Broadway to film could also be fascinating.

Show Boat was groundbreaking and its different incarnations are well worth exploring.

[She_Had_Refinement]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 7:52pm

Well, DCR, I'm an old-fashioned "gal". I'd recommend "Wonderful Town" - (Bernstein/Comden&Green). Some great tunes there... Donna Murphy's recent revival performance is wonderful, but there's nothing like Rosalind Russell.... and yes, she's no Ethel Merman, but Ruth's songs were all conceived around her vocal limitations. I'd also suggest "Anything Goes" - Cole Porter writes some very witty lyrics and memorable tunes. The 1986 revival with Patti LuPone is worthwhile. Finally, for a great "concept" musical, I'd suggest Sondheim's "Company".

Best,

Karl Maria

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 7:56pm

I had the same problem, and I have broad musical taste, so I tend to just dig into whatever. I think you should check out The Fantasticks (such a beautifully simple score), Marie Christine (sort of hard to get into, but I find it beautiful at times, and interesting at others), Evita (cause it rocks), and I'd say if you want something more old school go with "She Loves Me," or something more obscure than "Oklahoma," as it bores me.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:00pm

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I saw A Little Night Music in Baltimore and I really liked it. I am picky about Sondheim, I don't like Sweeny.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:02pm

So you saw it with Josh Young? I'm jealous. I saw his performance on THE SITE THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED, and his voice is incredible. How was his acting? And, I really enjoy Sweeney, it's a nice creepy score, but I don't care too much for Follies or Company.

[laura is broadway]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:04pm

I second getting into more Sondheim, especially if you're able to enjoy Sunday. I feel Into the Woods is really accessible, and wasn't long after SITPWG and also has a book by James Lapine. I definitely agree with A Little Night Music and Follies, and really all of Sondheim, but that should give you a good start.

Also, South Pacific is a solid classic, and it's a good time to get into it with the recent revival.

I don't know if you're really into the mega pop operas of the 80s, but IMO the only ones worth really getting into is Les Miserables and Miss Saigon, Les Mis being the better of the two.

If you're into rock scores, Hair is always fun, and the best of any.

And if you're want some really old stuff, lately I've been listening to The Threepenny Opera.

Those are just some random off the top of my head suggestions, I could come up with many more. Most of those, at least for me, have been pretty accessible. Enjoy!

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:06pm

I'm entirely enamored with She Loves Me and Bells Are Ringing. Not perfect, but so charming.

[She_Had_Refinement]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:12pm

Totally agree with shesamarshmallow. If you like Gypsy, you'll like Bells Are Ringing.

That said, and I mean this respectfully DCR, I know Sweeney is not everyone's taste, but it's not a bad thing to explore outside of an area of one's predilection. My example of this as it pertains to me is Rent. I never would have thought this would have affected me so. But it did. That said, there's a limit to experimentation. I'd just recommend exploring as much as you can via libraries (I'm a librarian by trade) and even Youtube. There's an amazing amount of clips out there to be explored.

Cheers to you!

[me2]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:13pm

One thing I would say is--and there are many who would rightfully disagree with me--look for albums of revivals. When you are trying to connect with a show, modern vocal styles will connect with you more quickly.

Some favorite old scores . . .

Hello, Dolly! (not the movie)
Mame
Guys and Dolls
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Bells are Ringing
Fiddler on the Roof
Flower Drum Song
The Pajama Game


Those are all good places to start.
Broadway Mouth: Reviews, Internet Buzz, and How I Wasted $125 (And You Can Too!)

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:22pm

I completely agree with shesamarshmallow and She_Had_Refinement. If you like 'Gypsy' there's a great chance you'll like 'Bells are Ringing'.

And while you're at it, check out some more Jule Styne. Some of his other brilliant scores include 'Fade Out, Fade In' and 'Subways are for Sleeping'.

Jerry Herman and Cy Coleman are also very good options. One of my favorite Cy Coleman scores (he's the one who wrote 'Sweet Charity') is 'On the Twentieth Century'.

And there is NO WAY you can ever go wrong with Jerry Herman. His scores are absolutely mezmorizing and beautiful. His major scores include:
'Mame'
'Hello, Dolly'
'Mack and Mabel'
'Milk and Honey'
'The Grand Tour'
'Dear World'

I'd suggest giving all of those a try if you can. 'The Grand Tour' and 'Milk and Honey' may be a little bit harder to find, but I believe the latter was re-released a short while ago.

If you're looking for shows that are a little bit more complex Noel Coward writes wonderful melodies, and while his shows are harder to find, I'd whole-heartedly reccomend 'Sail Away', and 'The Girl Who Came to Supper' if you can find it.

Updated On: 9/22/08 at 08:22 PM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:25pm

all of the suggestions so far have been wonderful (especially Fiddler)
one of my favorites is Finian's Rainbow, which is slightly obscure. (and the movie is hella trippy)
I also love Big River, which is a wonderful adaptation of Huck Finn.

[Khashoggi]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:30pm

This is a very interesting question, and one that seems to be coming up more and more often.
With all the new interest being raised in musical theatre thanks to shows like Wicked and Legally Blonde, that are targeted towards a younger audience, I often feel there should be some kind of "Broadway training" to help them discover the history of their new found love...

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:31pm

Anything Goes is always good. In addition to the LuPone '86 revival, check out the 2002 London revival, which is my personal favorite.

I've also been obsessed with Nine for a while now. There are 4 recordings of it that I'm aware of...and I love all of them for different reasons. I would say start with either the OBC or the 2003 revival.

[me2]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:32pm

When I was in high school, I would just go to the library and start checking out Broadway CDs. That's how I learned a lot.
Broadway Mouth: Reviews, Internet Buzz, and How I Wasted $125 (And You Can Too!)

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:34pm

Another note - if you want to check out "Bells Are Ringing", ignore the revival advice. Faith Prince can't begin to compare with Judy Holliday.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:35pm

Anything Rodgers and Hammerstein. Hell, all of them. Most are available in movie form! And of course a vote for Company, if you don't know it already via the revival.

For a really great, comprehensive overview, check out PBS' "Broadway: The American Musical." It's a good sampling, so then you can see what piques your interest and dig deeper from there.

Updated On: 9/22/08 at 08:35 PM

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:39pm

Updated On: 5/1/09 at 08:39 PM

[BNN]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:41pm

Here are the first 10 musicals I ever listened to when I started delving into theatre.

No, No, Nanette
Follies
Company
Oklahoma
Promises, Promises
Sweet Charity
Chicago
Sweeney Todd
South Pacific
Guys and Dolls

And I haven't looked back!

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 8:45pm

Updated On: 5/1/09 at 08:45 PM

[sally1112]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 9:19pm

Fiddler on the Roof is one of my favorite classics. I have the OBC and love it. I can't offer advice on any revivals because I have not heard those.

Also, older(pre-1990) as per your definition, Jesus Christ Super Star is one of my favorites. Not every song is great, but the score is very Rock and always a great listen. There are entire threads debating which recording is best, I have several and enjoy them all.