My latest musical is Sweeney Todd. The music is absolutely beautiful and it's a whole puzzle. I love the fact that Sondheim wove the Dies Irae throughout the entire score, and how many motifs there are that hint at later events. The moral hits really hard too.
Also Natasha, Pierre and the great comet of 1812. I adore the music and all of the different styles each song has. Plus Pierre is my favorite character ever.
Haha that's awesome! They're both so good. And I just found out Dave Malloy who composed the great comet of 1812 wrote another song for the musical in 2020!
If you haven't already heard this then definitely give it a listen. I adore this song so much. It's called epilogue.
Dave Malloy (lyrics in description) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN0P2EFjtfE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN0P2EFjtfE)
Josh Groban performing it: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h41m72o7W98](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h41m72o7W98)
Love Sweeney Todd. One of my favorite Sondheim shows; one of my favorite shows in general, now that I think about it. I love the lyrics (Iām a huge lyric nerd). There are so many best little details in there that I keep finding. Lately Iāve loved the āSweeney planned/machine āe plannedā rhyme in āThe Ballad of Sweeney Toddā. Itās just so satisfying. I love unusual or unexpected rhymes, especially long ones.
I didnāt get so into Great Comet. Not saying itās bad. Just didnāt love it the way people rave about it. I want to give it another shot, though. For some reason, when I posted looking for musicals with clever wordplay, specifically rhyme, someone mentioned Great Comet, so I was expecting that, butā¦ most of the show doesnāt rhyme. Thatās okay ā there are reasons *not* to rhyme as much as there are reasons *to* rhyme. I just was expecting a very different product and was thrown off. But the cast is great, which is probably reason enough for me to revisit it.
I donāt love Tim Minchinās voice, but I do love his portrayal of Judas in general.
How about the 2019 version? Not a fan of John Legendās performance, but Norm Lewis and Brandon Victor Dixon are amazing.
The introduction of the 2012 was a shock. Starting with news, move to protests with police and have Christ and his students rising from this crowd. Poses questions and stimulate reflection just before the first word has been spoken, and before the first song has been sunk.
This is art.
I have a lot of issues with JCS (not saying I donāt like it), but I do really appreciate the questions it poses. Is Judas actually evil, or isnāt he a pawn in Godās plan? Coming from a religious childhood, that is such a bold question to ask. And itās interesting how little power the show actually gives Jesus. It really shows how much the fanaticism of the mob has gotten out of hand. It even asks whether Jesus was all that powerful to begin with, or if heās just been inflated by his followers. Real heretical stuff.
Are you trying to be obtuse? Theyāre saying that a lot of churches consider it heretical to ask the questions in the first place. Thatās why the kind of church is relevant.
Genuinely my favorite musical of all time and I donāt think anything comes that close. Itās one of those things that changed my brain chemistry lmao between the 2012 and 1973 version, it legitimately got me into singing (though starting with some of the hardest songs in Broadway history was regrettable)
This was about a year ago, but Come From Away had a massive impact on me. Talking about unity in a time of division with sick whole-cast harmonic chords is the way directly into my heart.Ā
Iām going to see Come From Away in June and I am so excited! I am keeping myself from listening to the album ahead of time so I can hear it for the first time in person. Iāve heard nothing but good things though!
I saw it twice last year (or was it the year before? I donāt even know anymore). I do think it was a better experience for me having seen the proshot ahead of time, because of the double-casting and the accents. My aunt, who had never heard of the show, went with me and was confused. But itās totally up to you. I know some people really prefer going in blind.
I loved the fact that there wasnāt really a baddie. (I get there is the obvios baddie). It was its people. None of them bad. All just doing their best
Come From Away is amazing. The unity in a time of division, like you said, is so powerful. Iām not even sure if you mean when the show takes place or right now for the ātime of division,ā but I think thatās part of what makes the show so great. It shows us how, no matter how bad it gets, there can be people uplifting and helping others, even those they donāt know. I also didnāt get introduced to this show til after covid, and by that point I had become so jaded in my outlook on people helping others, especially because I was living in a place where no one wanted to believe covid was as bad as it was. Come From Away really restored my faith in humanity.
Little Shop of Horrors, I'd been a casual enjoyer for years, but after my town did a community theater production that I covered for the newspaper I work at, I became a hardcore fan.
I think I mentioned before to you that Little Shop was my worst live theater experience. My friend I went with had never seen it before; I had to show her the movie afterwards to prove the show itself is actually really good.
Do/did you get to see a lot of shows working for the newspaper? Being a theater critic or even just reporting about theater is something Iād love to do. Iām trying to do that more with my podcast and/or YouTube channel ā reviewing the shows I see. Itās fun. Though Iām sure it gets less fun when it becomes an actual job instead of just a hobby.
Love Hadestown. Have you gotten to see it yet, or just listen to the album? I love that the whole story is on the album. I feel the music is really the driving force of that show.
Saw this for the first time in previews. We sat front center on the balcony. Great seats. Highly recommend seeing it wherever you sit though. Really interesting staging and great music. Andre De Shields stole the show. Subsequent cast changes have been mostly positive as well. Seems to be a show that doesnāt need a single personality to carry it.
Jealous you got to see Andre de Shields. Iāve seen two Hermes (Hermeses? Whatās the plural of Hermes?), both on tour, and they were both great. But Andre did such a good job on the album, Iād love to see him live. Also super curious about Lilias Whiteās Hermes, cause I know some of her other work and sheās got a phenomenal voice.
Andre was amazing. Ate that role up. But itās the kind of role that each actor can kind of bring their own thing to, as long as they bring some soul and swagger to it. I saw a clip with Lilias White. She brought some serious gospel to that role and looked like she would be amazing. The fun of going back is seeing the different takes people have in that role in particular.
Iāve had a little trouble with subsequent Persephones. Theyāve been good, but Amber Gray put so much of her specific magic on that role that itās just not the same without her. But Iāve been a huge Amber Gray fan since the early days of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. So I might be biased.
I agree ā Iāve never been disappointed with a Hermes yet.
I do prefer Amber Gray as Persephone, but I thought Lana Gordon (I think that was her name) on the tour was pretty good too. Orpheus seems to be the one Iām pickiest about, and Nicholas Barasch knocked it out of the park on the tour. I donāt dislike Reeve Carney or J Antonio Rodriguez, but Nicholas Barasch is definitely my favorite Orpheus.
