xkcd

by **Zohar** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:11 am UTC

I'm in the mood to seeing some musicals, and I've certainly missed out on some great classics - I haven't seen West Side Story, I haven't seen Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, I've been told I must see Hedwig and the Angry Inch. What are some of your favorite musicals? I personally enjoyed Moulin Rouge and Chicago and I may rewatch them.

by **mosc** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 10:02 am UTC

Well, west side story is the greatest musical so start there. I'd go so far as to put it high on the list of greatest movies as well. It's superb in every way and will entertain even the least musical-loving movie go-er you can find. The second biggest is Oklahoma, which is excellent.

There are lots of good musicals but you should really start there.

by **Alder** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:16 pm UTC

I love musicals! I have a box and a half of musicals on DVD, and countless books of music for voice/piano.

West Side Story...I kind of dislike. I've never hopped on the whole "it's the greatest/best" wagon, possibly 'cause I think Sondheim is rotten. (Which is a pity, given how prolific he is, but there you go.)

I have a particular fondness for the musicals of the 30s through to the early 50s, so my recommendations would start with Top Hat and Swing Time (the lyrics for Swing Time were written by Dorothy Field, one of the few successful female lyricists at the time), go through Show Boat, Oklahoma and Kiss Me Kate and end up with Singing in the Rain - which is in my top five favourite films.

Oh! And if you liked Chicago, you really need to see Cabaret at some point. Written by the same guys, and directed by Bob Fosse, it's terribly sad (I can't watch it regularly, it breaks my heart) but you'd probably appreciate it.

I'll stop now, but will probably come back at some point. I'd talk about musicals all day if you let me. Also books...

by **Zohar** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:47 pm UTC

Oh I've seen Cabaret, but a long time ago and I didn't remember it was an actual musical, more like had a few songs thrown in.

by **Alder** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:39 pm UTC

Zohar wrote:Oh I've seen Cabaret, but a long time ago and I didn't remember it was an actual musical, more like had a few songs thrown in.

I think the stage production is more musical-y, and the film absorbed most of the songs into performances at the club. (Though a couple of new songs were written for the film).

by **podbaydoor** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:58 pm UTC

How much you enjoy some of the earlier musicals depends on your preference for the balance between the music and the actual stories. There are some musicals with legendary song-and-dance sequences that have terrible plots and acting in between. Royal Wedding and Anchors Aweigh are two examples. Just ignore the plot and you'll be fine.

Otherwise, my favorites include The Band Wagon, Singin' in the Rain, Broadway Melody of 1940 (featuring not one, but two phenomenal pairings of Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell), It's Always Fair Weather, and Easter Parade. (Why yes, I'm a fan of Cyd Charisse.)

If you want a nice skim of old movie musicals, introducing you to all the old stars, I'd suggest renting or going to the library for the That's Entertainment! DVD set. I've rewatched all three discs multiple times and I'm still not tired of it, especially since the makers were able to get their hands on sequences that don't always show up in the movies.

by **folkhero** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 6:52 pm UTC

I've never been too in to musicals, but I do really like My Fair Lady. The Blues Brothers is quite good also, if you consider it a musical.

by **podbaydoor** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:26 pm UTC

I believe this is self-explanatory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ud1zKcAgD0

by **ameretrifle** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 7:11 am UTC

folkhero wrote:I've never been too in to musicals, but I do really like My Fair Lady.

When I was a kid, I liked a lot of the music from it, but the second half of it got a bit too awkward-comedy for my personal taste, and I hated the ending with a fiery red-hot passion. I do not exaggerate, I flipped out pretty hard. Years later I learned that they actually did screw it up. And, uh, now I guess I'm bringing that up at the slightest provocation to spread knowledge/feel all vindicated/nurse an old grudge. XD

Most "classic" musicals I've seen seem to have disproportionate amounts of gender and class issues, though; I don't know why. I remember liking Paint Your Wagon, but I don't remember whether that was more because it was good or more, "wait, wtf, seriously??". I also remember liking Once.

by **GraphiteGirl** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:28 pm UTC

I want to recommend a couple of musicals that haven't been adapted into film, just in case you have a chance to see them onstage or acquire the soundtrack.

Jason Robert Brown's The Last 5 Years can be enjoyed by listening to the soundtrack alone - the show is almost entirely sung, so you get the entire plot by listening. There are only two actors, playing two halves of a couple - we know from the beginning that they've broken up. He starts singing from the beginning of the relationship; she starts from the end. They work their way through their time together, he moving forward, she moving backward, and they only appear on stage at the same time once. The lyrics are witty and the music is a wonderful mishmash of genres, and it's intimately observed and very clever.

