What is the BEST musical of ALL Time and what is the WORST musical of all time". "What do YOU think are the best and worst?- Page 3

[waddledee524]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 3:31pm

Best: West Side Story.
I'm a Bernstein fanatic. West Side Story is, in my opinion, the finest musical there is.

Worst: Oklahoma!
I saw an awful touring cast of it about a year ago. It's so clunky, and I strongly dislike Rogers and Hammerstein anyway. Cinderella is down there too.

[downtoearth]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 4:01pm

By the time it came out, Birdie certainly was trite. Aside from that, the book is just terrible. The general idea is fine, but the show lacks a lot. Perhaps the use of rock and roll music in the score was a novelty, and the only original thing about it.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 4:08pm

Best: Follies (followed closely behind by Dreamgirls).

Overrated musicals- King and I, South Pacific, Sound of Music, and Oklahoma are all over-rated in my opinion.

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 4:09pm

Best: Sweeney Todd, Ragtime, Miss Saigon, Wicked, Hair
Worst: Cats, Brooklyn, Annie

[??]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 4:23pm

Thundercat,

Is there a cast recording of Jerry Springer. Sorry to hear about your bad JCS experience, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gail Edwards have really turned it into a wussy kind of show these past 10 years. If you ever get interested, grab a copy of the original concept album with Ian Gillian from Deep Purple and Murray Head as well as Barry Dennan. You may have heard it already of course. I agree with you, though I am not a huge WSS story fan, it still is one of the best broadway shows.

Best12bars,

As someone who appreciates poetry and Shakespeare and literature I can still say that CATS is crap. I think alot of the resentment comes from the fact that CATS came to represent broadway throughout most of the 80's/90's, meaning that if some yahoo from North Dakota (no offense to those from ND!) wanted to come to the big city, chances are he would see CATS, because it was famous and to those not into theatre, when someone said broadway, they thought CATS!. This combined with the fact that, while you can argue that it is a good show or not, there are still better productions out there. It just seemed a shame that broadway to the average punter was synonymous with people dancing in leotards and meowing. And god, Memory is just rancid.

But bravo for you for having the guts to say you like CATS! I might as well, come out of the closet too.....I don't think Avenue Q is funny.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 4:44pm

I ADORE CATS. It was what inspired my interest in the theatre. I proudly own every recording of the show, and have the autographed poster hanging on my wall.

[WalveMalve]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 4:44pm

Best:
Staged -- Les Miserables
Written -- Sweeney Todd (though the new Doyle staging might surpass Les Miz)

Worst:
Staged -- In My Life
Written -- Carrie The Musical

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 4:57pm

?? --- First of all, I love your "name!"

A couple of things to clarify:

1) I do think "Cats" is a terrific show, and in my first time attending (with the OBC) it was/is one of the best experiences I've ever had in the theatre. (yeah, I've seen quite a few shows, before you ask...)

2) It's not THE BEST thing I've ever seen... but it's definitely near the top (again, based on my opinion of the OBC, not the 3 billionth performance of it).

3) I guess I should point out to you that your reasons listed for hating "Cats" have absolutely nothing to do with the show itself... but rather an "allergic reaction" to its monumental success. Hopefully, someday you can separate the two.

And the fact that you didn't find Avenue Q to be that funny? Neither did I, brotha, so put'er there!

[justagirl2]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 5:48pm

In my humble opinion I think:

Best: Guys and Dolls. I've never met anyone who's seen it and doesn't love it; Les Miserables, based on how successful and damned catchy it is; Fiddler on the Roof because it's the perfect mix of humor and reality (then again, I had my best theatre experience ever doing it, so I may be biased).

Worst: Bye Bye Birdie. Right from "We love you, Conrad," I cringe. The jokes fall flat, and it just doesn't make sense.

[??]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 6:25pm

Hi best12,

Is that Marlon Brando in your icon? Excellent....

I personally don't like CATS, the music or the story. I was pointing out that its odd so many people dislike the show, and I took a stab at the reasons why. If any other show had the same reputation or status that CATS does, I'm sure people would dislike that too. Its the same with Wicked though, it is just so famous that we get sick and tired of it. It's not a terrible show, just overdone.

As for Avenue Q, I thought it was funny the first time around. But after the millionth time listening to it, the jokes were old and I think more outlandish then actually funny.

[Kellie]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 6:32pm

It's funny how people either absolutely hate or totally love RENT..
And I always wondered about Cats, everyone was talking about how monumental it was and all, but I saw the dvd a few months ago and wasn't exactly raving about it. The dancers are amazing but the rest of it.. hmm!
Anyway, I'm in love with Chicago (as everyone), and Songs for a New World - but I've seen neither one on stage so I have nothing to compare it to.

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 8:21am

Best: Anything Jason Robert Brown
"Ragtime"
"Cabaret"
"Les Mis"(It's just a classic)

Worst:
"Show Boat"
"Music Man"
"Jekyll & Hyde"

~Sam
Updated On: 1/24/06 at 08:21 AM

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 10:31am

BEST: KISS ME, KATE

WORST: I haven't seen anything I didn't like. Updated On: 12/10/08 at 10:31 AM

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 10:46am

Best: West Side Story
Guys and Dolls
Dreamgirls
Hairspray

Worst: Mamma Mia

[Color and Light]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:50am

Best: Sweeney Todd, Cabaret, Gypsy
Worst: Jekyll and Hyde, Starlight Express

Posted: 1/25/06 at 1:39pm

BEST: My Fair Lady

WORST: Dracula