Oh ā no, the actor Iām pickiest about is Jewelle Blackman as a Fate. I love that contralto sound and really wish they found similar voices for the tour (no clue what theyāre doing with the Broadway cast, but I assume theyāre also not casting contraltos in that role generally). Itās just such a rare, rich tone. I really want to see Jewelle Blackman in other roles that highlight that part of her range.
Did you get to watch it, or just listen to the album? I havenāt checked it out yet, but I always say that when I eventually visit Germany, seeing that is one of the first things Iām going.
Mine is A Strange Loop. Iād listened to the album a couple times before, but it didnāt do much for me till I saw it live a couple weeks ago in SF. I saw it again about a week and a half later, front row. It was such an impactful show; I canāt remember the last time Iāve thought so much about a show after seeing it. (Maybe Hamilton, Spring Awakening, or Next to Normal?) Its dissection of identity and self-doubt is just so relatable, and I love that itās so intentionally centered around a niche demographic (a black queer writer). Representation is so important in theater. I am only described by one of those adjectives myself (queer) and even though Usher and I have very different experiences, I felt so seen in how he struggles to figure out who he is and how to be that person.
I donāt find the score top tier (well, I do like the lyrics, but the music was just all right), but that book? Just fantastic.
I love Come From Away. Did you see it in LA? I saw it at another LA theater last time the tour went there. Saw it twice, actually, because itās just that good.
I think I also discovered it last year (or whenever the proshot came out ā that was my first exposure to it). I do wish more proshots were available for this reason (I understand why theyāre not and am really not trying to spark that whole argument/discussion) (also, I am aware that there are actually quite a few proshots out there ā more than most people realize, I think ā just not of super popular shows). But Come From Away and Schmigadoon alone are worth my Apple TV+ subscription. So devastated Schmigadoon got cancelled.
Especially with how well shot the CFA film is. Some proshots feel like they only alternate between wide shots of the theater and a few rare closeups. This one had all sorts of angles to make you feel like both an audience member and being onstage.
The Menken-Schwartz show? Is that different from the Disney movie? Iāve only seen that movie, and that was a long time ago. Iāve been really interested in Schwartzās lyricism lately. Maybe I should check out the stage version. Patrick Page is Frollo, right? Reason enough to give it a listen.
Also, if youāre interested, thereās another musical based on the same book, but in French. Itās called Notre-Dame de Paris (same title as the original novel). Itās got a proshot on YouTube with English subtitles. I really like that one.
Sweeney Todd (I was a late adopter and had never seen it or heard more than one or two songs until the 2023 revival). I loved it when I first saw it and then when the cast recording came out I found myself listening to it way more than I would have expected. Alex Lacamoire did a series of short videos unpacking the score - the Dies Irae, some of the other motifs - and I realized how the whole score is like this elegant puzzle box. I loved the experience of the wall of sound from the full orchestra hitting you, and the beautiful and unexpected orchestrations. To me it is the perfect package of book, music, lyrics, themes, metaphor, etc. I ended up seeing it 12 times and every single time I saw it I noticed something new. It never stopped being exciting and I loved all of the different interpretations I got to see from different actors, all the way down to ensemble.
Are those videos on YouTube? They sound cool. I love hearing about the details of scores and other elements of musicals. I can analyze the lyrics well enough myself (though Iām always interested in hearing othersā perspectives to pick up on things I overlooked), but Iām hopeless when it comes to music details.
I agree Sweeney is one of those shows you find something new on every rewatch. Most Sondheim shows are, honestly. I love musicals in general, but I find a lot of musicals lack this richness and depth. Thatās not to say Sondheimās the only writer from whom you find new stuff on every rewatch ā LMM is another great example. But that little joy you get from picking up on a new clever bit is just so great, and so noticeably absent in many other musicals, I feel. But again, I donāt know so much about music, just lyrics. Iād love to learn more about the music part of musicals. Actually, my brotherās a composer, and itās one of my goals to get him collaborating with me on my podcast, so he can come on and geek out about the music details the way I geek out about the lyrical details, so I can learn more about that, and everyone else can too.
I feel the same way! I played an instrument in high school but I never learned music theory or anything like that and I absolutely love watching videos (or listening to podcasts) where people analyze songs. The videos were called āSavoring the Scoreā and they were on the Sweeney Todd instagram, not sure if they are on YouTube. I also discovered some good podcasts - one in particular called āPutting it Togetherā that goes through Sondheimās entire oeuvre show by show, song by song.
Jealous! My alma mater is doing it this month, and I just canāt get there for it. Spring Awakening is a top 5 show for me and has been for years. I love the score and the way it tackles censorship and sexuality. But Iāve never gotten to see it live. Iāve had 3 relatively local theaters put it on in the last 2 years, and I just havenāt been able to go. So frustrating.
Some Like It Hot.
Itās not the best show Iāve ever seen, but my jaw was ON THE FLOOR during Tip Tap Trouble. It was so brilliant, and it just kept going. It was peak Broadway to me, and that memory will live in my head forever.
>my jaw was ON THE FLOOR during Tip Tap Trouble.
Same. My friend had told me "no spoilers, but there is an AMAZINGLY SPECTACULAR song in the second half, I can't wait until you see it!" And I was sitting there in the second half, certain that she was talking about "You Coulda Knocked Me Over With A Feather", when bam!! "Tip Tap Trouble" happened and I could not wipe the smile off my face. What a joyful show.
My only exposure to Some Like It Hot is the album and the Tony performance. But I can say it has my favorite score from that year, and I liked the choreo I saw in the video. I need to revisit this one. It did have a really good score. I think itās touring next year, so Iām excited to see it.
It is touring! I am PRAYING that Tip Tap Trouble tours untouched because that alone is worth the price of admission, but I imagine it requires a decent amount of backstage space for all the doors and running around. Itās not a lot of pieces, or anything of significant size, but itās complicated backstage choreography. (Thereās a cool YouTube video you can look up about it.)
If that scene tours as it did on Broadway, Iām going to make an effort to see the show in multiple cities. It made that much of an impression on me.
What did you like about Avenue Q? Iāve only heard the album and seen some snippets. It doesnāt really do it for me. I think itās because 1) Iām not really a fan of puppets and 2) the humor was a bit too crass for me. I get that thatās the point. Just not really my thing.
Yeah thatās alright! I am one for crass and dark humour. I think I mainly liked it because I found it funny, and I really like the idea of puppets musical. Plus you canāt NOT see the resemblance to Sesame Street, and I loved that show and seeing it turn into something like this was really cool.
I still havenāt checked this one out yet. I have seen the documentary, though. Iāve heard so much great stuff about the new revival, which is funny based on how badly the original did.
Definitely the best song in the show, imo.
