What is your favorite musical?

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2006-02-06 03:27am

I've always been fond of "Little Shop of Horrors," and I finally got to see the Broadway production last week. It rocked. That's always been my favorite, and seeing it live was awesome.

I have to say, though, that the movie with Rick Moranis and Steve Martin really improved the overall story. The live show uses the original ending, which sort of keeps to the bizarre spirit of the entire experience, but it doesn't work as well in terms of the plot. The movie was originally going to use it too, but apparently test audiences hated it and the director filmed a new ending. The new ending is much better, in my opinion.

For those who don't know, the original ending had Seymour pull the girl out of the plant's mouth to save her... only to have her say that she actually wants to be eaten. She does another verse of that song from before ("Somewhere that's Green" which actually means the plant), and Seymour picks her up and feeds her to it. Seymour finally tries to kill it, and ends up being eaten himself. Then we find out through a song that what just happened was only one event in a whole series of similar ones across the country... and that the plants basically take over the world.

Anyway, what's yours?

Post by **Gandalf** » 2006-02-06 03:29am

I haven't seen too many musicals, but I'm really fond of the 2005 film of The Producers.

It's just really really great.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2006-02-06 07:04am

Team America or South Park the Movie, I dare anyone to tell me that the songs are any less clever then typical Broadway fare, and they're funny, too!

Manus Celer Dei · Post by **Manus Celer Dei** » 2006-02-06 01:18pm

I don't suppose The Wall counts? More of a rock opera thingy than a musical, I guess. Jesus Christ Superstar, then.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-02-06 01:32pm

Anything Goes

I love the music.

Dorsk 81 · Post by **Dorsk 81** » 2006-02-06 01:59pm

The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The Grim Squeaker · Post by **The Grim Squeaker** » 2006-02-06 02:16pm

I always liked Cats, first musical I ever saw (Even before "Josephs technicolour dream coat" or saturday night fever).
I must have seen it 4 times, pity it's not showing anymore...

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2006-02-06 02:20pm

Phantom of the Opera really struck a chord with me when I first saw it and the movie was very decent, certainly one of the better movie adaptions of a musical I've seen.

West Side Story is a close runner up for the simplicity of the music and in particular the song "America" because it really cpatures the sharp division in Hispanic culture about the US and the immigrant experience. Some love it and some really hate it. "I want to go back to San Juan. I know a boat you can get on."

AK_Jedi · Post by **AK_Jedi** » 2006-02-06 02:42pm

There are so many good ones.

Producers (haven't seen the movie, but the musical is golden)
Phantom of the Opera
Hair
Jesus Christ Superstar (I liked this one because it depicted a Jesus that wasn't all powerful and the pinnacle of all things. Probably closer to actual events than the gospel)

Isolder74 · Post by **Isolder74** » 2006-02-06 04:18pm

The Music Man and The Sound of Music for me

Fleet Admiral JD · Post by **Fleet Admiral JD** » 2006-02-06 04:19pm

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Phantom of the Opera...yes, I'm an ALW guy.

Doctor Doom · Post by **Doctor Doom** » 2006-02-06 05:54pm

Rocky Horror Picture Show
Spamalot
Evita
The Producers
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum
Hairspray
Blues Brothers
Little Shop of Horrors
Chicago
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Some Like It Hot
Grease
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

That's my list (roughly in that order).

And possibly the worst musical I have ever seen is the ill-fated sequel to Rocky Horror, "Shock Treatment."

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2006-02-06 06:33pm

The Last Five Years, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Les Mis, Spamalot, and Avenue Q, in no particular order.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2006-02-06 07:01pm

My Fair Lady.

I'm not really much for musicals (although my sentiment seems to be changing in recent years) but I simply adore this wonderful, glorious film. I actually consider it one of the most perfect in cinema.

avatarxprime · Post by **avatarxprime** » 2006-02-06 07:28pm

My favorite musical was Lagaan. It's an Indian movie, and like almost all of them (seriously I'm not joking) it's a musical and ~3 hours long. However, it's really good and for those of you who don't mind reading subtitles for an hour, considering I doubt many of the board members happen to understand Hindi, it's worth it.

As far as American musicals go,

My Fair Lady
The Producers
and Phantom of the Opera

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2006-02-06 08:03pm

The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The Nightmare Before Christmas.
The Blues Brothers.

Namarie · Post by **Namarie** » 2006-02-06 08:20pm

The King and I

Pick · Post by **Pick** » 2006-02-06 08:35pm

Probably Little Shop of Horrors as well, though I have to be in the mood for it. Odd you mentioned it; I was listening to it just the other day. I also like Brigadoon, The Music Man, Kiss Me Kate, Phantom of the Opera as far as pureblooded musicals go.

Saurencaerthai · Post by **Saurencaerthai** » 2006-02-06 10:50pm

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum hands down has got to be my favorite. I had the joy of seeing it on Broadway with Whoopi Goldberg, of all people, playing the lead. Zero Mostel owns the original, though.

While I have yet to see The Last Five Years performed, I love the concept and the music from it. The very idea of one character going in chronological order and the other in reverse-chronological order, meeting in the middle is amazing. The Scarlet Pimpernel is another fun one, in spite of the fact that the composer didn't know what the hell he was doing when it came to orchestration.
Cabaret wins for one of the strongest serious musicals I've seen. When my high school put it on, there was at least two full solid minutes of silence at the very end.

FSTargetDrone · Post by **FSTargetDrone** » 2006-02-06 11:41pm

All That Jazz. Not sure if it's considered a "musical" (even though it says so one the description on the box!). It does at least have a longish musical sequence at the end, along with some shorter ones throughout the earlier part of the fim.

I'm not big on musicals, but my late, great high school English Lit. teacher showed us movies every other Friday or so, and we saw this. I'd probably never be exposed to it otherwise, but I really enjoyed it. I actually bought it on DVD a few weeks ago after not seeing it since 1992 or so, in that class.

PackMule · Post by **PackMule** » 2006-02-07 12:01am

Sweeney Todd was the first musical I ever saw. It was simply awesome and is still my favourite.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2006-02-07 12:39am

West Side Story. (I have a social desease).

SpacedTeddyBear · Post by **SpacedTeddyBear** » 2006-02-07 12:48am

I've always liked 'Fiddler on the Roof'.

Deathstalker · Post by **Deathstalker** » 2006-02-07 01:15am

Oklahoma I'm a little biased seeing as I was born there, but I think it has a good story and great songs. I would have liked to see Hugh Jackman on Broadway, I got a taste when he was on a talk show and he sang a few lines.

CarsonPalmer · Post by **CarsonPalmer** » 2006-02-11 02:58pm

I have to say West Side Story, and also the King and I. The songs just blend in to the story.