What is the most innovative, genre-bending broadway musical? — Page 2

VolleyBaller, I respect your definition of innovative and understand your point. However, I do not see how someone who defines innovative as I do (in terms of artistic achievements more than technical/technological) would not consider West Side Story a ground-breaking piece. In addition, to what wickedrentq said, it is also important to note that West Side Story was the first show to give a name to each member of the chorus so all of them had a character which is why--as wickedrentq said--all the dancers in the chorus needed to be actors and singers as well.

"However, I do not see how someone who defines innovative as I do (in terms of artistic achievements more than technical/technological) would not consider West Side Story a ground-breaking piece."

You're not talking about me here? I hope not. If you are, I definitely feel WSS was a ground-breaking piece. But as I said, it's not my innovative definition. I don't think you're talking about me, though. :P

Well HAIR is definitely one of the main ones.
FIRST full rock score on Broadway
FIRST "environmental show" [cast mingles with audience]
FIRST show with nudity on Broadway
FIRST musical on Broadway without a show curtain
FIRST show to transfer from off- broadway to BROADWAY

Think about it. How many musicals on Broadway today contain one of these aspects? It all started with Hair.

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It seems that every decade or so a show comes along that fits this description and the shows in the past are overshadowed by the new one.

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There's going to be an innovative, genre-blending show every few years... so I'll go in order

1. Show Boat (Book musical)
2. Oklahoma! (And that's the first with the exclamation point, so it beats Oh Calcutta! :) also, serious things spoken about in a musical. Such had been touched on in Show Boat, but it still had a Follies-esque element )
3. Hair (which beats Oh Calcutta! by being the first rock musical... understandably so. If you think the first rock musical, you’re going to think Hair.)
4. Company (rethinking of a type of musical, and though it wasn’t groundbreaking at the time to the audiences, it placed a landmark for the type of musicals that were created onward)
5. A Chorus Line (say no more)
6. Cats (as much as I hate putting this here, it was the beginning of the mega British pop-rock shows, yes even more than Evita and JCS. It changed contemporary Broadway more than anything. If it’s a positive or negative change, well I can’t say, but it cause a change)

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How are some of the shows listed genre-bending and innovative? Starlight Express? Spelling Bee? The Sweeney Revival? Come on.

I'd say:

Show Boat
Oklahoma
West Side Story
Hair
Company
A Chorus Line
Cats

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thevolleyballer, I was not referring to you
I do not see Cats as being innovative, to me Jesus Christ Superstar is much more relevant in terms of Broadway history. Along with Hair, it started the success of the so-called "rock opera" on Broadway.

I believe that people consider Cats innovative because of the staging. At the time, people were ga-ga over the flying tire. Wasn't it also the show that everyone considers to have ushered in the "out of sight" ticket prices?

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i'd have to say godspell, it played a big part in the belting craze that is modern musical theater

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On Your Toes - Coreography used in Story Telling
Carousel - Even more depressing subject manner that Oklahoma!

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