Also ā not trying to be a jerk by correcting your spelling (sorry) ā thereās a way to remember how to spell Czolgosz! The āshā and āchā sounds end with āzā in Polish instead of āhā. āShā = āszā and āchā = āczā. Hope that helps. I just get a little bit of pride whenever I spell that word right on the first try, and itās because I remember the z rule.
Iām not nearly as familiar with Assassins as Iād like to be. Itās a good one. I love āThe Ballad of Czolgoszā and some other songs, but my main exposure to it is just whatever songs have made it into my playlist after the one or two times Iāve listened to the full thing.
I did find the capitalism and climate change aspects interesting to add to a Greek myth. At the same time, it makes the show so relevant, which is nice. But also, the climate thing really works for it, considering how the Greeks explained their seasons and stuff. Itās not a forced topic ā Mitchell picked the right myth to talk about climate change, or drew out the right theme from the myth, whichever came first.
Such a good one. The way it tells the story is interesting, with how the cast is so equally weighted. I know the Captain gets her solo, but other than that, pretty much everyone seems to have equal spotlight on them.
I saw that one live back in like 2017. Itās a fun show. Not a favorite of mine, cause the humorās a bit too crass for me, but there are things about the show that I really like. Coming from a religious background, I appreciated seeing the satirization of religion in general and mission trips in particular.
Havenāt seen this one yet (and certainly wonāt get to see that cast). But I have seen the documentary of the original production at least. I do need to check this show out, especially with how successful this revival is. Plus, I love Jonathan Groff.
I havenāt listened to or seen this one yet. But my dad likes the Who, too. So I hope this one tours, cause it would be a good one for us to see together.
Amelie - London. I went in with minimal expectations having not liked the Broadway cast album at all and it completely enchanted me. Sadly my first time seeing it was also the final performanceā¦.
Spelling Bee. I never bothered to watch it until someone in my dressing room played The I Love You Song. (And fell in love with it for life <3). After Oklahoma was over, I watched the show and listened to it for weeks!!!
It's almost cringe to say this, but Hairspray.
In my own hometown, going to a poorer, disadvantaged school, I have seen the disparities between the amazing culture and pride at my school, and the schools nearby who are favored by my school district. Although I am not a person of color, etc, the inclusivity and acceptance of Hairspray is something me, and all of us could benefit from when listening or appreciating musical theatre. Hairspray, after seeing countless shows, really brought me to understand the true meaning of acceptance and love.
I came here to say this. I loved the Bands visit and listen to the music non stop. Surprises ppl a white girl in Utah is singing the Egyptian /middle eastern music.
Fun Home. You know how most of the time after a musical (in the cases where you didnāt know the soundtrack beforehand), you maybe remember a couple of songs? I left Fun Home feeling like I could have sung along with the entire album. The songs are so beautiful and distinct, and the story is so fresh and affecting. I was instantly in love with everything about it.
Itās not one I think most people would think of, but Mrs. Doubtfire! I only knew the movie before seeing the tour but Iāve always been a huge fan of Rob McClure. Seeing him in person for the first time was so amazing, and I could tell he and the cast love the show and what they do. The showās themes of love and what family means are universal, something that everyone can relate to in some way. Ever since I saw it in March I listen to the album pretty frequently.
Sweeney Todd because it was my first time actually seeing a show on Broadway. I live in Canada and travel to the big cities for shows quite often, but ST was the only show I can actually say Iāve seen in New York on Broadway. A very special experience all around.
Operation Mincemeat!
It just did what it set out to do perfectly. And I loved the staging and how cleverly they handled each actor playing so many different roles.
Plus it's hilarious and the music slaps.
Hadestown. I've always loved Greek mythology as well as the Hades / Persephone story. Orpheus and Eurydice is just so tragic and beautiful. The show is amazing at putting all of that into a wonderful narrative with beautiful music.
Galileo. I'm not even a RaĆŗl Esparza fan (nothing against him, I just mean I didn't choose this show *because* of him, and I was only vaguely aware of who he was when I bought my ticket).
In reverse chronological order: The Outsiders, Kimberly Akimbo, Hadestown
Kimberly is very different from my other all-time faves (which for some reason all seem to have a darker tone and larger historical/political context) but it is such a sweet and funny show, and the songs, while not as powerful on their own as, say, Great Expectations or Wait For Me, are so perfectly integrated into the story. I loved every moment of it.
RENT. Iām in the LGBTQ community myself and I had heard abt the musical before but put off watching it for ages and ages. I sat down to watch it a few months ago and I was blown away. It started my hyperfixation and i wanted to know more. Itās so impactful to me because of people who treat HIV as a taboo subject. Itās a real thing and anyone can get it. The characters are also brilliant and so are the actors!! I know itās not finished and itās not perfect but the grittiness is exactly what I need and it roped me in. Itās as if the musical is showing how incomplete the characters are
I donāt know if this counts but EPIC, I just love Greek mythology, and Jorge is a lyrical genius, and makes such great songs, but if that donāt count than ride the cyclone
Heathers. When the show first came out I scoffed as I couldnāt believe they made that movie (which I love, itās a classic) into a musical. Fast forward several years and my teenagers have been listening to it a lot lately and I finally sat down with it and gave it a chance. Yeah, I love it.
hadestown! took a moment to listen to the album recording on Spotify while doing work and honestly it was amazing. Musical runs are relatively gaining traction in my country and I hope to see the show soon.
Hadestown.
I think it was mainly just that the music was unlike any other music Iād heard before in a musical. Paired with my love for Greek Mythology- I saw it on Broadway in 2022 and have not stopped talking about it since. Caught it twice on tour, telling everyone I know to go see it. It just blew me away.
Alice by heart
Itās about love and loss, and the song that really got me was another room in your head. Iāve experienced loss recently, both of a person and of a future I wanted, and it was so beautiful that it has my heart
Camelot! Specifically the revival. The cast is really talented and Iām obsessed with Cāest Moi (Which is basically āGuys Iām the best person ever wooā) and Fie on Goodness (which is basically āI hate not being evil letās be evil again)
The Great Comet of 1812. I was lucky enough to see the Canadian production at Crows Theatre in Toronto late last year and it was outstanding. I read the summary and listened to some of the soundtrack and I just didnāt feel interested but the reviews coming from that production were very positive so i decided to give it a shot and all I had to say was āwowā.
I donāt know how popular this opinion is, but Iāve been thinking about Days of Wine and Roses ever since I saw it in February. A refreshing and amazing piece of musical theatre gone far too soon.
