handprintonmyheart
Sacramento

Question: What is your favorite Broadway musical (or movie musical)?  — 9 months ago

I think my love for storytelling and music first started with all the wonderful Disney films that I watched as a child. I would sing my heart out to Ariel’s “Part of Your World” as a little girl and just loved that music could be used to tell a story. I also remember frequently watching the Sound of Music and the Wizard of Oz with my parents as a young child. I guess I just thought of musicals as something magical.

It’s hard for me to pinpoint just one favorite musical though – but currently, I’d have to say it is Wicked. I’ve seen it twice on stage and I love that it is funny, and touching, and deals with so many different themes and issues on so many levels. Tolerance, acceptance, activism, the true nature of good and evil – all really interesting things to see played out on stage. Plus it’s got all my favorite characters from my childhood favorite the Wizard of Oz, so it’s no wonder why it’s so high up there on my list. :)

Nov 16, 09:49AM PST 2 cheers

Comments:

DoctorTeeth
Edmonton

On "Wicked"

I really liked the book; it was a great read and a really interesting interpretation of the story. But I heard from one of my professors that she really didn’t like the musical because of a few significant changes from the novel. I don’t know if I’d see it; I’ve listened to the Wicked album on my honeymoon (the wife wanted to listen to it as we drove through the mountains), and it’s pretty good – and I love Kristen Chenoweth’s voice. But I like the book so much I don’t know how I’d handle the changes.

As for my own favourite musical…I’ll have to think about that.

Nov 16, 12:02PM PST | Thread | Respond to this

handprintonmyheart
Sacramento

Book and Stage Show are two different beasties

And I think you just have to go into the show (or the book, for those people who see the show first) and realize that the show is very, very loosely based on the book.

I like to think of the stage show as the behind the scenes look opposite the movie the Wizard of Oz – it lines up quite nicely that way. Plus, if you keep in mind that a stage show needs to appeal to a broader audience than a book (I think kids as young as 5 go to see Wicked), then you’ll understand the creative liberties they took when they adapted the book into the play.

They are different mediums, so I don’t see why people can’t enjoy both as stand-alone works of art.

Nov 16, 12:07PM PST | Thread | Respond to this

DoctorTeeth
Edmonton

Good Points

I think the reason people have problems with changing the source material is because they might go expecting to see what they liked in their first exposure. As a counter-example to my first one, my wife loves the music but couldn’t get through the first third of the book because she didn’t like the tone.

I do try to keep an open mind about these things, but I’ve heard they are significant changes, and I do like the original story quite a lot and fear the changes might destroy what I see as one of the main points of the story. Then again, it is hearsay, so what do I know? I think I’ll be content to listen to the soundtrack every once in a while and leave it at that, as I doubt I’ll have the opportunity to see it live.

Nov 16, 12:17PM PST | Respond to this

Chris Campbell
Wolfville

Favourite Musicals

Musicals don’t seem to be my thing, but in thinking about it I realize that there are some that I really like.
At the top I would put “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” as I love the style of the film and the music (and wouldn’t mind seeing a stage version either.)
Another musical film with stage ancestry, Hedwig and the Angry Inch is fun, funny and moving as well.
Moving into the more cinematic realm I would include Moulin Rouge for the weaving of diverse songs and the melodramatic story with Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman at the heart of the film.
Francois Ozon’s French film 8 Women combines a comedy murder mystery with a musical and an overall beautiful look and a strange tone.
David Byrne’s 80s musical film True Stories which features John Goodman (who sings a song) and one of the songs from the film , “Radio Head”, was the inspiration for the name of the British band.

Nov 16, 03:39PM PST | Thread | Respond to this 1 cheer

handprintonmyheart
Sacramento

Getting the audience involved

Rocky Horror Show is SOOOO much fun to see live on stage. The ushers are constantly messing with you and I love that people get all dressed up and stand up to do the Time Warp. SO MUCH FUN!

Nov 16, 03:47PM PST | Thread | Respond to this

NYCinephile
New York City

I first saw the filmed version...

...of TRHPC at a midnight screening early in my freshman year of college.

I was seriously disturbed by the sight of Frank high-stomping his way out of the elevator.

“Come up to the lab, and see….”

Nov 17, 03:18AM PST | Respond to this

NYCinephile
New York City

You're never going to get any sleep...

...when you visit NYC, Chris.

You need to see a midnight screening of TRHPC in Greenwich Village, surrounded by NYU students and other devotees.

Nov 17, 03:23AM PST | Thread | Respond to this

Chris Campbell
Wolfville

I think that seeing TRHPC in Greenwich Village would be quite amazing and it’s yet another thing to add to my list of NY activities!

Nov 17, 06:49AM PST | Respond to this

ToddieM
Diamond Bar

I saw Hedwig and thought the music was actually too good to be a parody.

Nov 16, 06:55PM PST | Thread | Respond to this 1 cheer

Chris Campbell
Wolfville

With musicals there is always a fine line between serious and not so serious as generally people don’t sing as they go through their day. Some people do, to advance the plot, but generally there aren’t many people singing and dancing out in the world (but we can home that it happens more and more).
The music is great in Hedwig and it’s a show that I’d love to see live.

Nov 17, 07:01AM PST | Thread | Respond to this

NYCinephile
New York City

As I'm sure you've read...

...Once:http://www.oncethemovie.com/ represents an attempt to break the traditional mold of the movie musical.

Nov 18, 04:54AM PST | Thread | Respond to this

Chris Campbell
Wolfville

I’m keen to see “Once” and it’s on my list of DVDs to see.

Nov 18, 06:50AM PST | Respond to this

NYCinephile
New York City

All joking aside...

...I believe there are some interesting essays about the link between the struggles of the gay and minority communities and the themes expressed in Broadway musicals.

The search for home, parents and acceptance is a recurring and powerful theme in many musicals.

Nov 17, 01:07AM PST | Respond to this 1 cheer


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