(Musicals that have movie versions are okay though :) )
2006-12-04 04:43:40 · 26 answers · asked by reofanforever 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
Whoever said Emmy Rossum, Gerard Butler etc. THAT IS THE MOVIE VERSION!!! haha. I love that movie but the musical rocks too. You guys are forgetting my favorite musical- think! :)
2006-12-04 04:50:40 · update #1
"Phantom of the Oprah" 2004 version starring Emily Rossum as Christine, Patrick Wilson as Raoul, and Gerard Butler as the Phantom.
2006-12-04 04:46:29 · answer #1 · answered by xander 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Nice distinction. I've often felt that some movie versions were so definitive that the stage version might as well retire -- Sound of Music, Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof and the King and I. One can easily see the influence of the movie in current stage versions, for example. Their stamp was so powerful it's hard not to evoke the images from the movie.
Some great musicals have not fared well in the movie translation -- and perhaps it is because they should remain a theater experience. Man of la Mancha comes to mind as a fantastic theater experience that doesn't bode well on the silver screen.
Now, to answer your question -- the best musical ever is West Side Story, either on stage or screen.
WWS is based on Romeo and Juliet and it speaks of youth, gangs and territory, issues that are just as vibrant today as they were when the Bard penned the original.
Leonard Bernstein's music is thrilling and Stephen Sondheim's lyrics are brilliant. The six part "tonight" is simply amazing.
2006-12-04 05:10:15 · answer #2 · answered by wrathofkublakhan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh wow. Great question.
Rent's definitely up there. Jonathan Larson was an absolute genius and despite being based on La Boheme it was so completely revolutionary and basically took Broadway by storm in '96. Great music, great characters, great plot, great everything.
But then there's Wicked. And Wicked is my personal favorite. Elphaba's possibly the strongest and most amazing female lead to ever hit a Broadway stage, and it's just so different and quirky and the music is perfection in every sense of the word.
Despite the top two, which are my favorites, I think objectively, the best Broadway musical yet is Phantom of the Opera. Webber's influence while he was writing it, being married to Sarah Brightman and seeing himself as sort of an angel of music character who could only really come to light through her, comes out to be some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard. It's about as good as Broadway gets. (with the exception of Les Mis. Another example of the genius that is Andrew Lloyd Webber.)
2006-12-04 08:36:33 · answer #3 · answered by belladiva 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do know that there are going to be quite a few opinions on this question, right? =]
I would say Cats. It's very different from all the other ones (this is probably the only musical with dancing animals). It has fantastic dancing, music, and even the stage lighting is brilliant. It also had an amazing, long run on Broadway and West End.
There are other great musical shows, but this one stands out the greatest.
2006-12-04 12:16:30 · answer #4 · answered by emilie hope 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Old school: South Pacific fab story by James Michener turned into a musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Gorgeous music and extremely thoughtful lyrics.
New school: Wicked, Rent, Les Mis, Phantom
Just so you know, Les Mis was not written by ALW, it is by Alain Boublil and Claude - Michel Schonberg.
2006-12-05 13:29:25 · answer #5 · answered by jazzyjklo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My favourite musical is :
Sweeney Todd (though I am not looking forward to the film version). Followed by:
Les Mis,
And most Sondheim stuff (Company, Follies, Gypsy, Frogs, A Funny Thing....)
2006-12-05 11:34:10 · answer #6 · answered by lansy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sweeney Todd
Chicago (the film is good, but the stage version rocks)
Little Shop of Horrors (same as above, stage version is fabulous)
2006-12-04 05:16:13 · answer #7 · answered by incandescent_poet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Totally Phantom.
2006-12-04 04:48:57 · answer #8 · answered by avivafae 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
West Side Story or Fiddler on the Roof.
2006-12-04 04:49:10 · answer #9 · answered by silverside 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Fair Lady is absolutely brilliant. I love the song and choreography in the Ascot scene.
Miss Saigon never fails to capture my heart, and every time I've seen it I cried by the bucket load!
2006-12-04 10:51:43 · answer #10 · answered by Tinkerbabe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