A Few of Your Favorite Things

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>A friend who isn't familiar with MT recently asked my to recommend some favorite musicals for her, and to talk about why our family loves MT so much. Since I grew up in an MT family I rarely step back and think about this and found the introspection interesting.</p>

<p>With that in mind, I'm wondering what are a few of your all-time favorite MT performances, and why. Since most of us are either parents of an MT or MTs, consider 3 favorites;</p>

<p>1) Your favorite performance that you or your child was involved in, and why.</p>

<p>2) Your favorite MT show that you've ever seen, and why.</p>

<p>3) Your favorite performance by any MT actor, and why.</p>

2

<p>I’ll start since I just thought about this.</p>

<p>1) Favorite with my kid – A performance of Cabaret, because the production was controversial (HS and Cabaret… need I say more) and I LOVED the way all the cast, crew, administration AND community rallied in support of what the kids were doing. I also REALLY loved the responses of elderly patrons who thought all the political-correctness about the costuming was ridiculous and pointed out that the political content should be FAR more disturbing than the sexuality. So many of them also talked about how important that musical had been to them in their youth. Ah, the wisdom of age!!</p>

<p>2) Favorite MT show – I’m going to have to be boring and go with Wicked. The night we first saw it all of the performances were remarkable, it was wonderfully entertaining and theatrical but given the era also had political undertones – the perfect experience and memory for our entire family. </p>

<p>3) Favorite performance by an MT actor – I’m going to have to go with a performance of Hello Dolly by Carol Channing. I have never to this day witnessed a more polished, energetic and generous performance.</p>

<p>I admit it, I LOVE MT. ;-D</p>

3

<p>Neat idea for a thread. Here we go:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>My daughter’s favorite performance was as Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical when she was in 7th grade. Why? Because it was when I first truly saw she had real talent, and becaues the entire cast was terrific. I had friends who commented it was better than any high school musical they had ever seen. </p></li>
<li><p>Favorite MT show? I am not a terribly sophisticated theater goer, but I’d have to say either the traveling show for Wicked or Mary Poppins. This may change by this time next week, though. My daughter’s high school is doing Les Mis starting Thursday night and the scuttlebutt from those who have watched rehearsals say it’s going to be better than the touring show that just left town. </p></li>
<li><p>Favorite performer? Never seen her live but has to be Julie Andrews.</p></li>
</ol>

4

<p>1) Favourite of mine: Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music in 8th grade. Quite frankly, it was the role that taught me how to sing. Besides that, I remember that it was running at the same time as the Toronto sitdown production of The Sound of Music, and that my parents took me to see it after my own production had closed to “compare.” After hearing “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” performed by a real professional (Noella Huet, with a background in opera no less!), I thought to myself: “I did that, and I did that just as well as she did.” In hindsight, my technique was…probably less than stellar :wink: But it was a moment of unbridled pride and confidence in myself that made me think that musical theatre could be more than a hobby.</p>

<p>2) Favourite show that I’ve seen: This one is tricky, because I have favourite shows that I HAVEN’T seen, too! I have to go with Caroline, or Change. I saw a production of the show recently and it floored me. I went in not knowing the show at all, and I was so moved by…well, everything. The score and the story (how the show expertly weaves political and social tones into this story of heartwrenching struggle) foremost, but this production was exceptionally well-realized on all levels and had an extremely talented cast behind it. For a few weeks I couldn’t think of any words to describe my experience but “wow.” Even now I struggle to find more words than what I’ve already said here. I was THAT moved.</p>

<p>3) Favourite performance by a MT actor: Donna Murphy in Passion. Why? Just watch her “I Read.” You’ll understand.</p>

5

<p>I love thinking about these things.</p>

<ol>
<li>Favorite show with my child? Les Miserables, her first professional show here in a regional theatre. She was Little Cosette, so was only on stage for about 5 minutes, but nothing beats having 1000 people applaud for your child. She did 110 performances and never faltered.</li>
</ol>

<p>2.My favorite MT show is Ragtime. There are so many close runners-up, but there is something about that show that speaks so deeply about the American experience. I feel that the message is so important and delivered with beautiful and well-written music. My D was also in this show as the Little Girl, but that’s not why I love it so much. I saw it 40 times and never tired of it. </p>