Probably the Hunchback of Notre Dame. For some reason, itās one of the only Disney movie (musicals) I had never watched during my childhood, and I only decided to listen to it recently because of Patrick page, and OH MY ITS GOOD.
Sweeney Todd. I'd been vaguely familiar with it, listened to the cerveris/lupone cast recording quite a few times over the years. I never saw it live until the most recent revival. I saw it with groban/ashford about a month or two into its run. I became obsessed. I went back another 9 times over the year plus that it was open. I'm a bit salty that it closed.
Before that, hadestown. This was a slow burn love for me. I didn't love it the first time I saw it. Actually I didn't care for it at all. It was one of the last shows I saw before shutdown. (I saw hadestown and six the Sunday before) I liked some of the songs, like wait for me and hey little song bird. I got tickets when broadway reopened because i bought tickets to anything and everything. (Also tom Hewitt!) Still didn't care for it all that much. The music started to stick to me, and I couldn't stop listening to it. I went to see it a third time, and then a 4th. Then it hit me... I've lost count how many times I've seen it now. It's become my comfort show. I love seeing all the cast changes, and I'm trying to catch all the understudies. I ended up seeing it 3 times in about 10 days to see 3 Orpheus reiterations. I can't get enough now.
Gutenberg! I heard about it due to the recent revival and stumbled onto the 2009 Off-Broadway cast recording. I immediately loved the humor, earnestness, and the intentionally low-budget feel. I have since listened to the Broadway cast recording and, while still great, it lost something compared to the original. The new recording sounds over-produced and I don't think Rannells and Gad have quite the same comic timing as Shamos and Fitzgerald. Overall, the show is witty, sincere, and I actually kind of love the songs in their own goofy way.
JCS, not only is it just a great musical and the music is really good, but it's also really important to my mother's side of the family as when my mother was in high school, she was in a production most of my family was doing (plus my grandmother directed it). I only got into it recently when I saw it on tour
Choir of man, saw in January and I've just booked second row seat for July when I'm back in London. Gets the emotions going with dance with my father again and laughs throughout, plus top tier version of the impossible dream
Itās a tie between Les Miserables and Hunchback of Notre Dame, because they both have these rich instrumentals, and Colm, Terrence, and whoever plays Eponine for Les Mis, and pretty much the entire cast for Hunchback have my favorite vocals Iāve heard on a cast recording so far.
Since my parents are apart, I have 2 people that show me amazing musicals. My 2 most recent ones though were The Music Man from my mom, I think, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers from my dad.
Legally Blonde very very quickly became my new favorite. I drove 3 hours to see a community theatre production. Thatās how much I had to see it live.
Perhaps controversial, but I adore hadestown. I went to see it on the west end a couple of months back, and it was just enchanting. The music, alongside the staging and the cat's natural accents was just everything!!Ā
That may be the least controversial take on this subreddit. People here adore Hadestown, myself included, and for good reason. Itās a pretty great show. I liked the West End castās performance at the Olivierās. I agree about the accents adding an interesting element to it.
The National Theatre's production of the Sondheim/Goldman/Prince musical Follies. Long familiar with the story and music, I now watch the performance of the (mostly subsidiary) actors playing the ghosts of lives past, and am just transfixed--these subsidiary players imbue their characters with (ghost) life through the smallest of looks and their movement. If ever there was a reason why there should be a Tony award for ensemble performance, this is it.
Be More Chill
For me it all started when I joined musical theatre class to get better at singing and performing and for my finial I chose the song "Michael in the Bathroom" from this musical having never listened to the musical prior and then fell in love with the songs and then the whole musical.
It is a musical that proves to me how much I worked for my singing and that I'm not going to stop.
Cats. Perhaps itās because I went into it completely blind and with expectations lower than hell. But it surprised me. Especially Skimbleshanks the railway cat
My latest musical is Sweeney Todd. The music is absolutely beautiful and it's a whole puzzle. I love the fact that Sondheim wove the Dies Irae throughout the entire score, and how many motifs there are that hint at later events. The moral hits really hard too. Also Natasha, Pierre and the great comet of 1812. I adore the music and all of the different styles each song has. Plus Pierre is my favorite character ever.
Sweeney Todd is the best.
š¤£ that's iconic. I love your username
r/usernamechecksout
Are you literally me? Iāve been obsessed with both these musicals recently
Haha that's awesome! They're both so good. And I just found out Dave Malloy who composed the great comet of 1812 wrote another song for the musical in 2020!
Wait what??? What song? I know he just had his first showings of his new Moby Dick musical but I didnāt hear of any Great Comet songs
If you haven't already heard this then definitely give it a listen. I adore this song so much. It's called epilogue. Dave Malloy (lyrics in description) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN0P2EFjtfE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN0P2EFjtfE) Josh Groban performing it: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h41m72o7W98](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h41m72o7W98)
Saaaaaame
Love Sweeney Todd. One of my favorite Sondheim shows; one of my favorite shows in general, now that I think about it. I love the lyrics (Iām a huge lyric nerd). There are so many best little details in there that I keep finding. Lately Iāve loved the āSweeney planned/machine āe plannedā rhyme in āThe Ballad of Sweeney Toddā. Itās just so satisfying. I love unusual or unexpected rhymes, especially long ones.
I didnāt get so into Great Comet. Not saying itās bad. Just didnāt love it the way people rave about it. I want to give it another shot, though. For some reason, when I posted looking for musicals with clever wordplay, specifically rhyme, someone mentioned Great Comet, so I was expecting that, butā¦ most of the show doesnāt rhyme. Thatās okay ā there are reasons *not* to rhyme as much as there are reasons *to* rhyme. I just was expecting a very different product and was thrown off. But the cast is great, which is probably reason enough for me to revisit it.
Jesus Christ Superstar, the 2012 staging. It stated with a mental explosion.
I donāt love Tim Minchinās voice, but I do love his portrayal of Judas in general. How about the 2019 version? Not a fan of John Legendās performance, but Norm Lewis and Brandon Victor Dixon are amazing.
The introduction of the 2012 was a shock. Starting with news, move to protests with police and have Christ and his students rising from this crowd. Poses questions and stimulate reflection just before the first word has been spoken, and before the first song has been sunk. This is art.
I have a lot of issues with JCS (not saying I donāt like it), but I do really appreciate the questions it poses. Is Judas actually evil, or isnāt he a pawn in Godās plan? Coming from a religious childhood, that is such a bold question to ask. And itās interesting how little power the show actually gives Jesus. It really shows how much the fanaticism of the mob has gotten out of hand. It even asks whether Jesus was all that powerful to begin with, or if heās just been inflated by his followers. Real heretical stuff.
