Giving in to a stereotype: Musicals, best parts?

[+ Just Chuck]

I'm re-watching the 1973 version of "Jesus Christ Superstar" this evening (I'm not religious, I just love the show).  It's one of my favorite musicals.  I love the music.  I own three versions of the soundtrack: the stage performance from London featuring Ian Gillian (Deep Purple's lead singer) as Jesus, the 1973 film version, and the 2018 version featuring John Legend and Sarah Barielles. I think I've seen eight to ten versions of live stage performances.

I also love the soundtrack to "Chess".  But I've never seen a performance.

"Cats" has some awesome songs and it's held together by some themes, but not really a storyline (that I can tell).  Likewise for "Phantom of the Opera" or "Moulan Rouge".  

Love 'em or hate 'em, tell me about your relationship with musicals.

[+ Just Chuck]

How could I have left out mentioning awesome performances by Murray Head or Alice Cooper as King Herrod.  
Or Carl Anderson  or Brandon Dixon as Judas.

 

[+ azdr0710]

 

paging @WilliamM ....paging a Mr. William M.......white courtesy telephone for an important message!

 

[jeezifonly]

Hint: I imagine this thread belongs in a more specific Forum about Arts and Entertainment if you want more engagement. 
but…
My relationship to musicals is as old as I am. Love the form as a rule. Big part of my 40yr work life. 

Fun fact: I worked with Broadway Role Originators of:

Billy Bigelow (Carousel)

Annie (Annie)

Pippin (Pippin)

Anthony Hope (Sweeney Todd)

Bobby and Marta (Company)

Count Carl-Magnus (A Little Night Music)

As great as on-screen adaptations of musical theatre pieces are, seeing the literature performed live is second only to being allowed into the process of making it. 

 

 

 

 

[mike carey]

24 minutes ago, jeezifonly said:

Hint: I imagine this thread belongs in a more specific Forum about Arts and Entertainment if you want more engagement. 
but…

The subject of giving in to stereotypes belongs in the Lounge, but when the topic pivots, as this one has in the first post, to one that belongs in another forum it makes sense to move it there. Since we are talking about musicals, which are staged in theatres, but also find their way onto screens large and small, there are several forums to choose from. To me they are primarily stage performances so I'll move it there. Until the catcalls start ...

[mike carey]

My experience started with high school performances of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, they were such fun to perform in even with the months of learning and rehearsals that were involved. They are wonderful vehicles to portray the politics and society of any day, I recall one Canadian version with references to bilingualism. My small town had a theatrical society and a choral society that I recall together putting on a version of Oklahoma. A change to the script to say 'Back to Soraya', a reference to the wife of the Shah, brought the house down. My mother played Aunt Eller. The first of the 'modern' musicals I recall taking my interest was Don't Cry for Me Argentina via its concept album (I think it was Julie Covington's voice wot dun it), and later on stage in the West End.

[+ ApexNomad]

2 minutes ago, mike carey said:

My experience started with high school performances of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, they were such fun to perform in even with the months of learning and rehearsals that were involved. They are wonderful vehicles to portray the politics and society of any day, I recall one Canadian version with references to bilingualism. My small town had a theatrical society and a choral society that I recall together putting on a version of Oklahoma. A change to the script to say 'Back to Soraya', a reference to the wife of the Shah, brought the house down. My mother played Aunt Eller. The first of the 'modern' musicals I recall taking my interest was Don't Cry for Me Argentina via its concept album (I think it was Julie Covington's voice wot dun it), and later on stage in the West End.

Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas are such a brilliant mix of sharp satire and infectious melodies—I can see how they’d be a joy to perform. Your mention of Evita brings back memories of hearing Julie Covington’s recording—her voice had such an emotional clarity. Did you ever get to see a production with Patti LuPone or Elaine Paige?

[MaybeMaybeNot]

I am a huge fan of musicals! I own hundreds of cast albums. My enthusiasm for seeing most everything that comes to town has waned in the last few years because audiences are getting ruder. It's hard to pay that much for a ticket only to sit near someone who refuses to stop talking. The theatres won't do anything to address it. 

Favorite show include Hello, Dolly!; Guys and Dolls; Fiddler on the Roof; Aida; In the Heights; Bells are Ringing; Jane Eyre; Les Mis; and Kiss Me, Kate.

[+ ApexNomad]

36 minutes ago, MaybeMaybeNot said:

I am a huge fan of musicals! I own hundreds of cast albums. My enthusiasm for seeing most everything that comes to town has waned in the last few years because audiences are getting ruder. It's hard to pay that much for a ticket only to sit near someone who refuses to stop talking. The theatres won't do anything to address it. 

Favorite show include Hello, Dolly!; Guys and Dolls; Fiddler on the Roof; Aida; In the Heights; Bells are Ringing; Jane Eyre; Les Mis; and Kiss Me, Kate.

Jane Eyre deserved a longer run on Broadway, as it never truly found its audience, which is a shame. A beautiful and haunting score. 

