re: What was the first show you were obsessed with and are you going to see a production of it?

GOLDILOCKS, the 1958 musical starring Elaine Stritch and Don Ameche, music by Leroy Anderson, lyrics by Walter & Jean Kerr, choreography by Agnes deMille, conducted by the wonderful Lehman Engel, and featuring Russell Nype, Pat Stanley (both of whom won Tony Awards) and Margaret Hamilton (the Wicked Witch of the West). It was a spoof of the early days of movie making. I went to NYC supposedly to go on a high school trip to the Metropolitan Opera, but instead headed to the Lunt Fontanne Theatre to see GOLDILOCKS for the 2nd time. I loved it!

I think it is readily available on CD. Try it. The score is very likable.

It is occasionally done in regional theatre but is unlikely to ever see Broadway again. And it would be a long shot for the Encores series. It originally lasted 161 performances.Elaine Stritch, who was supposedly very difficult during rehearsals, didn't think much of it, but I thought she was great.

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Updated On: 11/4/06 at 09:44 AM

mine is Spamalot... I'm seeing it tomorrow... I always had a crush on Tim Curry since 3rd grade (6 years ago), and one day 1 year ago I googled Tim Curry because I thought my crush was over him so I googled him and I then saw he was in Spamalot... and WOW! my Broadway obsession began then and there! So Spamalot is the reasn I'm here and it is an inspiring show... let me say it helped me find my grail!

Sammi!isBroadway!

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My forst obsession was Les Mis, and I have tix for the revival thanksgiving weekend

Evita. In 1979, when I was 10, I heard the disco version of Don't Cry For Me Argentina by Festival. When I went to the record store to look for the LP the clerk, who was well-versed in theater, took me promptly to the Broadway section and handed me the Premiere American Recording - he said, "This is Evita. There is no disco version of this!" I fell in love before I got home and played it! The LP has since been replaced by two CD versions and is still a staple of my collection. I haven't heard the disco version since. The experience got me interested in musical theater. My cousins and I walked past the theater in 1981 but Patti Lupone wasn't in the show anymore (and no one wanted to shell out anything to make a 12-year-old's dream come true!)

I plan to see the London version in the coming months - will it also come to Broadway? I also had the noive to ask Ms. Lupone herself a few months back if there would be a chance she would sing anything from Evita in a live setting again (showing sincere disrespect to the the queen of musical theater - where was my head! - stupidly forgetting or having blacked out the experience with Sunset Blvd). She politely answered that it wouldn't happen because ALW wouldn't allow her and Mandy to sing anything from it for their 20th (or so) anniversary. Thankfully the whole exchange was through email! I did get to meet her after Sweeney Todd one night and she was delightful. And I still get chills hearing her voice or being in her presence!

"Spamalot".....that show makes me feel so good. I've seen it with all the cast changes & it is still terrific. The only disappointment was Lauren Kennedy. Don't get me wrong, I think she has a beautiful voice; she was just awkward trying to be funny. I saw her with Jarrod Emrick in a World Premiere about F. Scott Fitzgerald (the title escapes me) and she was excellent. Sara Ramirez played that part so well, I wouldn't have wanted to step into her shoes. I haven't seen Marin Mazzie yet, but I will.

Mine was proabaly Guys and Dolls in the early 90s. I had already seen it but I did not become obsessed with it until afterwards. I saw it on tour a few years later. An amazing experience indeed.

Phantom. I saw it on tour a few years sgo. I still know the whole score.

Updated On: 11/4/06 at 12:01 PM

The first show I was ever really "obsessed" with was Oklahoma! after seeing the revival a few years ago.

Seriously. Who becomes obsessed with Oklahoma!?

Ah, good stuff.

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Phantom of the Opera. And no, I'm not seeing it anytime soon, that I know of.

I have been obsessed with BLOOD BROTHERS saw it for the first time in Brighton and saw it nine times since!! Love it!!!

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Oh wow--we've only had 1 mention of Wicked--that's crazy.

Well, Wicked was mine. I saw it for the first time in March 2005. It was great--and I loved every minute of it. I also really liked Avenue Q before I saw it. It was my first Broadway show. I started crying when the lights dimmed in the theater--I was so excited. I almost never cry, but I was so excited and happy to be there, I couldn't help it! Such a good memory.

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My first obsession was Annie when I was 9. This was before they called me back to audition for Annie and Fiddler on the Roof. Let's just say that Annie should NEVER be attempted with so many untalented girls ever again. Yeah, I was in Fiddler. With one other kid and 3 teenagers. But at least people stood in the rain in the outdoor amitheatre for us. We never had a rain show in the convention center. Annie only had 3 or 4 performances out of about 21 on the main stage.

My first lasting obsession was Wicked (guilty!), though. I saw it October 5, 2005, 8PM, front mezz. Too bad I can't remember my seat number. My mother doesn't want to see it anymore, though, because she liked RENT better and she hates Shoshana Bean's voice. We lost the lotto in Cincinnati after a 5-hour drive, and the next 5-hour drive we make to Columbus will result in the same thing. That is, if I'm not too busy to go next summer. They're supposedly doing 26 performances from June-August of High School Musical along w/ Chicago and Forever Plaid at the aforementioned professional theatre (the one w/ Fiddler and Annie...I've been there 7 years now)

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