Brown also wrote Parade, a sort of modernised Dreyfus Affair set in Atlanta in the early twentieth century. It really needs to be seen, if you can get to a production of it. If not, listen to "Big News", a reporter's lament about living in a quiet little town.

Spring Awakening is one of the most remarkable original Broadway cast recordings you will ever listen to. If you know with certainty that you won't be able to see a production of it any time soon - it's making its rounds through theatre companies now that the rights are just a little more accessible, and a Melbourne production is coming up, not that that's much use to you, Zohar - read the wikipedia or another plot summary, or even the book on which it was based, and then listen to the cast recording. It's about the teenage experience and sexual/intellectual repression, and it will enthrall you.

Next to Normal and Ragtime both have stories that can be surmised, though not enjoyed in full, from their respective cast recordings. The first is about mental illness and trying to recover from a loss, and the way that one family member's problems affect the rest of the family. "Superboy and the Invisible Girl" will break your heart. Ragtime is about exactly what it sounds like, and even though it's hardly the show highlight, I find the Henry Ford song fantastic.

Into the Woods can and should be watched in its entirety on youtube. If you haven't seen Sweeney Todd yet, do so - Depp and Bonham-Carter actually do a really solid version of Sweeney and Mrs Lovett.

Hrm. I'll think of more soon.

by **Jesse** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 1:41 pm UTC

In the vein of Sweeney Todd, check out the revival of the show featuring Michael Cerveris. Amazing Todd voice.

by **Jorpho** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 3:47 am UTC

ameretrifle wrote:
folkhero wrote:I've never been too in to musicals, but I do really like My Fair Lady.
When I was a kid, I liked a lot of the music from it, but the second half of it got a bit too awkward-comedy for my personal taste, and I hated the ending with a fiery red-hot passion. I do not exaggerate, I flipped out pretty hard. Years later I learned that they actually did screw it up. And, uh, now I guess I'm bringing that up at the slightest provocation to spread knowledge/feel all vindicated/nurse an old grudge. XD

I don't much mind the ending of My Fair Lady. I say it's wide open to interpretation. It doesn't say that Eliza went back to Henry; she's just there. I like to think that they were vaguely reconciled, and why not?

If you want to be angry, be angry that they're remaking it right now for some reason. HOW DARE THEY

by **Alder** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:47 am UTC

Jorpho wrote:I don't much mind the ending of My Fair Lady. I say it's wide open to interpretation. It doesn't say that Eliza went back to Henry; she's just there. I like to think that they were vaguely reconciled, and why not?

If you want to be angry, be angry that they're remaking it right now for some reason. HOW DARE THEY

Noooooooooooo, seriously? I mean, there are definitely some film versions of musicals (even ones I like) that look a little dated and could be remade without damaging the popularity of the original, but My Fair Lady? What else could you possibly do with it?

by **mister k** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 3:50 pm UTC

as to my favourite production, I saw Guys and Dolls with Ewan MacGregor, which was awwwwesome. I think I'll go with it for my favourite musical too- fantastic tunes, fun story.

by **JudeMorrigan** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 5:56 pm UTC

This thread needs more Les Miserables.

by **lanicita** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 4:36 pm UTC

I've been dying to see a Broadway or off-Broadway musical lately. There are so many I haven't gotten to yet. The best show I ever saw on Broadway was Hairspray (with the original cast!). The movie's fun, but the show is fun and really really inspiring. I recently saw Cabaret with Amanda Palmer as the Emcee, and that was also a beautifully done show. Spamalot was also a ton of fun. Other notables were Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Phantom of the Opera. The ones I most want to see right now are Wicked, Spring Awakening, and In the Heights. I never had much of a desire to see Les Mis until I saw the NPH/Jason Segal version of "Confrontation" on Youtube, but now I'm intrigued.

As for movies, I absolutely love West Side Story. I own it, and I wrote a paper on it in university. It's quite the multidimensional story, and I love the music. Moulin Rouge and Chicago are two of my other favorites that I also own, as is RENT (I prefer the movie to the show, actually). I can't get over how great a lot of Disney musicals are, especially Aladdin and the Lion King (which, incidentally, is also a great Broadway show). Sound of Music will always be one of my favorites.

