Your Favourite Schwartz Musical?

[~*Triple Star On Broadway*~]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 11:30am

Mine has suddenly become Wicked at this point, and I know that mostpeople are going to say Wicked, but try to name some others. Children Of Eden is also becoming one of my favourites.

[A19Ben]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 11:51am

i think wicked is my fav....but i like some of the music from children of eden too!

but i think some of the music out of pipin too, but he also did a good job of god spell.....the music in that is fab too!



love Ben x x x

[robbiej]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 11:53am

People actually HAVE a favorite Schwartz musical??

WEll...I'll go with my favorite score of his:

BAKER'S WIFE

[lvpblues]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 11:57am

I have to agree - my favorite is also THE BAKER'S WIFE. Such a lovely musical all around. "Chanson" might be the loveliest song Schwartz ever wrote (arguably, of course! hehe)

~Kevin Updated On: 3/30/04 at 11:57 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 11:59am

That's tough. My favorite score would have to be The Magic Show (I know how weird that sounds). But my favorite show of his is probably Godspell. Though overdone, it really is a great show and has proven it through its millions of productions over the decades.

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 12:13pm

I thought you meant Arthur Schwartz!!!!

Anyway, for Mr. Arthur Schwarts, my favorite show was the BANDWAGON. I saw it when I was 10 and still remember it. He also wrote wonderful scores for REVENGE WITH MUSIC, PARK AVENUE and, of course, A TREEE GROWS IN BROOKLYN.

Miriam

[Corine2]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 12:38pm

Pippin of course. In my opinion it is one of the greatest shows of all time.
I did not feel that way about Wicked. Wicked is entertaining and i had fun but i thought it was over rated.
But don't get me wrong i liked Wicked very much. I just don't think it is as good as Pippin.
I also think it is marketed well and the star power (Idina and Kristen make the show)
I might not be "POPULAR" for saying this but i think Avenue Q is a better score and more entertaining.
I also thought Caroline Or Change was a better score then Wicked.
(I saw Pippin 5 times on Broadway and my parents bought me the video taped version as i was obsessed with the show. The music is gorgeous.) Updated On: 3/30/04 at 12:38 PM

[scooter38432]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 3:29pm

Stephen Schwartz's best score, in my humble opinion, is THE BAKER'S WIFE, but the show as a whole is weak. ("Gifts of Love," "Chanson," "Meadowlark," "Proud Lady," etc. -- all terrific.)

(Did anyone else get to see the concert version that they did in Boston last year -- or the year before -- starring Judy Kuhn? It was just OK, but she sang "Meadowlark" better than anyone I'd ever heard before -- and I think I've heard every woman and their Aunt Esther sing that one. She was glorious.)

As far as favorite Schwartz musical (as a whole package), I'd begrudgingly pick PIPPIN. It's tiresome and dated as all get-out, but judging by score, book, and other production qualities it would get my vote. I must say if I never hear that music again I'd be a happy man.

I enjoyed WICKED for the most part, thanks especially to Kristin Chenoweth and Carole Shelley, but I'd have to agree with most of the NY critics when they said that it seems like the wrong score for this show. There are some nice tunes, but the style of music is inconsistent with the material.

Updated On: 3/30/04 at 03:29 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 4:03pm

Pippin! I love this musical sooo much!

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 5:31pm

This is pretty hard. I think Wicked, Children of Eden, and Godspell tie---I don't know much about Pippin, but after seeing Wicked twice and being in Godspell, and falling in love with the the score for Children of Eden more and more every day.........I can't pick a favorite.

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 6:09pm

WICKED is by far my favorite. Scorewise (not counting WICKED), GODSPELL and CHILDREN OF EDEN. PIPPIN has some really nice tunes but overall I found the music in that to be bland and forgettable.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 6:14pm

I sang "Corner of the Sky" in a children's choir when I was younger, and it seemed like such a power song, but then I listened to the cast recording and its sung so soft. It's one of those songs I want to sing at the top of my lungs. It seems like one of those "defying what everyone else wants and doing your own thing" songs. If I ever sing it I'm going to sing it loud! I'm sure it is one of those overdone songs, but I'm too young or inexperienced to know.

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 6:18pm

Agreed sonofagunn. I saw a local children's production of PIPPIN and the kid belted the crap out of "Corner of the Sky." It made me fall in love with the song, but I just can't stand the way the actor sings it on the cast recording.

[JamieMcG]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 6:19pm

Children of Eden...:) a little biased, but it's true...perhaps by the end of this year it will be Pippin...:) Im saying no more.

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 6:36pm

Definately Godspell! It's so amazing! After that, Pippin and Wicked!

I was thinking about getting the Children of Eden cast recording- it seems that a bunch of you like it, so is it worth it?

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 6:40pm

Dagnabit Jamie! Go and give us little tidbits like that! Sheesh! Now you've gone and gotten me all excited. All I have to say is I hope whoever ends up as Pippin sings Corner of the Sky loud not soft! That of course is also dependent on that "perhaps" you've got in there.

Updated On: 3/30/04 at 06:40 PM

[Wicked_Elphie]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 6:44pm

It has def become Wicked!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 8:20pm

Wicked, but I'm also a big fan of Pippin.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 8:41pm

Probably Godspell just because I find much of Children of Eden and Wicked to be quite boring musically speaking. And his other work is so so for me.

[BroadwayKate]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 11:30pm

Wicked, but Godspell and Pippin are also fantastic.

kate

[magruder]

Posted: 3/31/04 at 6:14am

Another vote for The Baker's Wife. The show itself may never be made to work, but the score is above and beyond everything else he's written. It's just in another realm.

Posted: 3/31/04 at 10:17am

I have always been a huge fan of CHILDREN of EDEN. I have never ever seen it but I have always wanted to. It is playing at the Ford's Theater in Washington DC and I just might have to finally go see it.

Other then that, I listen to WICKED alot too.

[robbiej]

Posted: 3/31/04 at 10:18am

Mag,

What was it about that story that stretched Schwarts out of his hippie-70's pop sound? That's actually the score that made me believe he could really do something special with WICKED.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 3/31/04 at 10:52am

Miriam, I love THE BANDWAGON...and "Hoops"!!

[TheGirlinTheFrock]

Posted: 3/31/04 at 7:49pm

At the moment it is Pippin - we are doing that in our school right now. To bad the audience doesnt understand the show. Love the songs. Morning Glow is gorgeous. Not a fan of the cast recording though. I think our Ensemble doesnt a much better job with it!

Quick question: I have heard so many interpertations of what the show is about. Anybody know? Some say they are all actors (except Pippin) Others say its all in his head. I am so confused!!