What type of Musical?

[CrAzIaBoUtReNt]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 8:50pm

I was just curious what your favorite type of musical is. Do you like more modern shows like RENT or the older styles sort of like 42nd Street? I prefer stuff like RENT because it attracts a younger crowd. I think it is important that more younger people like me get involved with musical theatre. So, what about everyone else?!?!?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 9:00pm

Time period isn't a factor for me at all, but I tend to go for more serious, straight forward, smart drama - preferably with a tragic ending, or something. There are, of course, exceptions, but lately all the "comedies" to open have been abominable (with an exception of HAIRSPRAY and DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS,) so my ideal shows would be shows like SWEENEY TODD, INTO THE WOODS, NINE, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, and even RENT.

If you're talking time period, I would have to say older stuff - most newer shows have been complete garbage.

[ikmbway]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 9:20pm

definetly musicals like rent...its attracting and it has a great story...the music is amazing...and you can see what can be done on stage with not a big cast and very little props and a small stage set....its truly amazing and a lot more exciting

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 9:24pm

my taste runs the gamut from Hello Dolly! to Rent. and Peter Pan to Rocky Horror... the only shows I don't like are those that I feel are poorly constructed or lack heart.

[JohnnysGurl]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 9:25pm

i like more original types of musicals, stuff that many people havent thought of like Avenue Q or Little Shop

[bjivie2]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 9:27pm

I don't really have a strong preference with time period. I guess I really enjoy current time period, because it allows one to use current music stylings in the show.

My criteria is more in the form. I'm with Munk a little bit because the shows I usually like are more dramatic. I prefer shows to have social commentary or some kind of moral, and it's tough for comedies to do either of them. I usually don't like shows that have no plot. And while I like belting, if it's pointless and undramatic, I don't like it. I don't think I'd like Brooklyn much.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 9:33pm

I usually like more challenging shows; ones that really make you think. Sondheim is without a doubt my favorite composer. I also enjoy the works of William Finn, Michael John LaChiusa, Jason Robert Brown, and Adam Guettel.

I also appreciate a good, funny show, such as "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels". Some of my favorite classics are "Show Boat", "Carousel", and "The Music Man".

My tastes are very eclectic (sp?).

[kim1061]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 9:49pm

hm, that's a tough decision. I was ready to say "new" age like RENT yet I do love the types like 42nd street. I bascially like anything appealing to me regardless of the era.

[Justice]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 10:01pm

Personally, i think any musical can attract a younger crowd. When I was 14, Les Miserables got me into musicals. If you mention "Rent" to a person who hates musicals, they still won't give it a chance, and turn away from it, simply because it is a musical. This isn't the case for everyone, but "time period" shouldn't be a factor. For instance, musicals like Les Miserables, Jeckyl & Hyde, Parade, have a modernized score. Hairspray, which is hugely popular, has a very 60's score.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 12:25am

The only reason I might say I go for the slightly more modern shows(not in terms of time period but when they actually premiered on Broadway) is just because they're the majority of the shows I've seen on Broadway and some of them I can say I saw the original production, and it just leads me to have a closer relationship than with some of the "classics", with the exceptions of some revivals.

But I do agree with some of the other people here, I usually tend to prefer dramas to comedies. Well, actually I think it's more than simple drama and comedy, it's more unhappy. I really don't like musicals that are all happy happy and everyone lives happily ever after and let's you know tap dance-like the Music Man. I like shows that seem more real, and acknowledge the harshness of life, whether it be dramas like West Side Story, Les Miz, Miss Saigon, Rent, or Wicked or even comedies that either poke fun at Broadway because I love it so much(Forbidden Broadway, Producers, supposedly Spamalot), or ones that are funny yet still take a more realistic look at the world and aren't all happy happy like Avenue Q.

[Plum]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 12:27am

I don't separate shows by time period- it just doesn't work post-Oklahoma! Even if you're going purely by musical style, there are shows written in pastische styles today and there are shows written 20 years ago that still sound amazingly modern.

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 7:34am

I agree. When I saw RENT, I thought - what's so new and unique about this? I was seeing this kind of show 30 years ago!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 9:08am

Though I do agree that it is important to get younger people into the theatre - I can't really say that I like much of the newer pop style musicals being done these days - I'll take the classic musicals any day over things like Les Miz, Saigon and Rent.

[jeremykushnier1fan]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 7:25pm

i can not get enough of the modren musicals, e.g RENT!!Rock-opera or whatever its considerd has a powerful sound that gets across to the youth.But, you can never forget the classics e.g Les miz!

Still i perfer stuff like RENT!

...im a big rent-head

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 12:52am

i prefer contemporary musicals.. how do i put it... hmm... i love rodger and hammerstein... but i cannot listen to the original orchestrations and the original singers... there's just something about the way it sounds and the way they sing that irk me... i like more modernized/contemporary versions of it... kinda like.. i love the KING AND I but the version with Julie Andrews and Lea Salonga and the Donna Murphy version... i like the newer Flower Drum Song... that being said... i like all but i like serious stuff more

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 1:00am

I prefer the more modern musicals like RENT. Using RENT as a particular example, that kind of music draws my attention more I guess. It's hard to explain, but yeah I'd prefer contemporary.

[phantom_tenor]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 7:16am

oh tough question. It really depends on the musical, but i rather the older style. You can't beat a true classic, 42nd street etc.

[MissNY]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 7:50pm

I enjoy all sorts of musicals but I would have to say my favorite are the fun comedies. My 3 favorite shows ATM are Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Ave Q and Wicked (I know Wicked isn't exactly a comedy, but it definately has comedic elements which is one of the things I enjoy so much about it)

[keggss23]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 7:53pm

I don't care if it's modern style or older style, as long as it is written and performed well.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 8:17pm

I love musicals from all time periods and all genres. I seem to fall for the dramatic stuff (assassins) more, but every now and than you need a good bit of showy fluff (wicked). The shows that combine these are some of my favorites (les miz is very dramatic but very showy)

[stylinbohemian]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 11:09pm

I think that the newer musicals are great but I still love the older classics cause you can't beat the classics, I don;t really think that the time period depends I mean I live for both new shows and the revivals of the older ones