When Was the Last "Good" Season?
When Was the Last "Good" Season?
#1When Was the Last "Good" Season?
Posted: 12/17/12 at 9:59pm
It seems to me every year I read some post saying how it's been such a lackluster season. So how long's it been since we had one that wasn't disappointing?
I'd say 2009. Thoughts?
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mc1227
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/07
#2When Was the Last
Posted: 12/17/12 at 10:00pmI thought 2005 was an outstanding year.
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#2When Was the Last
Posted: 12/17/12 at 10:03pmThe 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 seasons were really good, I thought.
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#5When Was the Last
Posted: 12/17/12 at 10:11pmi loved the 2006-2007 season
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After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#7When Was the Last
Posted: 12/17/12 at 10:16pm
The 2004 season was phenomenal.
2005 was very good.
2007 was decent.
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Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
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#8When Was the Last
Posted: 12/17/12 at 10:22pm
Count me among the 2007 fans as well.
And 1998:
Ragtime
Cabaret revival
Side Show
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aaronb
Broadway Star Joined: 6/3/12
#9When Was the Last
Posted: 12/17/12 at 10:37pmI liked this season: DEATH OF A SALESMAN, VIRGINIA WOOLF, and GLENGARRY. Three solid revivals.
Ed_Mottershead
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/20/05
#10When Was the Last
Posted: 12/17/12 at 10:37pm
1955-1956
Diary of Anne Frank
Waiting for Godot
My Fair Lady
Most Happy Fella
The Great Sebastions
Tamburlaine the Great
Mr. Wonderful (Sammy Davis)
1956-1957
Long Day's Journey Into Night
Major Barbara
Bells are Ringing
New Girl in Town (Gwen Verdon at her very best)
Happy Hunting (return of Ethel Merman to Broadway, not the show)
Auntie Mame
Old Vic
Not to menton holdovers from previous seasons: The Pajama Game; Damn Yankees; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; The Desperate Hours
If you were in New York say, in January 1957, there were a lot a fine pickings, I'd say.
BroadwayEd
chewy5000
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/09
#12When Was the Last
Posted: 12/18/12 at 1:00amI'd agree with 2009 even as someone who was disappointed with what won best musical that year, although I could understand people saying 2008 or 2007
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redmustang
Broadway Star Joined: 5/14/03
chewy5000
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/09
#15When Was the Last
Posted: 12/18/12 at 5:38am
I almost hate to agree with After8, but 64-65 was what this thread topic immediately made me think of. Even some of the flops were pretty great, in hindsight.
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#16When Was the Last
Posted: 12/18/12 at 6:32am
^
Why "almost?" Go the whole nine yards. Don't be so wishy washy
Besides, aren't you the one who keeps telling us that the true golden age was the seventies?
#17When Was the Last
Posted: 12/18/12 at 8:57am
Define "good."
In the 2010-2011 season, I enjoyed
The Pitmen Painters
The Scottsboro Boys
The Pee-wee Herman Show
The Book of Mormon
War Horse
Sister Act and
Jerusalem - and that was just on Broadway.
Off Broadway, The Divine Sister was divine, Lost In The Stars at Encores was beautiful, and The Other Place at the Lortel was terrific.
Was it a "Golden Age?" No. But getting 10 enjoyable experiences a year isn't bad.
In the 2011-2012 season, I can only applaud
Other Desert Cities
Once
One Man, Two Guvnors on Broadway and
The Submission and Judith of Bethulia Off Broadway.
But 5 a year isn't tragic, I suppose...
Updated On: 12/18/12 at 08:57 AM
#18When Was the Last
Posted: 12/18/12 at 4:10pmI really hated the 2010 season - in fact, the worst in recent memory for me. I liked the Ragtime revival and nothing else.
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Emmaloucbway
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/16/11
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#21When Was the Last
Posted: 12/18/12 at 9:51pm
So After Eight I have to ask: Were you a habitue of Broadway 50 years ago? How may shows did you see in that glorious 64-65 season? Ben Franklin in Paris? Golden Boy? I was Dancing? Zizi? Bajour? The Family Way? Kelly? Half a Sixpence? I won't go on.
I just finished reading Season In, Season Out which a good friend gifted to me. Jack Gaver, the drama critic for UPI watched and observed every show of the 65-66 season and he pretty much hated everything. In fact, he said Broadway had reached it's nadir and probably would not survive to see the improvements implemented after the "total disasters" of recent years: More accurate accounting, better ticketing and of course, more bars in theater lobbys.
Two facts: No one EVER likes the season at hand- there's simply too high a crap-to-gems ratio. And of course, time lends enchantment. Everyone loves "Do I Hear a Waltz?" NOW but it's only because they didn't have to sit through it.
Updated On: 12/18/12 at 09:51 PM
#22When Was the Last
Posted: 12/18/12 at 10:02pm
"Besides, aren't you the one who keeps telling us that the true golden age was the seventies?"
No, I said that few would agree with me, but for me, musicals wise, the 70s would be my golden age. I would love to be able to time travel to 1971 Broadway.
#23When Was the Last
Posted: 12/18/12 at 10:23pm2006-2007, 2007-2008, and 2010-2011 were fairly good seasons, I thought. Dry years in between, and this one has been lousy. It will bounce back like always, I'm sure...but what a terrible season.
#24When Was the Last
Posted: 12/18/12 at 11:17pm
No one EVER likes the season at hand- there's simply too high a crap-to-gems ratio.
Thank you for pointing that out. Truer words have never been spoken. Even in the "best" years all of us have been citing, there was tons of crap but it's quickly forgotten as years pass and we remember only the highlights. The more that I think about, 2011 wasn't such a bad season. (The Book of Mormon, The Scottsboro Boys, The Normal Heart, Anything Goes, War Horse, Jerusalem.)
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
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