(theatre geeks, take note: asking this question in mixed theatrical company may result in fistfights, hair-pulling, and thrown drinks.)
Calling all you theatre fans out there in 360Land! The question of the moment is...
Who is your favorite musical theatre composer?
Is Cole Porter the Top? Are you a girl who can't say no to Oscar Hammerstein II? Do you get giddy siezures for William Finn?
Who's your favorite Stephen? Flaherty, Sondheim, or Schwartz???
Would you take a chandelier on the noggin for Andrew Lloyd Webber? Ride the omnibus with Leonard Bernstein?
Which was greater, Lerner or Loesser?
Please be specific if you will; what shows or scores support your beliefs, what songs you prefer, et cetera.
2006-07-21 19:30:17 · 10 answers · asked by Vatican Lokey 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
Pre-20th Century: Arthur Sullivan. Beat "The Mikado", I dare you.
Pre-1940s: Jerome Kern. Invented the American musical. 'Nuff said.
"Golden Era": very tough call. Everybody underestimates Richard Rodgers, but take what he did with Hammerstein, add it to what he did with Lorenz Hart, and his inventiveness and range is awfully tough to beat. But Cole Porter comes close...and so does Bernstein--"On the Town", "West Side Story", "Candide".
Loesser is greater than Lerner, even if "My Fair Lady" is an almost perfect musical.
Recent modern era: Sondheim, razor-filled hands down...
Now? Watch out for Adam Guettel and Jason Robert Brown!
Oh--and Andrew Lloyd Webber and "the guy who wrote Wicked" (Stephen Schwartz) don't even make the top ten, and anyone who thinks so hasn't seen or heard any musicals before about 1980...!
2006-07-21 19:43:03 · answer #1 · answered by zeebaneighba 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is a hard one. There's musicals I love, and there's musicals I just love the music from.
Definitely number one: Bernstein for West Side Story (with a nod to Sondheim for his lyrics).
Cole Porter's songs are great, but the shows they were in, not so much.
I love the music in Carousel, so a vote goes to Rodgers and Hammerstein. I separate the music from the book, if only for the line "Sometimes a man can hit ya, hit ya real hard, and you don't feel a thing."
But for all around story and music, I'm giving another vote to Rodgers and Hammerstein for Oklahoma.
Can I give minus points to Andrew Lloyd Webber?
2006-07-21 19:39:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER HANDS DOWN.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the bes musical ever written in my opinion. I absolutely LOVE the story line and music. I sing Phantom for voice all the time("Think of Me" is my favorite. I love "Angel of Music" and "Masquerade" is my favorite chorus number in any show) - it is too beautiful. And I have seen it 3 times (my castmate has seen it 23 times).
CATS is another one of my favorites. The grungy female principle. Oh how I love "Grizzabella"! The dancing, music, sets, costumes, the whole thing is pulled together with his genius. (I know from another question you despise CATS! Sorry, I LOVE IT!).
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is provacative and different. I remember feeling the chills at every number and I left the theatre in a state of numbness. The music is powerful - almost as powerful as the storyline.
Well, those are my top three. SUNSET BOULEVARD is nice too, but not my favorite (Mom loves it - soundtracks is ALWAYS on!).
So, yes, Mr. Webber. He is the musical theatre genius. He will go down in history. He is just....amazing.
2006-07-22 04:33:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love Andrew LLoyd Webber. I think he is a genious. I like the Phantom of the Opera. Also he has written for Sarah Brightman.
I have several of her CD'S. My favorite song of his is from the Phantom (Music of the Night.) From Joseph Etc. (Any Dream Will Do) and from Avita (Don't cry for me Argentina) Best Score Phantom.
2006-07-21 19:47:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Love Stephen Sondheim
2016-03-27 02:49:01 · answer #5 · answered by Chelsea 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most amazing theatre performance that I have seen was Yul Brynner in the King and I. I was about 15 and we sat about 12 rows from the stage. Loved it. I am more of a Opera fan now.
2006-07-21 19:34:23 · answer #6 · answered by superrrmodel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Andrew Lloyd Webber is my favorite. I have several of his musicals on CD and DVD performances.
2006-07-22 06:18:05 · answer #7 · answered by mom of girls 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am currently in love with Herbert Kretzmer. Les Miserables
2006-07-22 08:47:32 · answer #8 · answered by encore_theater_rox 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
guy who wrote Wicked and Rogers and Hammerstien
2006-07-22 05:17:43 · answer #9 · answered by Kila 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
whoever did Wicked.
2006-07-21 19:32:14 · answer #10 · answered by kay 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