musicals : only pick one

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astonishingly never been done before.

now think hard here, as it's not as easy as you'd think.

'jesus christ superstar' for me all the way.

― piscesboy, Friday, 2 September 2005 14:10 (nineteen years ago)

sondheim's 'sweeney todd'

― ryansf (ryansf), Friday, 2 September 2005 14:13 (nineteen years ago)

WEST SIDE STORY

― The Ghost of LOCK THREAD (Dan Perry), Friday, 2 September 2005 14:16 (nineteen years ago)

SINGIN' IN THE RAIN

― OH NO YOU DIDN'T WEST SIDE STORY, Friday, 2 September 2005 14:17 (nineteen years ago)

Guys and Dolls.

Runners-up: My Fair Lady, Damn Yankees, King and I, Oklahoma, Anything Goes.... I don't feel the Sondheim love and loathe Webber in more ways than one would think possible. Cannot abide Rent-ish dreck either.

― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Friday, 2 September 2005 14:34 (nineteen years ago)

Cannibal, the Musical!

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 2 September 2005 14:36 (nineteen years ago)

Hair. Or Pommeri, with Ashe Bhosle (I think that's the name of it. I know that's the name of the title song, though Bhosle doesn't sing it).

― js (honestengine), Friday, 2 September 2005 14:36 (nineteen years ago)

After a great deal of thought, I have to conclude that West Side Story's OPO claim is so strong that there isn't much interesting to discuss: Bernstein, Robbins, Sondheim, Prince, Shakespeare, New York, classic American themes, pretty much the last moment when you could make a musical unapologetically and unironically. (Within a very few years, Marat/Sade, Cabaret, Oh Calcutta!, and Hair had pretty much ended the golden age.)

You can argue that this or that musical had a somewhat better score (maybe Sound of Music, Oklahoma, or Kiss Me Kate), or better book and lyrics (My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls), or at least equivalent dance (Oklahoma again, Cabaret), or more historical importance (Oklahoma), or that the OPO musical really ought to be Rogers & Hammerstein (yep, I think Oklahoma is the clear #2, and I could also make a half-hearted case for Dreigroschen Opera, Guys and Dolls, Kiss Me Kate, The Fantasticks, or Camelot). But no musical had it all to the extent West Side Story did, and I don't think any other show's songs or choreography have held up better.

Singing In The Rain is a movie with one great song and a couple more good ones. It's a really fun movie, and maybe even the best "movie musical" (at least before the recent Bollywood-inspired wave). But that's because it was fundamentally a movie, not a musical.

Jesus Christ Superstar? Give me a break . . . Lord, I hate listening to Weber. The one decent song in that show (I Don't Know How To Love Him) sounds like something that was cut from West Side Story in New Haven.

― Vornado, Friday, 2 September 2005 14:53 (nineteen years ago)

New version of JC Superstar opening shortly in NYC. Modern day setting - all new, all now. No wooden cross for this rebel, it's the electric chair!

http://www.livestageperformance.net

― drewo (drewo), Friday, 2 September 2005 15:01 (nineteen years ago)

After a great deal of thought, I have to conclude that West Side Story's OPO claim is so strong that there isn't much interesting to discuss: Bernstein, Robbins, Sondheim, Prince,

I wasn't aware Prince had anything to do with West Side Story. Did Morris Day also contribute a song?

― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Friday, 2 September 2005 15:04 (nineteen years ago)

After a great deal of thought...

-- Vornado (joh...), September 2nd, 2005.

that's the spirit.

― piscesboy, Friday, 2 September 2005 15:11 (nineteen years ago)

Oliver!

― wtin, Friday, 2 September 2005 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

I like On the Town.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 2 September 2005 16:14 (nineteen years ago)

Starlight Express

― Tripmaker (SDWitzm), Friday, 2 September 2005 16:26 (nineteen years ago)

Heh heh...I like both "West Side Story" AND "Jesus Christ Superstar" but that's about all. Oh, and "Cabaret" (the movie) is pretty great.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Friday, 2 September 2005 16:57 (nineteen years ago)

Either "Camelot" or "A Chorus Line".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 2 September 2005 17:00 (nineteen years ago)

Three Penny Opera. Creepytime Weill fun!

