most visually spectacular musicals

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:08pm

What are the most visually spectacular musicals you have ever seen?

I'd say "Beauty and the Beast", "Phantom", "Aida", "42nd Street", and "Dance of the Vampires".
Updated On: 7/24/06 at 09:08 PM

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:11pm

Cats.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:12pm

Wicked

[Piazzaslight]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:17pm

West End production of Mary Poppins.

[Magdalene]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:25pm

Cats, Phantom, A Chorus Line (Finale)

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:25pm

I am constantly in awe of Maria Bjornson's scenic design for Phantom. Although it's often called a big, lavish musical, she leaves a surprising amount of the sets to our imagination once you stop and think about it. I love that the sets are really just a few lavish set pieces and backdrops sitting in a big, frightening dark space--it goes perfectly with the show and keep it from teetering into unforgivable camp. I guess the answer has to be Phantom for me then...it has its share of "ooh, aah" moments (the lake, "Masquerade") but is much darker than the traditional Broadway spectacle. Joel Schumacher could have taken a few tips from Ms. Bjornson.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:30pm

I agree, Phantom is not really a *spectacle.* It does have spectacular moments, but it's a simplistic, yet beautiful, set.

Also, the FOTR revival was great to look at.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:34pm

Tarzan.

[Just_John]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:40pm

Yea, Tarzan is def top notch....

[Wildcard]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:52pm

Carousel, Showboat, Sunset Blvd., Miss Saigon, Whistle Down the Wind, Beauty & the Beast, The Lion King, The Producers, Mary Poppins

[Weez]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:09pm

Wicked and Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins had a waaaaay more awesome set, but I adore everything about Wicked visually. :3

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:14pm

I want to see Mary Poppins just for the sets. Hopefully I'll get a chance to. The Lion King was fun to look at. Not sure how The Producers is beautiful to look at, but to each his own. I like Wicked, but for me, I dunno, I don't think it's as "spectacle" as some shows. It doesn't really have that ONE set piece that's spectacular. It's just a great set to look at. I don't think it really relies on its spectacle that much.

[Luvinbroadway]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:34pm

The Lincoln Center revival of Carousel.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:38pm

Tarzan for sure! Especially the first 5 min, they are spectacular!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:39pm

I remember Shogun. The opening scene & many others were outstanding. Too bad you had no idea what was going on book wise

[WickedOne2]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:46pm

Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, finale of 42nd Street

[exedore]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:53pm

Wicked? You have got to be kidding me. Wicked was a major disappointment as a spectacle, and has one of the lamest flying effects ever.

If you want truly amazing spectacle, then you're looking at shows such as the original production of "The Who's Tommy" (which has more spectacle in the first five minutes alone than all of Wicked), "Starlight Express" (which is a spectacle show with a fun plot and enjoyable score), the Vienna production of "Elisabeth", "The Lion King", the OBC of "Ragtime", "Phantom of the Opera", etc.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:11pm

That depends on your opinion of "visually spectacular" ... You don't really NEED special effects to make something visually spectacular. One of the shows that comes to my mind in Drowsy. The set was clever and the costumes were stunning. The lighting was great. Someone might find those aspects visually spectacular. Wicked's set and costumes are quite spectacular as well.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:16pm

Dreamgirls.

[Practically Perfect]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:42pm

Light In The Piazza, Phantom Of The Opera, Wicked, Mary Poppins, Sunset Boulevard

Mary P x

[GClef2]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:46pm

Aida.
The Lion King.
The Phantom of the Opera.
Hairspray.
The Light in the Piazza.

And, in my opinion, the most visually spectacular show is Sunday in the Park with George.

[WhatDoINeedWithLove?]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:48pm

I'll never forget seeing Dreamgirls when I was little and being in absolute awe.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:49pm

If you want to go WAY back... my dad always said that "Fanny" was visually incredible. Also "Ondine" (but that wasn't a musical). I'm sure many who saw it would say the original "Follies."

Of the shows I've seen:

Nine (original production)
The Lion King
Cats
Sunset Boulevard

[snl89]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:54pm

Wicked, for SURE :)
Beauty and The Beast
The Wedding Singer (I know that probably sounds a little- not right, but I sure thought it was awesome the way the sets move around everything and the choreography and everything was such a feast for the eyes!)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 7:19pm

o yea, Lion King was great

and the wedding singer i found visually spectacular during the opening song, saturday night in the city, and the finale. Again the energy made it such a joy to watch!