[mike carey]

3 hours ago, ApexNomad said:

Did you ever get to see a production with Patti LuPone or Elaine Paige?

I'm fairly sure it was Elaine Paige I saw in London.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

20 hours ago, azdr0710 said:

 

paging @WilliamM ....paging a Mr. William M.......white courtesy telephone for an important message!

 

 

I feel a Mary Martin or Merman story coming on.

[ShortCutie7]

I’m a HUGE musical theatre fan and love almost every show mentioned in this thread- my favorites change every day, but two that are pretty consistently in my top five are “Kiss Me, Kate”  and “A Little Night Music”!

[skynyc]

On 2/26/2025 at 12:26 AM, ApexNomad said:

Jane Eyre deserved a longer run on Broadway, as it never truly found its audience, which is a shame. A beautiful and haunting score. 

Jane Eyre was against the juggernaut of The Producers. I agree it had some lovely moments, and Barbour and Shaddow were both great. I also remember noticing the lighting for the first time...which means I wasn't fully engaged with what was happening on stage. 

 

[skynyc]

I've mentioned here before that I've seen many different Mama Roses in Gypsy...16 to be exact...and 13 Hedwigs. But don't count either of those shows as my favorites...just amazing examples of roles that can be interpreted in many ways.  My faves include Ragtime, Drood, 1776, Nine, and Little Night Music.  I've always been a goer, not a doer. But love hearing backstage stories. The community of a show is always so intense and special. 

 

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

3 hours ago, skynyc said:

My faves include Ragtime

A little birdie told me that Ragtime is being finalized for a Lincoln Center run at the Viv for late summer, early fall.

It should work better there, as there's not as much pressure on it to recoup.

That same birdie told me that they're currently trying to finalize Heather Headley to come in for Audra during a deserved summer vacation.

Audra will, however, close the show.

[shinj518]

Love musicals as well although I've never really been to new york city and never been to Broadway. I've only seen community theater or shows on tour on the west coast, primarily in LA. One day I'll get to new york...

I fell in love with musicals when I was in high school playing bassoon and clarinet in the orchestra pit for our school shows (Carousel, West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdy (which i did not like), and Oklahoma). I sometimes dream of being a musician and playing in an orchestra pit but unfortunately wasn't able to afford an actual bassoon of my own growing up and so stopped playing after college (up til college I was able to rent instruments from the school for free).

My favorite musical is probably Into the Woods, but I have so many other guilty pleasures of shows where I love most of the music but not necessarily the show itself. Carousel, My Fair Lady, Gypsy, Funny Girl, Fiddler on the Roof, Wicked, Music Man, Little Women, Legally Blonde, Shrek, Dear Evan Hansen, The Last Five Years, Bridges of Madison County, Newsies, Hello Dolly, Kiss Me Kate, Anything Goes, Company, A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, West Side Story, Parade, She Loves Me, Six, and so much more.

[+ ApexNomad]

On 3/3/2025 at 1:46 PM, BenjaminNicholas said:

A little birdie told me that Ragtime is being finalized for a Lincoln Center run at the Viv for late summer, early fall.

It should work better there, as there's not as much pressure on it to recoup.

That same birdie told me that they're currently trying to finalize Heather Headley to come in for Audra during a deserved summer vacation.

Audra will, however, close the show.

I love your little birdie. Thank you for sharing this wonderful news. I adore Heather Headley - she was the best thing about Aida. Her voice is amazing. (My guilty pleasure is Sweet Magnolias - she’s terrific in that and has sung a few times.)

[pubic_assistance]

On 2/25/2025 at 7:42 PM, Just Chuck said:

Love 'em or hate 'em, tell me about your relationship with musicals.

I am NOT a fan of musicals. I find most to be uncomfortably cheesy. I do however share your love of Jesus Christ Superstar. I consider it to be a piece of art, that was the zenith of Weber's youthful creativity and daring. (It was all downhill from there).

For me the quintessential version is the film. Carl Anderson & Yvonne Elliman were magnificent and iconic in their roles. I also enjoy the staging of minimalist touches of modernism added to the ruins of ancient Rome at Avdat.

Beyond that ...most modern Broadway Musicals are pedestrian fluff designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator of Western Culture. After the incubators of 70s new age hippy culture, (J.C.S.S., Pippin, Hair and Godspell) the industry focused on too much mainstream crap that would appeal to the blue-haired lady crowd to fill matinee seats.

Took my parents to see "Phantom of the Opera" years ago..(and I'm sure I will get slammed by the show--tune-gays for saying this), but that was the worst piece of rubbish I've ever seen and paid good money to suffer through. Literally painful to watch, it was just so awful in ao many ways. Likewise, I watched the film version "Les Misérables" and it did indeed make me miserable. I just couldn't understand the glowing reviews. I haven't attended a single musical for decades that was anything but "just ok". The only exception being "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" which managed to bring back the daring creative spirit of the 70s. (Best versions are at the Jane Hotel and film..both with John Cameron Mitchell as Hedwig).

