Life Should Be A Broadway Musical
Those of you who know me already know I’m a Broadway baby. I have been a major fan of musicals since I was seven years old and my grandfather bought me the lp of the movie Dr. Dolittle (with Rex Harrison , Samantha Eggar and Anthony Newley.) I started thinking of that the other day because I just read that Dr. Dolittle is returning to Broadway. The musical version–not the (shudders) Eddie Murphy one.
I guess one reason I’ve always been attracted to the musical is because I was born into a singing family. My Dad has a wonderful singing voice and, growing up, I remember many Sunday afternoons spent gathered around the piano while we all sang. Usually Sinatra and the standards, but occasionally some Lerner and Lowe or Gershwin. It really wasn’t that unusual for us–well, me–to break out into song if I had one for any appropriate moment. And I always sang (sing) at the top of my lungs when doing housework.
I always sought out musical movies. Grease was my favorite movie for a long time, and, it so happens, was the first movie I saw on a real “date” in the 7th grade, with the brother of my friend Mary Jane Kelly. (Wish we’d kept in touch, I’d love for her to learn I turned out to be a Kelly, too!) How funny that just a few years later, I was performing in Grease and was first seen by my husband-to-be on stage. (We met a couple of years later doing not a musical, but a straight show! I was Anne Boleyn and he was the Duke of Norfolk who sentenced me to death.)
My daughters are just like me. I suppose they were doomed since I have about 100 musicals on cd, vhs, dvd and lp. They know who Mary Martin is and they know why her Annie was better than Ethel Merman’s Annie. They began watching all the Rogers & Hammerstein’s ones years ago (except Carousel–I HATE that show.)
They’ve been to NYC and caught the bug (possibly because they got to meet Hugh Jackman after we saw Boy From Oz, but that’s just speculation. I think my youngest was more excited to meet Bernadette Peters…she watches Into The Woods all the time.) My older girls sing Loathing from Wicked at the top of their lungs when they’re washing dishes every night. And after we took them to see Les Miserables, my 2nd grader went into school and sang the song Lovely Ladies–the hooker song–for her entire class.
Yeah. They’re chips off the old block.
Anyway, my point in bringing all this up is to say that I think the reason I love musicals most of all is for the same reasons I love romance fiction.
They’re funny. They’re cheerful. They’re optimistic. They’re clever. They’re populated by noble men and feisty women. They can be very sensual (ever heard the song A Dangerous Game from Jeckyll And Hyde? Whew…sex in song!)
But the best thing of all about musicals is that people get to break out into song when the mood strikes them.
Man, I wish real life was like that. That when I’m walking through the grocery store and I see a 2-for-1 special on my brand of laundry detergent, I could just break out in this jazzy melody extolling the joyous smell of Gain. (I’m picturing a big Jerry Herman ending.)
Okay, I will admit, musicals don’t always have happily-ever-after endings like romance novels. But hey, even Rent has a happily-for-a-little-while ending. Phantom is probably more of a “love story” that ends tragically, but Raoul and Christine, at least, do get their happy ending. West Side Story…well, nobody’s really smiling at the end, but even without a happily ever after, the general message is an uplifting one because you can’t see that show and doubt for a moment that Maria has been transformed by everything that has happened to her.
A message. They all have a message. Just like romance novels.
Even Sondheim’s musicals (my fave composer, btw) which generally explore darker themes, offers growth in every character. And even some romance…quite often, boy does meet girl and gets girl (even if they both later realize they’ve been eating Mrs. Lovett’s “special” meat pies and are now cannibals just like everybody else in London.)
I guess that’s why when I’m writing, I sometimes put a musical on in the background. Something that matches my mood. Great Big Stuff from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels when I am writing something funny. Where’s The Girl from Scarlet Pimpernel when I am writing something erotic and sensual. Sunday In The Park With George when I need the words to bounce. When I want to cry and feel the agony of a true black moment, I’ll put on Miss Saigon.
And when I’m feeling deeply romantic, I turn to one of my very favorite shows: Brigadoon.
First, there’s the amazing Gene Kelly looking so rugged and masculine while he dances with such athletic grace (I’d take him over Fred Astaire any way.) But aside from that, it’s the ultimate romance. Love doesn’t merely triumph over mistrust and distance, it conquers time itself. One man’s love brings an entire enchanted village back to life just so he can be with the girl he can’t forget.
Sounds like the perfect romance novel to me.
Hey Leslie, interesting topic! I just went to see “Wicked” yesterday and absolutely loved it. The song “Popular” keeps playing in my head LOL.