One of my favorite things about musicals is how accessible it makes different periods of history. I think the vast majority of successful musicals are period pieces. The story, the costumes, and the music are always more interesting and fun, and of course they last longest since they are meant to make more of a statement about history than the present.

by **Zohar** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 5:48 pm UTC

Wicked is excellent! I saw it in London twice and I absolutely adore it.

by **Jorpho** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 7:25 pm UTC

It is difficult to pass up on Wicked after watching this nifty vision of what the animated version could be like:
http://heidigilbert.blogspot.com/2010/0 ... wartz.html

I might even make the trip to New York to see it someday since I have no idea when it might come to town here, and the film version seems even more unlikely to come out anytime remotely soon. Apparently it continues to sell briskly. But for $deity's sake, do not bother with the resoundingly horrible book.

And of course Avenue Q is worth seeing, but since there's no film version of that, you'd have to wait for a chance to see it live, too.

by **GraphiteGirl** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:22 am UTC

I reckon it's worth seeing Spring Awakening live, if only because I have no doubt that Wicked will eventually be a film.

by **kikko** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:41 pm UTC

I suggest Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog to everyone,. You can likely legally watch it free online, as it was written by Joss Whedon during the writer's strike and published for free online, but I'm not sure where besides youtube. Stars Neil Patrick Harris. It's only about 40 minutes long, and is very funny. They're making a sequel soon, and it is said to be a full movie.

by **natraj** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:43 pm UTC

lanicita wrote:I can't get over how great a lot of Disney musicals are, especially Aladdin and the Lion King (which, incidentally, is also a great Broadway show). Sound of Music will always be one of my favorites.

I like Newsies. >.> Though the first time I ever watched it was right after watching American Psycho and seeing Christian Bale in both was odd and dissonant.

Also when I was young I watched Oliver! and The King and I so many times the tapes broke.

Also I like The Producers.

by **podbaydoor** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:12 pm UTC

I need to see The Producers. Would knowledgeable forumites recommend the original Mel Brooks movie or the 2005 musical with Uma Thurman et. al.?

by **natraj** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:16 pm UTC

Well, for the purposes of this thread, the latter; the original one was a movie about a musical but was not, itself, a musical; Mel Brooks adapted the musical from the original film and then later there was the (musical) film adapted from the musical which was adapted from the first movie.

... for not-the-purposes-of-this-thread, though, they're both worth watching!

by **philsov** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 6:57 pm UTC

Jesus Christ Superstar. Somewhere between the highly-budgeted costumes, truckloads of pure funk, and a storyline that humanizes both Judas and Pontius Pilate is a gem of a musical. Favorite tunes are "39 lashes" for the bassline and then "Superstar" finale for the backup dancers.

by **Jorpho** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 12:19 pm UTC

I missed a change to see a live production, but the film version of Little Shop of Horrors ain't bad at all. Sure, not a lot of dancing, but who needs dancing when you have animatronic puppetry?

by **Alder** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 10:54 pm UTC

Apparently there's a Les Mis movie in the works, with Hugh Jackman up for Valjean (could work) and Russell Crowe up for Javert (I don't see it!!).

It's about time there was a film though.

by **cephalopod9** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 7:08 am UTC

I can sort of see it.
There was a non-musical Les Mis. with Liam Neeson, which you would think could work, but was not very good. Also some older ones.

I like how many musicals clash with the public image of musicals. In the extreme there's Repo! The Genetic Opera, and I've been kind of interested in eventually seeing the musicals Those South Park Guys put together. Even the classic-type-musicals like Sweeney Todd and Phantom of the Opera are pretty dark.

by **Alder** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 12:42 pm UTC

I can see a physical resemblance with the original Javert. I just really hope he can sing well enough for the part...

by **UniqueScreenname** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 5:51 pm UTC

podbaydoor wrote:I need to see The Producers. Would knowledgeable forumites recommend the original Mel Brooks movie or the 2005 musical with Uma Thurman et. al.?

Gee Willikers stay so far away from the modern one. I tried to watch them back to back and it was just cheesy in comparison. I should thank you though, because I now know what song to do for my next ringtone.

Anyway, they were already mentioned, but top 2 are Phantom of the Opera and Guys and Dolls. I also really liked Showboat.

If you want to go in a non-traditional, sort of rock opera direction, I would suggest Repo! the Genetic Opera. I expect this will be a controversial choice, but it certainly has a Sweeny Todd sort of vibe.

by **clockworkmonk** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 7:25 pm UTC

whats not to love about Repo! the Genetic Opera? I mean, it was directed by the man who brought us Saws II-IV and features Paris Hilton.