Edited March 9 by pubic_assistance
additional

[+ sync]

I'm always swayed by musicals in whatever genre.

[ShortCutie7]

16 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

 

Took my parents to see "Phantom of the Opera" years ago..(and I'm sure I will get slammed by the show--tune-gays for saying this), but that was the worst piece of rubbish I've ever seen and paid good money to suffer through. Literally painful to watch, it was just so awful in ao many ways. Likewise, I watched the film version "Les Misérables" and it did indeed make me miserable. I just couldn't understand the glowing reviews.

You’re far from alone! Though I love it, the majority of the “show-tune-gays” aka “theatre snobs” actually hate Phantom.   And the film version of Les Miz is sorely lacking on most fronts in the vocal department, which kind of defeats the purpose of a sung-through musical.  You might enjoy the stage version more if the singing is better.

[pubic_assistance]

12 hours ago, ShortCutie7 said:

the film version of Les Miz is sorely lacking on most fronts in the vocal department

I don't know if the demands of the score were too much, or the cast simply can't sing. But there were moments where the performance was so off-key, it sounded like cats-in-heat.

Edited March 10 by pubic_assistance
grammar

[ShortCutie7]

1 minute ago, pubic_assistance said:

I don't know if the demands of the score were too much the cast simply can't sing. But there were moments where the performance was so off-key, it sounded like cats-in-heat.

It was a perfect storm of casting some actors who couldn’t sing, some actors whose voices were either not right for their roles or not up to snuff, and then making the filming conditions such that NONE of the actors could sing to the best of their abilities.

[shinj518]

15 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

I don't know if the demands of the score were too much, or the cast simply can't sing. But there were moments where the performance was so off-key, it sounded like cats-in-heat.

The only one that I think most people agree performed well was heartthrob and cutie (for me at least) Aaron Tveit as Enjolras. 

I personally also liked Eddie Redmayne as Marius, but I know some theater people who didn't think he was right for the role and didn't like his tone.

I was alright with Anne Hathaways performance as it was quite a different take and worked for a movie, but it was definitely far from the best vocal performance of that song.

I dont think I liked anyone elses performance in the movie. Most of my friends agreed Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, and Helena Bonham Carter were terrible, and Samantha Barks was probably directed badly despite her being able to actually sing. 

[+ Gar1eth]

On 2/25/2025 at 6:42 PM, Just Chuck said:

I'm re-watching the 1973 version of "Jesus Christ Superstar" this evening (I'm not religious, I just love the show).  It's one of my favorite musicals.  I love the music.  I own three versions of the soundtrack: the stage performance from London featuring Ian Gillian (Deep Purple's lead singer) as Jesus, the 1973 film version, and the 2018 version featuring John Legend and Sarah Barielles. I think I've seen eight to ten versions of live stage performances.

I also love the soundtrack to "Chess".  But I've never seen a performance.

"Cats" has some awesome songs and it's held together by some themes, but not really a storyline (that I can tell).  Likewise for "Phantom of the Opera" or "Moulan Rouge".  

Love 'em or hate 'em, tell me about your relationship with musicals.

I love musicals. But there's a caveat. Usually I only like the more traditional stuff for -so I guess I fall into the 'blue-haired lady' demographic even though I'm bald -and male. But I'll have to admit that JC Superstar is not my favorite although I do like some of the songs.  I used to have several CD versions of Joseph.  I'm also not that fond of Hair or Godspell although I do like some of the songs. I've never been that fond of Caberet. 
 

The first NY professional show I saw was The Fantastiks when I was about 16. I was at camp in NY State for 6 weeks, we went into the city for one day. I had actually seen a local production a few months earlier and liked that one better. 

I saw some touring companies over the years after that-but I was 28 before I got to the theater 'Mecca' London. I was there for 4 weeks. And I saw Les Miserables--and LOVED it. 
 

I do like Phantom-although I like Les Miserables more -but spoiler alert-the first time I saw it-at the beginning when Raoul is so distraught-I thought that he had lost Christine years before. And was reminiscing about that. Then at the end I find he's the one whom she chose-it messed up my understanding. To really figure out what was going on, I had to read a synopsis online. 
 

And I saw Pippin when the new production just came out. I didn't see the Leading Player who ended up winning the Tony. The day I saw it was possibly the day after they had finished the cast album and possibly the announcement for the TONYS had come out. She apparently had been doing interviews and needed vocal rest. Her understudy was great though. 
 

And yes, I love Wicked although I don't think it's a perfect show. It seems to me Madam Morrible and the Wizard become evil without a lot of transition. 
 

One of the most perfect musicals still -even though it's old-- is Guys and Dolls. 
 

I also ought to add that four of the first movies I remember seeing as a child are musicals. The first two are Mary Poppins and Bambi. The next two are Hard Days Night and Sound of Music. I remember liking them all. 

Edited March 12 by Gar1eth

[+ Just Chuck]

4 hours ago, Gar1eth said:

One of the most perfect musicals still -even though it's old-- is Guys and Dolls. 

I certainly can't argue with that.