<ol>
<li>Favorite performance by an MT actor - Alice Ripley in Next to Normal. Wow. So much raw emotion delivered to every seat in the house. My D and I were crying so hard by the end of the show, it took us forever to get up and leave the theatre.</li>
</ol>

<p>Of course, with a child in MT, there are so many wonderful experiences to relate. But these examples were the first to my mind, so I goes they are my favorites!</p>

6

<p>Going to love this thread ;-)</p>

<p>1) Your favorite performance that you or your child was involved in, and why.
Seeing my daughter as a who when she was in 5th grade in Christian Youth Theater’s performance in Suessical the Musical. Just enjoyed seeing her light up the stage with that big smile. This was one of the first performances she was ever in and her whole class went to the show. When she went back to class later that day after the show, they gave her a standing ovation…Priceless…</p>

<p>2) Your favorite MT show that you’ve ever seen, and why.
Absolutely loved Wicked, but seeing Donnie Osmond in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, just blew me away. To this day, I have not witnessed a standing ovation after the opening number like we saw that night. </p>

<p>3) Your favorite performance by any MT actor, and why.
Kristen Chenowith as Galinda. Her performance was perfect, comic timing, pitch perfect singing. It was during the intermission of this performance that my daughter stated that she wants to do this for a living and thus began the journey of singing, acting and dance lessons to help her pursue this dream of hers.</p>

7

<p>1)Favorite MT performance with my D: Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, as a junior. Sentimental favorite of mine since seeing Fiddler on Broadway with my mother. Being raised Jewish, who can resist their daughter singing “Do You Love Me”, “Sunrise, Sunset” or “The Sabbath Song”
2)Favorite MT show: My husband and I had tickets to see Michael Crawford’s very last performance in Phantom. I was 5 days away from delivering my first child. I was determined to make it through that show, even if I was sitting there in labor! H and I sang those songs to each other for the longest time.
3)Favorite MT performer: I also loved Alice Ripley in Next to Normal, and loved Zero Mostel in Fiddler.</p>

8

<p>I love hearing everyone’s favorites and also love virtually all of the shows and performers mentioned!</p>

<p>I must say, though, that although we LOVE LOVE LOVE Next to Normal and D has worked with several of the folks involved, when we saw Alice Ripley it was NOT a shining moment in theatre history. I love her on the cast recording, but when we saw her she was having severe pitch problems and everyone on stage and in the audience knew it… it was VERY uncomfortable. Ah, the joys of live theatre!</p>

9

<p>@momcares…I am really sorry that Alice Ripley was not 100% when you saw the show because that was a performance I will NEVER forget. She was born for that role and she was phenomenal when we saw it.</p>

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<p>@nymom94 - I’ve heard the same from others and also heard she was amazing in Sidecar, but have also heard from others who have seen her on off nights. I hope her voice is recovering and she is able to continue to give amazing performances for years to come. Her acting focus was spot on even on the night we saw her.</p>

<p>Honestly, though, off nights and AMAZING nights are part of what is so magical about live theatre.</p>

11

<p>This is a fun thread to read. Thanks for thinking of it MomCares. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Favorite Performance I’ve Been In: There are two MT characters I loved playing. Velma in Chicago and Linda in The Wedding Singer. Bad girls are fun to portray for obvious reasons but both of these ladies also had a sense of humor which made the roles challenging and memorable.</p></li>
<li><p>Favorite MT Show I Have Seen: Hard one. Loved How To Succeed with Dan Rad, but I think my all time favorite is Follies with Bernadette Peters. She is brilliant. And Sondheim is brilliant. My dream is to see Bernadette in Sunday In The Park With George…my life would be complete then. (Missed it live but watched a bit on YouTube.)</p></li>
<li><p>Favorite MT Performance I’ve Seen: Besides BP, it’s definitely Joel Grey in Anything Goes. Be Like The Bluebird & Friendship were amazing. He and Sutton were fantastic together and he has incredible stage presence and comedic timing. Big fan. Yep.</p></li>
<li><p>Wanting To See: Title of Show, Book of Mormon, Ragtime, Memphis, Spring Awakening, Billy Elliott and lots more…</p></li>
</ol>

12

<p>When we saw Alice Ripley on Broadway, she was fantastic. However, the following year when she went on tour, everyone that saw her here (in Chicago) was very disappointed. I heard great things about the understudy, though. Still very glad we got to see her do the part.</p>