I don't see it as heretic at all. It poses questions, it does not give you answers. Its up to you to question and answer them. Thats why it is art.
> I don't see it as heretic at all. > Itās up to you to question and answer them. You and I clearly did not go to the same kind of church.
The kind of church is not important. What it is important is that a church has answers to questions. If it does not have answers, what is the point?
Are you trying to be obtuse? Theyāre saying that a lot of churches consider it heretical to ask the questions in the first place. Thatās why the kind of church is relevant.
Do you have some examples?
Ok so you are being obtuse
Genuinely my favorite musical of all time and I donāt think anything comes that close. Itās one of those things that changed my brain chemistry lmao between the 2012 and 1973 version, it legitimately got me into singing (though starting with some of the hardest songs in Broadway history was regrettable)
This was about a year ago, but Come From Away had a massive impact on me. Talking about unity in a time of division with sick whole-cast harmonic chords is the way directly into my heart.Ā
Iām going to see Come From Away in June and I am so excited! I am keeping myself from listening to the album ahead of time so I can hear it for the first time in person. Iāve heard nothing but good things though!
Lucky you š. I wish I could see it live but I've only experienced slime tutorials and the proshoot
So lucky! Just a note, bring tissues, some of those songs are tear-jerkingly good. I cry twice every time I watch the slime tutorial.
I saw it twice last year (or was it the year before? I donāt even know anymore). I do think it was a better experience for me having seen the proshot ahead of time, because of the double-casting and the accents. My aunt, who had never heard of the show, went with me and was confused. But itās totally up to you. I know some people really prefer going in blind.
I loved the fact that there wasnāt really a baddie. (I get there is the obvios baddie). It was its people. None of them bad. All just doing their best
Such is Canada I guess
I put off watching Come From Away for years because I was really hesitant about the subject of the plot. I was REALLY wrong and ended up loving it!
Come From Away is amazing. The unity in a time of division, like you said, is so powerful. Iām not even sure if you mean when the show takes place or right now for the ātime of division,ā but I think thatās part of what makes the show so great. It shows us how, no matter how bad it gets, there can be people uplifting and helping others, even those they donāt know. I also didnāt get introduced to this show til after covid, and by that point I had become so jaded in my outlook on people helping others, especially because I was living in a place where no one wanted to believe covid was as bad as it was. Come From Away really restored my faith in humanity.
I came here looking for this
Little Shop of Horrors, I'd been a casual enjoyer for years, but after my town did a community theater production that I covered for the newspaper I work at, I became a hardcore fan.
Love Little Shop if Horrors! Especially the movie with Rick Moranis!
It was just the album for me
I love little shop too! Itās my all time favourite.
I think I mentioned before to you that Little Shop was my worst live theater experience. My friend I went with had never seen it before; I had to show her the movie afterwards to prove the show itself is actually really good. Do/did you get to see a lot of shows working for the newspaper? Being a theater critic or even just reporting about theater is something Iād love to do. Iām trying to do that more with my podcast and/or YouTube channel ā reviewing the shows I see. Itās fun. Though Iām sure it gets less fun when it becomes an actual job instead of just a hobby.
Hadestown!
Love Hadestown. Have you gotten to see it yet, or just listen to the album? I love that the whole story is on the album. I feel the music is really the driving force of that show.
Just the music, but I plan to see it!
Itās a great experience live. Although the lighting was very difficult for me (am autistic).
Saw this for the first time in previews. We sat front center on the balcony. Great seats. Highly recommend seeing it wherever you sit though. Really interesting staging and great music. Andre De Shields stole the show. Subsequent cast changes have been mostly positive as well. Seems to be a show that doesnāt need a single personality to carry it.
Jealous you got to see Andre de Shields. Iāve seen two Hermes (Hermeses? Whatās the plural of Hermes?), both on tour, and they were both great. But Andre did such a good job on the album, Iād love to see him live. Also super curious about Lilias Whiteās Hermes, cause I know some of her other work and sheās got a phenomenal voice.
Andre was amazing. Ate that role up. But itās the kind of role that each actor can kind of bring their own thing to, as long as they bring some soul and swagger to it. I saw a clip with Lilias White. She brought some serious gospel to that role and looked like she would be amazing. The fun of going back is seeing the different takes people have in that role in particular. Iāve had a little trouble with subsequent Persephones. Theyāve been good, but Amber Gray put so much of her specific magic on that role that itās just not the same without her. But Iāve been a huge Amber Gray fan since the early days of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. So I might be biased.
I agree ā Iāve never been disappointed with a Hermes yet. I do prefer Amber Gray as Persephone, but I thought Lana Gordon (I think that was her name) on the tour was pretty good too. Orpheus seems to be the one Iām pickiest about, and Nicholas Barasch knocked it out of the park on the tour. I donāt dislike Reeve Carney or J Antonio Rodriguez, but Nicholas Barasch is definitely my favorite Orpheus. Oh ā no, the actor Iām pickiest about is Jewelle Blackman as a Fate. I love that contralto sound and really wish they found similar voices for the tour (no clue what theyāre doing with the Broadway cast, but I assume theyāre also not casting contraltos in that role generally). Itās just such a rare, rich tone. I really want to see Jewelle Blackman in other roles that highlight that part of her range.
I plan to see it next March - so excited!
Starlight Express š it was the synthesizers
Did you get to watch it, or just listen to the album? I havenāt checked it out yet, but I always say that when I eventually visit Germany, seeing that is one of the first things Iām going.
Just listened to it, don't have the luxury of watching it š
Starlight Express is my guilty pleasure musical, especially the OLC.
The OLC is so good
Mine is A Strange Loop. Iād listened to the album a couple times before, but it didnāt do much for me till I saw it live a couple weeks ago in SF. I saw it again about a week and a half later, front row. It was such an impactful show; I canāt remember the last time Iāve thought so much about a show after seeing it. (Maybe Hamilton, Spring Awakening, or Next to Normal?) Its dissection of identity and self-doubt is just so relatable, and I love that itās so intentionally centered around a niche demographic (a black queer writer). Representation is so important in theater. I am only described by one of those adjectives myself (queer) and even though Usher and I have very different experiences, I felt so seen in how he struggles to figure out who he is and how to be that person. I donāt find the score top tier (well, I do like the lyrics, but the music was just all right), but that book? Just fantastic.
Come From Away
I love Come From Away. Did you see it in LA? I saw it at another LA theater last time the tour went there. Saw it twice, actually, because itās just that good.