I heard great things about “Spamalot” and want to see that next.
I agree with you about why I enjoy them: fast-fasted with lots of energy, humor, some sweet and sad moments, but mostly uplifting. I love how the whole audience is just engrossed in the production - you feel like you are absorbing their reactions as well. Very powerful stuff.
I am so with you on the whole Gene Kelly thing. I loved that he was so masculine and rugged - his dancing was more more creative because of it. Don’t get me wrong, Fred Astaire was amazing, but I just felt that Gene was willing to push the limits more, and he was also such a man’s man, which made him even more appealing. I love “Brigadoon”, and “An American In Paris” too. Good stuff.
Comment by Stacy ~ — June 26, 2006 @ 6:58 am
So I’m not the only one to have a major crush on Gene Kelly? He was funny, athletic, talented at dance and song…and those twinkling eyes! I would watch all his movies…even loved him in Xanadu!
I’ve been itching to get to Broadway again. Luckily, the mother is a patron of our performing arts center and can get great tickets to most of the traveling shows. We have a bunch coming here next year. I’d love to see Wicked again! That show was everything Leslie told me it would be! But I have to say that Mamma Mia was the most fun. Of course, I was with Janelle and Leslie at the time! (And Carly for a little while
)
And ABBA music!
I think I’m going to order INTO THE WOODS for my daughter, one of the few great, modern musicals on DVD. I wonder if there will ever be an industry to put musicals on DVD…I don’t mean movie versions, but stage versions. I know I’d buy them all!
Comment by Julie — June 26, 2006 @ 9:10 am
I so love the musicals. Than again, I love acting. There something so wonderful about acting and breaking out into song during a performance.
While I’ve only performed in local shows (and it’s been several years now), my dream come true would to be in one on Broadway. How cool would that be. :razz:
And the actors backstage are ususally singing right along with the ones singing on stage (albeit very soft :grin
I seen the plays, been in plays but never have I been to one in NY. I’m dying to go and after reading your post I’m wanting to be there even more.
I’m with you Julie, if they ever go to DVD (stage verision) I’ll be buying them too.
Comment by Vicki — June 26, 2006 @ 9:39 am
I love musicals, too. “Chicago” is one of the few musicals that worked on DVD. Loved it, too. My husbanad thinks I am crazy, but I love ‘em.
Comment by katie — June 26, 2006 @ 10:10 am
Our family has really grown to love musicals and broadway shows, too! Here’s what we’ve seen so far:
Beauty & The Beast - This was when my oldest was 3 years old. My mother bought tickets for the three of us, and Danielle fell asleep about 15 minutes into the show, LOL. By my mother and I were riveted, though, and absolutely loved it! That’s when I knew I was HOOKED. :smile:
The Full Monty — This one was so funny!
I went with my mom and mother-in-law and a few friends. It was great — and in the end, they really did do the “Full Monty”! :shock:
Mamma Mia - This one I’ve seen twice. The first time was with my husband, so this was his first musical, and it hooked him, too. We loved all the Abba songs and plan to take our two girls (now 13 & 15 so no falling asleep!) to see the show. They love Abba songs, too, which they heard from the A-Teens about 5 years ago. :thumbsup2:
The Boy From Oz - Oh, Wow! This was when I knew I really, really loved musicals. I was with Julie and Leslie and we saw this one on Broadway in NYC, and Hugh Jackman was so outstanding. Who knew he could sing so well? And look so HUNKY as a gay guy!
The Little Shop of Horrors - This is the first musical we took both of the girls too, and they loved it. We loved the demented dentist, and “Audrey 2″ was a big mechanical plant that had a life of its own. :thumbsup2:
Wicked - This show is awesome, awesome, awesome! The best one I’ve seen to date. Our family walked out of the theater after the show in absolute awe. We can’t wait for it to come around again so we can see it again! :!: :!: :!: We saw this show last year, and it was also when we decided to buy season tickets to the Pantages Theater in Hollywood!
A White Christmas — My husband and I really enjoyed this one, but since it was set back in the 1940’s, my girls didn’t enjoy it quite as much.
Annie — Another really fun musical! :grin:
Dr. Doolittle (With Tommy Tune) - Totally cute and fun musical.
Menopause (The Musical). Oh. My. God. This show was hysterically funny. The audience was all women, and let me tell you, we were all laughing so hard!!! I think every single woman could relate to this show. I’ve seen it twice and would easily see it again, it was that good and funny.