― John Justen (johnjusten), Friday, 2 September 2005 17:18 (nineteen years ago)

film: "Meet Me in St Louis"

Despite my rep in some indie circles, I don't know Broadway that well. (The recent revivals of "Follies" and "Oklahoma!" I saw were problematic.) If forced, "Carousel."

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 2 September 2005 17:23 (nineteen years ago)

...as the best STAGE musical, I mean. I like suicide, ghosts and spousal abuse with my tunes.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 2 September 2005 17:24 (nineteen years ago)

Oklahoma.

― Billy Pilgrim (Billy Pilgrim), Friday, 2 September 2005 17:44 (nineteen years ago)

rather, Oklahoma!

― Billy Pilgrim (Billy Pilgrim), Friday, 2 September 2005 17:45 (nineteen years ago)

"Threepenny Opera" has a great storyline but the songs don't all stand up to it.

― The Ghost of Black Elegance (Dan Perry), Friday, 2 September 2005 18:49 (nineteen years ago)

All That Jazz.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 2 September 2005 18:52 (nineteen years ago)

for stage, West Side Story or My Fair Lady.

If movies count, Mary Poppins.

― when something smacks of something (dave225.3), Friday, 2 September 2005 18:53 (nineteen years ago)

hmm, altho I didn't notice a distinction was being made between stage and screen musicals... that changes things a bit...

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 2 September 2005 18:53 (nineteen years ago)

Hair makes me feel the funk. Galt MacDermot yes please.

― Confounded (Confounded), Friday, 2 September 2005 18:54 (nineteen years ago)

Dancer in the Dark.

― Ludo (Ludo), Friday, 2 September 2005 18:59 (nineteen years ago)

where does Dennis Potter fit into this...? nowhere? cuz Lipstick on Your Collar is easily my favorite serialized TV musical. Besides Cop Rock.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 2 September 2005 19:05 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.noticiasdot.com/stilo/contenido/noticias/2005/galerias/san-valentin2005/amorcine/peliculas/images/grease-02.jpg

― iodine (iodine), Friday, 2 September 2005 19:09 (nineteen years ago)

god I hate John Travolta.

"Seandee!"

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 2 September 2005 19:10 (nineteen years ago)

Singin' In The Rain

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Friday, 2 September 2005 19:20 (nineteen years ago)

Where do Gilbert and Sullivan fit into this then? I mean, officially it's opera (or rather light opera) but it could be argued that they're the progenitors of the modern musical.

In which case, my vote goes to The Pirates Of Penzance.

― Matt #2 (Matt #2), Friday, 2 September 2005 19:33 (nineteen years ago)

I would say Operetta counts.

― ryansf (ryansf), Friday, 2 September 2005 19:36 (nineteen years ago)

West Side Story. I also have love for Sondheim's A Little Night Music.

There was a noise board thread on musicals, recently.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 2 September 2005 19:37 (nineteen years ago)

what about opera? mine is "Carmen" but if it were musical is probaly the sound of music.

― sarah beck, Friday, 2 September 2005 19:49 (nineteen years ago)

Meet Me in St. Louis takes the top spot closely followed by (and i can't believe no-one has mentioned it yet) The Rocky Horror Show.

― jed_ (jed), Friday, 2 September 2005 20:49 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.rentit.com/rentit9.gif

― Suzy Creemcheese (SuzyCreemcheese), Friday, 2 September 2005 20:53 (nineteen years ago)

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/ATA/21578H.jpg

― Suzy Creemcheese (SuzyCreemcheese), Friday, 2 September 2005 20:59 (nineteen years ago)

West Side Story

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Friday, 2 September 2005 21:08 (nineteen years ago)

Singin' in the Rain

― älänbänänä (alanbanana), Friday, 2 September 2005 22:01 (nineteen years ago)

once more with feeling!