Kidding aside, it features Anthony Stewart Head, Paul Sorvino, Sarah Brightman, and the creator(who plays a homeless grave-robbing drug-dealing pimp)

It is honestly one of my favorite things ever if only for hearing Anthony Stewart Head sing a song titled "Legal Assassin".

by **GraphiteGirl** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:53 pm UTC

So, Matilda: The Musical, based on the Roald Dahl book, and with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, is now available on iTunes for your listening pleasure. And it is so good. Lyrically witty with skilled singers who are also very gifted actors, and a child cast who do not come off as spoiled divaish brats.

by **Metaphysician** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 10:08 pm UTC

Hm, favorites in no particular order.

The Producers (I love both the movie and the musical)
Les Mis
Guys and Dolls
Jesus Christ Superstar
Wicked
Sweeney Todd
Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog
Into the Woods
Rent
Phantom of the Opera (although honestly I didn't like the movie that much, the stage show I saw was amazing, even if it wasn't on broadway)
Beauty and the Beast

by **UniqueScreenname** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 5:55 am UTC

clockworkmonk wrote:whats not to love about Repo! the Genetic Opera? I mean, it was directed by the man who brought us Saws II-IV and features Paris H ilton.

Kidding aside, it features Anthony Stewart Head, Paul Sorvino, Sarah Brightman, and the creator(who plays a homeless grave-robbing drug-dealing pimp)

It is honestly one of my favorite things ever if only for hearing Anthony Stewart Head sing a song titled "Legal Assassin".

Yes, and that super low note that the Gravedigger sings in 21st Century Cure.

Spoiler:

by **Nerd Mike** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 2:57 pm UTC

I don't know that I'm adding anything new, but I'll second (or third) some of the musicals listed above:

Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog--quite simply brilliant. Entertaining, nerdy, quirky, and truly moving.
Moulin Rouge
Chicago
Wicked--which apparently is being made into a movie coming up... I have high hopes and am praying they don't screw it up
The Producers--this one is better on stage than on film, but both film versions are highly entertaining
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee--I just saw this for the first time in a community theater, and even with the ameteur production, it was great! Clever and entertaining with good music and a lot of heart. I would love to see a pro production of this one.

I'm not huge on musicals, but the ones I like, I love.

by **Jesse** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 4:25 pm UTC

Nerd Mike wrote:Wicked--which apparently is being made into a movie coming up... I have high hopes and am praying they don't screw it up

If it doesn't star Idina Menzel as Elphaba then I have zero interest.

by **Nerd Mike** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 4:33 pm UTC

Jesse wrote:
Nerd Mike wrote:Wicked--which apparently is being made into a movie coming up... I have high hopes and am praying they don't screw it up

If it doesn't star Idina Menzel as Elphaba then I have zero interest.

Well, many many others have said it before me, but I'm just hoping for Kristin Chenowith as Glinda. I get that she's almost 10 years older now, but the woman just oozes charm and absolutely embodies Glinda.

by **Triss Hawkeye** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:10 pm UTC

Ragtime was mentioned very briefly in a previous post, but I feel I need to reiterate, as it is a brilliant and little-known musical. Excellent story and amazing music. You can pick it up quite easily by listening to the soundtrack to be honest - most of the story is told through the songs.

The Lion King is amazing as a stage show - the costumes and puppets are very impressive and of course it's wonderful anyway.

Also, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang needs more love.

by **GraphiteGirl** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:35 am UTC

My latest musical obsession is Assassins, a Sondheim musical about everyone who has ever tried to assassinate an American president. I know it hardly needs to be said because it's Sondheim, but my god, the lyrical and melodic humour are so sharp. The music is all Americana and fairground tunes and there's a wit about the constant emphasis on what "everybody's got the right" to do that works perfectly and conveys the message without banging you over the head with it. Plus, Neil Patrick Harris.
A sample.

by **Alder** » Sat Dec 24, 2011 10:09 pm UTC

It's a strange thing given my love of musicals, but I've never taken to Sondheim at all. I was ready to quit after about 20 seconds of that song, but I made myself listen to the end - however, like when I made myself eat leeks, it just confirmed that I really don't like Sondheim at all... I think he's too spiky for my liking. Like listening to a hedgehog.

by **GraphiteGirl** » Sun Dec 25, 2011 6:31 am UTC

All Sondheim? There's a decent bit of variety there - have you heard A Little Night Music? Still, fair enough. His spikiness and tartness is what I like best about him.

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