What Was The Worst Musical You Saw — Page 5

aliceripleyofficial said: "Hands down, Cher Show or Beetlejuice."

You are wrong. Both of these were good

Tateh said: "Oklahoma Broadway revival 2019"

This production was effing brilliant !

The Cher Show. SJB was a revelation, but the book was basically a poorly written Wikipedia page.

Got Tu Go Disco

Via Galactica

In My Life

I was actually in the original cast of Via Galactica and I will be the first to tell you that it wasn't the easiest show to perform. We all knew by opening night that is was a flop! We were the first show to open the Gershwin Theater which was originally called The Uris Theater. The show's original title was UP but the producers changed it to Via Galactica because they didn't want the marquee to read Up Uris. A month before we started rehearsals the director Peter Hall decided that all of the dialogue should be made into musical recitative. So we ended up with a sung through musical. Peter Hall was so ashamed of the show that he left the USA before opening night. The trampolines on the floor weren't ultimately that successful but it was a good idea at the time. Long before the helicopter hoopla from Miss Saigon Via Galactica boasted a space ship that extended out into the first ten rows of the orchestra. Actually some of the music of Galt McDermot wasn't that bad and it had a really good cast headlined with Raul Julia, Virginia Vestoff, Irene Cara, Damon Evans, Mark Baker and Bonnie Walker. If this show had originally been presented in a European opera house it probably would have been deemed some kind of success.

Into the Light - starring Dean Jones, about the Shroud of Turin

A Broadway Musical - about making a Broadway musical

Sarava - starring Tovah Feldshuh, based on Donna Flor and Her Two Husbands

viagalactica6 said: "Got Tu Go Disco

Via Galactica

In My Life

I was actually in the original cast of Via Galactica and I will be the first to tell you that it wasn't theeasiestshow to perform. We all knew by opening night that is was a flop! We were the first show to open the Gershwin Theater which was originally called The Uris Theater. The show's original title was UP but the producers changed it to Via Galactica because they didn't want the marquee to read Up Uris. A month before we started rehearsals the director Peter Hall decided that all of the dialogue should be made into musical recitative. So we ended up with a sung through musical. Peter Hall was so ashamed of the show that he left the USA before opening night. The trampolines on the floor weren't ultimately that successful but it was a good idea at the time. Long before the helicopter hoopla from Miss Saigon Via Galactica boasteda space ship that extended out into the first ten rows of the orchestra. Actually some of the music of Galt McDermot wasn't that bad and it hada really good cast headlined with Raul Julia, Virginia Vestoff, Irene Cara, Damon Evans, Mark Baker and Bonnie Walker. If this show had originally been presented in a European opera house it probably would have been deemed some kind of success."

Where is the GD Like button? This is why I come to the Broadwayworld message boards, for stories like this from the participants themselves!

I didn't see ""into the Light" but complete;y agree about "Sarava" and "A
Broadway Musical."

Miles2Go2 said: "On tour - Cats

On Broadway - Tina "

Did you hate Tina that much of have you just liked most musicals you have seen? I ask because I had tickets for June 7th and, when asked if I wanted to go exchange it for a later date (like when I am supposed to see MM in mid-September (fingers crossed)), I decided I did not want to see it enough for the splurge tickets I had originally purchased, based on reading about Warren’s performance. Reflecting on the fact that I haven’t liked many juke box musicals (loved Mamma Mia, Beautiful, and MR (which I consider different from most — lots of difference composers, etc.), and it is difficult to know when she is actually performing, I decided to save my money. I imagine it will be on TKTS; and, if not, who cares?).

Jarethan said: "Miles2Go2 said: "On tour - Cats

On Broadway - Tina "

Did you hate Tina that much of have you just liked mostmusicals you have seen? I ask because I had tickets for June 7th and, when asked if I wanted to go exchange it for a later date (like when I am supposed to see MM in mid-September (fingers crossed)),I decided I did not want to see it enough for the splurge tickets I had originally purchased, based on reading about Warren’s performance. Reflecting on the fact that I haven’t liked manyjuke box musicals (loved Mamma Mia, Beautiful, and MR (which I consider different from most — lots of difference composers, etc.),and it is difficult to know when she is actually performing, I decided to save my money. I imagine it will be on TKTS; and, if not, who cares?)."

I think my negative reaction was mainly because a) I adore Tina Turner so I want her story treated well, b) the book is horrid, c) the songs sometimes feel shoehorned in, and d) Warren and her understudy were both out but my “Tina” was great. Alas, the rest of cast was mostly underwhelming to me no doubt mostly because of the cardboard characters they were given to inhabit.

I will say the numbers that were supposed to be more just performance numbers rather than progressing/telling the story fare the best. This is especially true of the last song plus the two songs performed during curtain call. They were full-out, thrilling concert fun without any clunky dialogue, only illuminating what was lacking in what came before.

Like you, prior to last year, I thought I mostly didn’t like jukebox musicals. I had loved American Idiot. Enjoyed Mamma Mia despite the weak plot and liked the music in Jersey Boys even though I found the book pretty weak.

But then I loved Moulin Rouge! and liked Jagged Little Pill much more than I expected (I saw it the night after I saw Tina).

So I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t generally like bio-musicals, but may very well enjoy a jukebox musical with an original plot. I think that’s because with bio-musicals, they are forced to shoehorn songs into an already determined plot with usually doesn’t turn out well. With an original plot, they can create a story to serve the songs rather than the other way around.

As you can guess, I generally avoid shows I don’t think I’ll like so I can’t say Tina was absolutely horrible; while Tina isn’t the worst thing to ever appear on a stage, it was the one that most disappointed me.

I think you were wise to get a refund. I only paid $48 plus 1,000 AR points.

Updated On: 4/10/20 at 05:39 PM

Miles2Go2 said: "Jarethan said: "Miles2Go2 said: "On tour - Cats

On Broadway - Tina "

Did you hate Tina that much of have you just liked mostmusicals you have seen? I ask because I had tickets for June 7th and, when asked if I wanted to go exchange it for a later date (like when I am supposed to see MM in mid-September (fingers crossed)),I decided I did not want to see it enough for the splurge tickets I had originally purchased, based on reading about Warren’s performance. Reflecting on the fact that I haven’t liked manyjuke box musicals (loved Mamma Mia, Beautiful, and MR (which I consider different from most — lots of difference composers, etc.),and it is difficult to know when she is actually performing, I decided to save my money. I imagine it will be on TKTS; and, if not, who cares?)."

As you can guess, I generally avoid shows I don’t think I’ll likeso I can’t say Tina was absolutely horrible;while Tina isn’t the worst thing to ever appear on a stage, it was the one that most disappointed me.

I think you were wise to get a refund. I only paid $48 plus 1,000 AR points.


Thanks. I never think of that option, although I have almost 30,000 points. Used it for War Paint and something else. Thanks for reminding me.

Re your comment re not seeing a show if I don’t think I am going to like it, I follow that practice...I just expected to like more of the musicals. Interestingly, I never saw Rent because I didn’t think I’d like it at all. Ironically, I saw the maligned movie and kinda liked it, so you never know. The other acclaimed shows I didn’t see because I thought I wouldn’t like them were Passing Strange and FELA.