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Friday, 2 September 2005 22:09 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.unzeit.de/poster/Xanadu/Xanadu_72.jpg

― mox twelve (Mox twleve), Saturday, 3 September 2005 07:09 (nineteen years ago)

West Side story/The Wizzard of Oz (The Judy Garland version!)Ow and indeed, Mary Poppins is first runner up

― Eva van Rein (Gaia1981), Saturday, 3 September 2005 09:07 (nineteen years ago)

It's Mary Poppins no doubt (one of the best films ever, period), followed by The Umbrellas of Cherbourgh (ditto).

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Saturday, 3 September 2005 09:50 (nineteen years ago)

DIESEL: (As Judge) Right!

Officer Krupke, you're really a square;
This boy don't need a judge, he needs an analyst's care!
It's just his neurosis that oughta be curbed.
He's psychologic'ly disturbed!

ACTION
I'm disturbed!

― sffd, Saturday, 3 September 2005 10:54 (nineteen years ago)

west side story

― minna (minna), Saturday, 3 September 2005 11:25 (nineteen years ago)

The first answer was the correct one.

― Simon H. (Simon H.), Saturday, 3 September 2005 12:31 (nineteen years ago)

Kiss Me Kate for the cole porteration.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Saturday, 3 September 2005 15:15 (nineteen years ago)

If you count cinematic musicals, I'll opt for The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. If not, Marat/Sade for me.

― Ian Riese-Moraine: Let this bastard out, and you'll get whiplash! (Eastern Mantr, Saturday, 3 September 2005 15:22 (nineteen years ago)

I'll have to wax nostalgic on this one and say Les Mis. It's a little lame on stage, I guess, but al the songs are so GREAT. Parade is another good musical, but it never gets that much love except from musical theatre dorks..

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Saturday, 3 September 2005 15:25 (nineteen years ago)

Sorry, but I can't pick between the two.

Tie: The Nightmare Before Christmas and South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut.

― Zimmer026 (Zimmer026), Saturday, 3 September 2005 16:18 (nineteen years ago)

Avenue Q

― Sym Sym (sym), Saturday, 3 September 2005 22:04 (nineteen years ago)

South Pacific

― k/l (Ken L), Saturday, 3 September 2005 22:08 (nineteen years ago)

I'm glad no one's brought up Chicago or anything where Ben Elton rips off the back-catalogue of some 80s band. BTW, has he done The Smiths or New Order yet?

Bit mystified by the absence of Cats though. I thought I hated Weber. But then my girlfriend forced me to watch it on video, and I went through an intense phase of watching it *every* morning when I woke up - for a month or so.

― phil jones (interstar), Sunday, 4 September 2005 01:52 (nineteen years ago)

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, people. And I am as big a Webah Hatah as there is. But he started out great.

― Guayaquil (ja binkie!), Sunday, 4 September 2005 02:33 (nineteen years ago)

i change my answer to "Fame". it's the one that means most to me.

― jed_ (jed), Monday, 5 September 2005 11:28 (nineteen years ago)

I was just listening to West Side Story yesterday-the OBC- and, while I'm not denying it's greatness, I would just like to nitpick about some really unfunky percussion during "America," particularly a maraca keeping the 3/4 (!?) time.

― k/l (Ken L), Monday, 5 September 2005 12:20 (nineteen years ago)

five years pass...

Just saw Avenue Q and found it surprisingly enjoyable. Maybe not my OPO but just wanted to say.

― rock rough 'n' stuff with h.r. pufnstuf (Hurting 2), Monday, 18 April 2011 02:46 (fourteen years ago)

Sweeney Todd is my OPO. (Today.) Guys and Dolls is close.

― Dodo Lurker (Slim and Slam), Monday, 18 April 2011 04:22 (fourteen years ago)

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