Joseph & The Amazing Dreamcoat - Part of our season tickets for the year, and we’ll see this one next month in July.
Little Women - Another musical that is part of our season tickets, though we haven’t seen it yet. I think this one is in August.
RENT - We absolutely CANNOT wait to see this show. As soon as the tickets were available, my husband snagged seats THREE ROWS from the stage!!!!
We’ll be seeing this one on July 22nd!
Shew! We really have become a musical family!
Comment by Janelle — June 26, 2006 @ 11:10 am
I have NEVER been to a musical so I’m not sure if I would like them or not. I have a feeling though that I might not. LOL!! I love music but I tend to get bored watching people sing and dance around unless it is a Rock concert. But I do love to watch the old black and white movies…Casablanca is my favorite! :love2:
Comment by Kelly — June 26, 2006 @ 11:11 am
I’ve never been fortunate enough to see a musical ‘Live’. They are some of my favorite movies. I have the King and I with Yul Brenner(I know I must have butchered his name). I Love Phantom of the Opera with Gerard Butler. Loved it so much I bought the CD with just the words on it. I have a copy of the broadway musical Cats. I remember watching musicals on cable years ago when I was younger during the 70’s. I especially loved White Christmas. I don’t know if it goes under the catagory of musical ,but it just isn’t Christmas without watching it every year.
Oh and Leslie, I have a copy of Carousel. It was the high school musical i participated in when I was a high school senior. I was one of the beautiful (yeah right)dancing carnival girls.
The teacher thought I looked okay in a swimsuit. I liked the high school version of Carousel ,but I didn’t care for the shirley Jones version. Those floating stars around Billy when he was in heaven turn my stomach.
Comment by Gigi — June 26, 2006 @ 11:16 am
My parents both had lovely and strong voices. One of my earilest childhood memories is my parents singing songs from Porgie and Bess, Show Boat, South Pacific, And Guys and Dolls when I was sick with tonsilitis. My late mother had a very rich and smoky alto singing voice. I would feel so content and awed when she sang “Bali Hi” from South Pacific. I still have the lp that was theirs of Porgi and Bess. I don’t have a turntable but the record means a lot to me.
I LOVE to sing. My voice is average in quality, but makes ups in volume! My familys favorites that we have seen live are “Godspell” “You’re a Good Man Charly Brown” “Les Mis” “Joseph”(ect),The Producers ( recent movie version) Rent( ditto) and even though we have only heard bits of the music ” The Wedding Singer”. I was in a few musicals and sang in chorus throughout jr and senior high. I loved” Grease” too!It brings back wonderful memories! Great subject.
Comment by Sue Mont — June 26, 2006 @ 12:35 pm
GODSPELL! How could I forget GODSPELL? Probably the first real musical I was exposed to…as a member of the cast. I played a boy. Jeffrey, maybe? Well, it didn’t matter. The only characters that needed to be boys/girls were Jesus, Judas and Sonya.
I sang, “We Beseech Thee”…I think that was my solo. All I remember was that I had to sing soprano, which really wasn’t my forte. I was a better mezzo-soprano. I wanted to sing “Turn Back, Oh Man,” the sexy torch song…but alas, my friend Krissy got the role.
I never liked the film version of this…but I did love being in the play. It was so emotional.
Comment by Julie — June 26, 2006 @ 12:46 pm
I love musicals. The only one I have been fortunate to see live is “The Phanthom of the Opera” and that was because my daughter had tickets and the friend she was to go with cancelled and she asked me to go instead.
Comment by Cryna — June 26, 2006 @ 1:36 pm
I would like to see THE WEDDING SINGER on Broadway.
My
Comment by Melissa — June 26, 2006 @ 2:18 pm
I love musicals & use to go see all of them when I was growing up–movies that is! I love Singin In the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, West Side Story, The Sound of Music, the list is endless. They were such a joy & the music was wonderful. Must be the same appeal that romance novels have to me!:smile: Hollywood just doesn’t know a good thing!!:smile: I was able to see Camelot with Richard Burton & On A Clear Day with Robert Goulet when they played in San Francisco, both were very enjoyable. My oldest daughter played the good witch in The Wizard of Oz when she was in school–I still have her magic wand!
Great subject Leslie. I love music & the musicals is where some of the best music has come from.
Comment by Donna M — June 26, 2006 @ 2:28 pm
P.S. I also love Brigadoon. Sometimes the PBS stations does a series of musicals & I love to watch–no commercials!