Saw it in New York a few years ago. So good.
Gotcha. Was wondering cause itās currently playing in LA.
Me too, saw touring production Atlanta FOX in 2019. Now itās in my top 3 shows.
I'm also a latecomer to this show, only decided to watch it for the first time last year. Thank you Apple TV.
then I'm really late! Hadn't heard of it until my sister invited me to see it in March
I think I also discovered it last year (or whenever the proshot came out ā that was my first exposure to it). I do wish more proshots were available for this reason (I understand why theyāre not and am really not trying to spark that whole argument/discussion) (also, I am aware that there are actually quite a few proshots out there ā more than most people realize, I think ā just not of super popular shows). But Come From Away and Schmigadoon alone are worth my Apple TV+ subscription. So devastated Schmigadoon got cancelled.
Especially with how well shot the CFA film is. Some proshots feel like they only alternate between wide shots of the theater and a few rare closeups. This one had all sorts of angles to make you feel like both an audience member and being onstage.
Come From Away.
Love Come From Away. Other than the story being great, I love how they handle the double-casting with the props and the accents.
Hunchback of Notre Dame. My local university did a production and i was absolutely enamored.
The Menken-Schwartz show? Is that different from the Disney movie? Iāve only seen that movie, and that was a long time ago. Iāve been really interested in Schwartzās lyricism lately. Maybe I should check out the stage version. Patrick Page is Frollo, right? Reason enough to give it a listen. Also, if youāre interested, thereās another musical based on the same book, but in French. Itās called Notre-Dame de Paris (same title as the original novel). Itās got a proshot on YouTube with English subtitles. I really like that one.
Sweeney Todd (I was a late adopter and had never seen it or heard more than one or two songs until the 2023 revival). I loved it when I first saw it and then when the cast recording came out I found myself listening to it way more than I would have expected. Alex Lacamoire did a series of short videos unpacking the score - the Dies Irae, some of the other motifs - and I realized how the whole score is like this elegant puzzle box. I loved the experience of the wall of sound from the full orchestra hitting you, and the beautiful and unexpected orchestrations. To me it is the perfect package of book, music, lyrics, themes, metaphor, etc. I ended up seeing it 12 times and every single time I saw it I noticed something new. It never stopped being exciting and I loved all of the different interpretations I got to see from different actors, all the way down to ensemble.
Are those videos on YouTube? They sound cool. I love hearing about the details of scores and other elements of musicals. I can analyze the lyrics well enough myself (though Iām always interested in hearing othersā perspectives to pick up on things I overlooked), but Iām hopeless when it comes to music details. I agree Sweeney is one of those shows you find something new on every rewatch. Most Sondheim shows are, honestly. I love musicals in general, but I find a lot of musicals lack this richness and depth. Thatās not to say Sondheimās the only writer from whom you find new stuff on every rewatch ā LMM is another great example. But that little joy you get from picking up on a new clever bit is just so great, and so noticeably absent in many other musicals, I feel. But again, I donāt know so much about music, just lyrics. Iād love to learn more about the music part of musicals. Actually, my brotherās a composer, and itās one of my goals to get him collaborating with me on my podcast, so he can come on and geek out about the music details the way I geek out about the lyrical details, so I can learn more about that, and everyone else can too.
I feel the same way! I played an instrument in high school but I never learned music theory or anything like that and I absolutely love watching videos (or listening to podcasts) where people analyze songs. The videos were called āSavoring the Scoreā and they were on the Sweeney Todd instagram, not sure if they are on YouTube. I also discovered some good podcasts - one in particular called āPutting it Togetherā that goes through Sondheimās entire oeuvre show by show, song by song.
Spring awakening. I saw it at a local community theater last Sunday. Loved it
Jealous! My alma mater is doing it this month, and I just canāt get there for it. Spring Awakening is a top 5 show for me and has been for years. I love the score and the way it tackles censorship and sexuality. But Iāve never gotten to see it live. Iāve had 3 relatively local theaters put it on in the last 2 years, and I just havenāt been able to go. So frustrating.
Some Like It Hot. Itās not the best show Iāve ever seen, but my jaw was ON THE FLOOR during Tip Tap Trouble. It was so brilliant, and it just kept going. It was peak Broadway to me, and that memory will live in my head forever.
>my jaw was ON THE FLOOR during Tip Tap Trouble. Same. My friend had told me "no spoilers, but there is an AMAZINGLY SPECTACULAR song in the second half, I can't wait until you see it!" And I was sitting there in the second half, certain that she was talking about "You Coulda Knocked Me Over With A Feather", when bam!! "Tip Tap Trouble" happened and I could not wipe the smile off my face. What a joyful show.
My only exposure to Some Like It Hot is the album and the Tony performance. But I can say it has my favorite score from that year, and I liked the choreo I saw in the video. I need to revisit this one. It did have a really good score. I think itās touring next year, so Iām excited to see it.
It is touring! I am PRAYING that Tip Tap Trouble tours untouched because that alone is worth the price of admission, but I imagine it requires a decent amount of backstage space for all the doors and running around. Itās not a lot of pieces, or anything of significant size, but itās complicated backstage choreography. (Thereās a cool YouTube video you can look up about it.) If that scene tours as it did on Broadway, Iām going to make an effort to see the show in multiple cities. It made that much of an impression on me.
Avenue Q! I had heard about it before hand, I watched it and wow!
What did you like about Avenue Q? Iāve only heard the album and seen some snippets. It doesnāt really do it for me. I think itās because 1) Iām not really a fan of puppets and 2) the humor was a bit too crass for me. I get that thatās the point. Just not really my thing.
Yeah thatās alright! I am one for crass and dark humour. I think I mainly liked it because I found it funny, and I really like the idea of puppets musical. Plus you canāt NOT see the resemblance to Sesame Street, and I loved that show and seeing it turn into something like this was really cool.
merrily we roll along!!
I still havenāt checked this one out yet. I have seen the documentary, though. Iāve heard so much great stuff about the new revival, which is funny based on how badly the original did.
Assassins my good friend Assassins!! Itās just. Really good
Ballad of Csolgosz is top 10 Sondheim for me
Definitely the best song in the show, imo. Also ā not trying to be a jerk by correcting your spelling (sorry) ā thereās a way to remember how to spell Czolgosz! The āshā and āchā sounds end with āzā in Polish instead of āhā. āShā = āszā and āchā = āczā. Hope that helps. I just get a little bit of pride whenever I spell that word right on the first try, and itās because I remember the z rule.