Comment by Donna M — June 26, 2006 @ 2:29 pm
Glad I’m not the only one who loves those musicals! And a timely topic considering my hubby just sent me a link saying that Tim Burton is going to make a movie version of Sweeney Todd (one of my absolute favorite shows–that’s the one with the murder victims made into meat pies) and he’s talking to Johnny Depp about playing Todd. Could be very interesting.
I have seen too many stage shows in my life to possibly lift them all. When we go to NYC, it’s usually just for a long weekend and we glom shows one after another. The first time we took the kids, we saw a total of 4 shows…times five people…at a hundred bucks a pop. Well…you do the math. That’s how mad I am about Broadway. (Considering one of those shows was the original cast of Wicked, one was the original cast of Boy From Oz and one was Bernadette Peters in Gypsy, I still consider the money verrrrry well spent.
Leslie
Comment by Leslie Kelly — June 26, 2006 @ 3:02 pm
love boys of summer!!
Comment by kim H — June 26, 2006 @ 3:13 pm
Funny this was today’s topic, I received a call from my mom today that she want’s me to get her tickets to some show called menopause! Here I thought she had one to many cocktails :cocktail: at Lunch today! Thanks Janelle for letting me know my mom’s not crazy!
Comment by TRICIA — June 26, 2006 @ 5:04 pm
I’ve always been embarrassed to admit this, so where better to do it than on the Internet, in front of all of your readers? I really don’t dig musicals all that much.
I went to music school and studied opera. And it’s not like I think opera is better, maybe just louder. And I’m wowed by the voices in musicals, especially Kristen Chenoweth and our boy, Hugh. You know, t actually took me about two years to realize all my favorite operas are really just romance novels set to music? Girls masquerading as boys pretending to be girls. Pirates and lords, and parlor maids marrying marquises, and satyrs and sex and heaving bosoms. Just with a lot more noise and sweating.
Comment by Michelle Buonfiglio — June 26, 2006 @ 6:01 pm
Michelle, if opera has more sweating and noise than a romance novel…you’re reading the wrong romance novels!
All kidding aside, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a live opera. Dont’ think I’ve seen one on television. I was always afraid because I don’t speak Italian or German. If you had to suggest an opera for a novice, which one would you suggest? I like the ideas of sex and satyrs.
Comment by Julie — June 26, 2006 @ 6:08 pm
OH MIchelle a woman after my own heart. I wasn’t going to post today at all. I’m the oddball here. I don’t dig shows, at all. Any of them. Not even the really good ones. Sigh. Something wrong w/me. Lights go out? I snooze.
Comment by Carly — June 26, 2006 @ 6:08 pm
Oh, Carly & Michelle, you’re allowed not to like musicals…lol! Michelle, I have no use for opera. And Carly, well, I know you’d much rather go shopping…which I can’t stand. Different strokes, right?!?
Leslie
Comment by Leslie Kelly — June 26, 2006 @ 7:13 pm
By the way, Julie? There are more stage versions of shows available on vhs/dvd. I have Into The Woods, Sunday In The Park With George, Sweeney Todd, Cats and Jesus Christ Superstar. Watching anxiously to add to my collection…
Leslie
Comment by Leslie Kelly — June 26, 2006 @ 9:34 pm
Tricia, you and your mom will absolutely :love2: Menopause! It’s such a fun play — and one us women can relate to!
Comment by Janelle — June 26, 2006 @ 10:42 pm
OK, this SO does not count as a musical, but it has my kids amazed by them…it’s Disney’s High School Musical….since seeing that(and thanks to my husband buying it
) they want to see more musicals…although until they are MUCH older, we will stick to those we can see from home. But as for myself, I was in chorus in high school and we performed skits from musicals all the time…and now I do them for my girls….
….and love all the new smileys!!!
Comment by Sheryl — June 27, 2006 @ 12:16 am
I saw Mamma Mia, Hair Spray and Jersey Boys:thumbsup2: was AWESOME.
Great Topic Leslie
Comment by Cherylann — June 27, 2006 @ 1:29 pm
I love musicals, the older one and the ones today. Miss Saigon was great, I had front row seats for the original cast, for that one. Being a rock fan, of course I liked Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar. Riverdance was another I liked-the dancing itself told the story. Living in CT, it’s easy for us to get to NY.
I agree that Astaire was great, but Gene Kelly was the best, he had such a charisma and expression in his dancing, which I found more intense in those he danced with Cyd Charisse. Loved Brigadoon, I’ve watched it so many times late night on TV.
Comment by Pam P. — June 28, 2006 @ 5:07 am