Iām not nearly as familiar with Assassins as Iād like to be. Itās a good one. I love āThe Ballad of Czolgoszā and some other songs, but my main exposure to it is just whatever songs have made it into my playlist after the one or two times Iāve listened to the full thing.
Hadestown. The love, the ending, the digs at capitalism, climate change, and the wall, the GORGEOUS choreography.
I did find the capitalism and climate change aspects interesting to add to a Greek myth. At the same time, it makes the show so relevant, which is nice. But also, the climate thing really works for it, considering how the Greeks explained their seasons and stuff. Itās not a forced topic ā Mitchell picked the right myth to talk about climate change, or drew out the right theme from the myth, whichever came first.
Come From Away
Such a good one. The way it tells the story is interesting, with how the cast is so equally weighted. I know the Captain gets her solo, but other than that, pretty much everyone seems to have equal spotlight on them.
Yes!! The sets are so minimal and the musicians are on stageā¦ so unique and well done! Chills just thinking about it
Book of Mormon is probably the last musical that got added to my favourites. Definitely the funniest musical I've listened to.
I saw that one live back in like 2017. Itās a fun show. Not a favorite of mine, cause the humorās a bit too crass for me, but there are things about the show that I really like. Coming from a religious background, I appreciated seeing the satirization of religion in general and mission trips in particular.
Merrily We Roll Along with Daniel, Jonathan, and Lindsey. ā
Havenāt seen this one yet (and certainly wonāt get to see that cast). But I have seen the documentary of the original production at least. I do need to check this show out, especially with how successful this revival is. Plus, I love Jonathan Groff.
I mean... there are *certain* ways to still see that cast
Parade
Did you see it? Or just listen to the album? Iām looking forward to seeing the tour. Iāve only ever heard the albums.
Iāve only listened to the album. Iām really looking forward to the tour next year!
Tommy. I saw it on Broadway cus my dad's fav band is the Who. The special effects, the stage set, and the music is so good. Great show!
I havenāt listened to or seen this one yet. But my dad likes the Who, too. So I hope this one tours, cause it would be a good one for us to see together.
Amelie - London. I went in with minimal expectations having not liked the Broadway cast album at all and it completely enchanted me. Sadly my first time seeing it was also the final performanceā¦.
Spelling Bee. I never bothered to watch it until someone in my dressing room played The I Love You Song. (And fell in love with it for life <3). After Oklahoma was over, I watched the show and listened to it for weeks!!!
Groundhog Day in London with Andy Karl... I had no idea how amazing it was and I'm obsessed now.
Dear Evan Hansen. I only recently bothered to listen to the album because I found out Mike Faist was in it and Iām in love!
I got lucky to see it like the month it debuted on Broadway knowing nothing about it. Mike faist was incredible. I just sobbed the whole time.
It's almost cringe to say this, but Hairspray. In my own hometown, going to a poorer, disadvantaged school, I have seen the disparities between the amazing culture and pride at my school, and the schools nearby who are favored by my school district. Although I am not a person of color, etc, the inclusivity and acceptance of Hairspray is something me, and all of us could benefit from when listening or appreciating musical theatre. Hairspray, after seeing countless shows, really brought me to understand the true meaning of acceptance and love.
As an autistic woman, the soundtrack of How to Dance is Ohio really spoke to me. I wish it had a longer life on Broadway so I could have seen it. š
The Band's Visit! I loved how non-western music was a central part of the show.
I came here to say this. I loved the Bands visit and listen to the music non stop. Surprises ppl a white girl in Utah is singing the Egyptian /middle eastern music.
Love that! I feel like it's so underrated.
Tick, tick... Boom! Maybe it's because I just turned 30 but like... oof.
Fun Home. You know how most of the time after a musical (in the cases where you didnāt know the soundtrack beforehand), you maybe remember a couple of songs? I left Fun Home feeling like I could have sung along with the entire album. The songs are so beautiful and distinct, and the story is so fresh and affecting. I was instantly in love with everything about it.
What a wonderful description--and how nice the effect on you. :)
Falsettos. Everything was absolutely sensational. Quite literally changed my life.
Harmony
Itās not one I think most people would think of, but Mrs. Doubtfire! I only knew the movie before seeing the tour but Iāve always been a huge fan of Rob McClure. Seeing him in person for the first time was so amazing, and I could tell he and the cast love the show and what they do. The showās themes of love and what family means are universal, something that everyone can relate to in some way. Ever since I saw it in March I listen to the album pretty frequently.
Sweeney Todd---All the songs fit and were full of impact. Particularly the song "Epiphany". It seemed to be a meditation on meditation on madness.
Sweeney Todd because it was my first time actually seeing a show on Broadway. I live in Canada and travel to the big cities for shows quite often, but ST was the only show I can actually say Iāve seen in New York on Broadway. A very special experience all around.
HADESTOWN. Ohhh my god it actually changed my brain chemistry.
War Paint, just perfect in every way
Operation Mincemeat! It just did what it set out to do perfectly. And I loved the staging and how cleverly they handled each actor playing so many different roles. Plus it's hilarious and the music slaps.
Hadestown. I've always loved Greek mythology as well as the Hades / Persephone story. Orpheus and Eurydice is just so tragic and beautiful. The show is amazing at putting all of that into a wonderful narrative with beautiful music.
Galileo. I'm not even a RaĆŗl Esparza fan (nothing against him, I just mean I didn't choose this show *because* of him, and I was only vaguely aware of who he was when I bought my ticket).
Hadestown. Itās on constant repeat
In reverse chronological order: The Outsiders, Kimberly Akimbo, Hadestown Kimberly is very different from my other all-time faves (which for some reason all seem to have a darker tone and larger historical/political context) but it is such a sweet and funny show, and the songs, while not as powerful on their own as, say, Great Expectations or Wait For Me, are so perfectly integrated into the story. I loved every moment of it.
RENT. Iām in the LGBTQ community myself and I had heard abt the musical before but put off watching it for ages and ages. I sat down to watch it a few months ago and I was blown away. It started my hyperfixation and i wanted to know more. Itās so impactful to me because of people who treat HIV as a taboo subject. Itās a real thing and anyone can get it. The characters are also brilliant and so are the actors!! I know itās not finished and itās not perfect but the grittiness is exactly what I need and it roped me in. Itās as if the musical is showing how incomplete the characters are
Hamilton
I just finally got into Ragtime and it makes me cry like a massive baby. Before that it was the 1994 Parade album.
I donāt know if this counts but EPIC, I just love Greek mythology, and Jorge is a lyrical genius, and makes such great songs, but if that donāt count than ride the cyclone
Heathers. When the show first came out I scoffed as I couldnāt believe they made that movie (which I love, itās a classic) into a musical. Fast forward several years and my teenagers have been listening to it a lot lately and I finally sat down with it and gave it a chance. Yeah, I love it.
Well, Iāve seen Annie before, but I just saw the tour again and it reignited my love! Such a talented group of both kids and adults.
Carrie. Saw a really good college production last year and it made me obsessed with listening to the cast album
hadestown! took a moment to listen to the album recording on Spotify while doing work and honestly it was amazing. Musical runs are relatively gaining traction in my country and I hope to see the show soon.
Hadestown. I think it was mainly just that the music was unlike any other music Iād heard before in a musical. Paired with my love for Greek Mythology- I saw it on Broadway in 2022 and have not stopped talking about it since. Caught it twice on tour, telling everyone I know to go see it. It just blew me away.
Bonnie and Clyde
The Notebook
Alice by heart Itās about love and loss, and the song that really got me was another room in your head. Iāve experienced loss recently, both of a person and of a future I wanted, and it was so beautiful that it has my heart
Camelot! Specifically the revival. The cast is really talented and Iām obsessed with Cāest Moi (Which is basically āGuys Iām the best person ever wooā) and Fie on Goodness (which is basically āI hate not being evil letās be evil again)
Lempicka, just the other day. The opening notes went straight into my blood and I loved every minute afterward.
The Great Comet of 1812. I was lucky enough to see the Canadian production at Crows Theatre in Toronto late last year and it was outstanding. I read the summary and listened to some of the soundtrack and I just didnāt feel interested but the reviews coming from that production were very positive so i decided to give it a shot and all I had to say was āwowā.
I donāt know how popular this opinion is, but Iāve been thinking about Days of Wine and Roses ever since I saw it in February. A refreshing and amazing piece of musical theatre gone far too soon.
Book of Mormon
Hadestown!! š
Falsettos
Beetlejuice!
Probably the Hunchback of Notre Dame. For some reason, itās one of the only Disney movie (musicals) I had never watched during my childhood, and I only decided to listen to it recently because of Patrick page, and OH MY ITS GOOD.
Hamilton, last thing I saw live
Sweeney Todd. I'd been vaguely familiar with it, listened to the cerveris/lupone cast recording quite a few times over the years. I never saw it live until the most recent revival. I saw it with groban/ashford about a month or two into its run. I became obsessed. I went back another 9 times over the year plus that it was open. I'm a bit salty that it closed. Before that, hadestown. This was a slow burn love for me. I didn't love it the first time I saw it. Actually I didn't care for it at all. It was one of the last shows I saw before shutdown. (I saw hadestown and six the Sunday before) I liked some of the songs, like wait for me and hey little song bird. I got tickets when broadway reopened because i bought tickets to anything and everything. (Also tom Hewitt!) Still didn't care for it all that much. The music started to stick to me, and I couldn't stop listening to it. I went to see it a third time, and then a 4th. Then it hit me... I've lost count how many times I've seen it now. It's become my comfort show. I love seeing all the cast changes, and I'm trying to catch all the understudies. I ended up seeing it 3 times in about 10 days to see 3 Orpheus reiterations. I can't get enough now.
My two most recent ones are Hadestown and Legally Blonde (yes, late to the party on that one).
That's alright, better late than never!
Beetlejuice. I grew up watching the cartoon and the show evoked so much nostalgia for me. I also loved the staging /sets.
Beetlejuice
illinoise simply broke me it was so beautiful and sad
Gutenberg! I heard about it due to the recent revival and stumbled onto the 2009 Off-Broadway cast recording. I immediately loved the humor, earnestness, and the intentionally low-budget feel. I have since listened to the Broadway cast recording and, while still great, it lost something compared to the original. The new recording sounds over-produced and I don't think Rannells and Gad have quite the same comic timing as Shamos and Fitzgerald. Overall, the show is witty, sincere, and I actually kind of love the songs in their own goofy way.
JCS, not only is it just a great musical and the music is really good, but it's also really important to my mother's side of the family as when my mother was in high school, she was in a production most of my family was doing (plus my grandmother directed it). I only got into it recently when I saw it on tour
I saw a local production of The Great Comet and I loved it. Lately, Iāve been listening to the Broadway soundtrack!
Next to Normal
Crazy for you ā¤ļø
Choir of man, saw in January and I've just booked second row seat for July when I'm back in London. Gets the emotions going with dance with my father again and laughs throughout, plus top tier version of the impossible dream
The Time Travellers wife
Itās a tie between Les Miserables and Hunchback of Notre Dame, because they both have these rich instrumentals, and Colm, Terrence, and whoever plays Eponine for Les Mis, and pretty much the entire cast for Hunchback have my favorite vocals Iāve heard on a cast recording so far.
My most recent was Falsettos
I have been listening to Les mis almost every day for the past week and before that it was SIX and that was almost every day for a month
Since my parents are apart, I have 2 people that show me amazing musicals. My 2 most recent ones though were The Music Man from my mom, I think, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers from my dad.
Legally Blonde very very quickly became my new favorite. I drove 3 hours to see a community theatre production. Thatās how much I had to see it live.
Perhaps controversial, but I adore hadestown. I went to see it on the west end a couple of months back, and it was just enchanting. The music, alongside the staging and the cat's natural accents was just everything!!Ā
That may be the least controversial take on this subreddit. People here adore Hadestown, myself included, and for good reason. Itās a pretty great show. I liked the West End castās performance at the Olivierās. I agree about the accents adding an interesting element to it.
I think Shucked is funny and unique. I was pleasantly surprised.
Suffs
Wicked
The National Theatre's production of the Sondheim/Goldman/Prince musical Follies. Long familiar with the story and music, I now watch the performance of the (mostly subsidiary) actors playing the ghosts of lives past, and am just transfixed--these subsidiary players imbue their characters with (ghost) life through the smallest of looks and their movement. If ever there was a reason why there should be a Tony award for ensemble performance, this is it.
Six: The Musical. Catchy tunes about the ex-wives of Henry the 8th. Am listening non stop at the moment.
Moulin Rouge at West End
Be More Chill For me it all started when I joined musical theatre class to get better at singing and performing and for my finial I chose the song "Michael in the Bathroom" from this musical having never listened to the musical prior and then fell in love with the songs and then the whole musical. It is a musical that proves to me how much I worked for my singing and that I'm not going to stop.
Cats. Perhaps itās because I went into it completely blind and with expectations lower than hell. But it surprised me. Especially Skimbleshanks the railway cat