13

<p>I’m so bad with favorites…in almost anything…I can never narrow it down to one. </p>

<p>1) Favorite show my kid was in (from my perspective)…not sure I can pick one but one that surely stands out in my mind was at age 16, the summer after graduating high school, she played Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde at her summer theater camp, Stagedoor Manor, where she had attended for 8 summers. For one thing, the production was one of the best I had seen there, and I had seen about 50 shows there over time. I also loved the music. Lucy was a huge part with many songs. Maybe one reason it will forever be in my memory is because it was her first performance after being severely injured and going through a long recovery and being out of all her final shows in high school and so it was her return to the stage and it felt (to me) like it was her return to LIFE because the stage is her life and she made a recovery thankfully. A photo of her in a kickline in Bring on the Men hangs in her surgeon’s office. </p>

<p>Another memorable performance was at age 19 in junior year of college, she played the lead in a mainstage musical that was a world premiere of a new musical, Only Children. She played Wendy. Not only was it thrilling to see her in such a part in college, but to get to originate a role, and it was a very challenging role that involved a lot of risks and I was proud she was able to take those risks. </p>

<p>And I can’t ever forget seeing her play the lead (in three different productions thus far) in her first original musical first in college, then at Joe’s Pub in NYC and then in an Equity production in NYC. I felt proud that she wrote the story, the music, the lyrics and played a lead in it and so it involved many skills and it was really great too. </p>

<p>I don’t know what her favorite role has been but I do recall one of them was playing The Leading Player in Pippin.</p>

<p>Favorite MT show…I really have trouble picking. As a little girl, I was in love with Sound of Music. I particularly love Ragtime. Some others I have always loved are A Chorus Line, Hair, Rent, Gypsy, 42nd Street. I may not be able to stop! A more accurate answer for me is that I love Broadway because not only are the shows usually such high quality, but I love the variety of musicals that exist that are so very different in style and I marvel in particularly at those that involve a lot of creativity and are not formulaic in nature. Such shows leave me in awe as to how someone created the ideas.</p>

<p>Next Broadway show I’ll see is Newsies in about a week!</p>

<p>Favorite MT performance…I don’t know but they include seeing Bernadette Peters (recently in Follies), Audra MacDonald, Kristin Chenowith and Idina Menzel in Wicked, Nathan Lane in A Funny Thing…Forum, Savion Glover in Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk, and lots more so very talented people.</p>

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<p>OMG, soozievt…I heard Newsies is amazing!!! Definitely want to see that show, too.</p>

15

<p>Really had to think carefully about this one, there have been so many high points over the years.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>My daughter’s performance in Steel Pier in college may be favorite. She played Shelby Stevens and literally stopped the show with her rendition of “Everybody’s Girl”. Loved it!</p></li>
<li><p>My favorite show – it’s a tie: the original production of A Chorus Line, which inspired me to move to NYC and pursue a career as a performer. And the original production of Les Miserables, which inspired me to stick with it!</p></li>
<li><p>Favorite performance: Jenifer Holiday in Dreamgirls. People were standing up and just screaming when she sang – still gives me chills to think about it. I’ve never seen a more electrifying performance.</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>Soozievt and luvzth8r - you’re going to love Newsies. I saw it in NYC this spring break and it was indeed amazing!!</p>

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<p>What a great thread!</p>

<p>1) Your favorite performance that you or your child was involved in, and why. Johanna in Sweeney Todd. The cast was fabulous, and I saw the show 5 times without getting bored - in fact, I could have seen it another 5 times. Reading the glowing reviews and hearing total strangers compliment my daughter’s performance was just wonderful.</p>

<p>2) Your favorite MT show that you’ve ever seen, and why. My very first Broadway show - Hair in 1969. Need I say more?</p>

<p>3) Your favorite performance by any MT actor, and why. Joel Grey in Cabaret. He was perfectly creepy yet funny. I could not shake his face from my mind for weeks…</p>

18

<p>Ok… reading this thread is REALLY making me want to see some theatre! </p>

<p>Our next shows are a new musical (First Date) tomorrow, and our next Broadway tickets are for another new show (Peter and the Starcatcher) in a couple weeks… CAN’T WAIT!</p>

19

<p>About Newsies…I gotta say that both of my girls were infatuated with that movie when they were quite young. They watched it lots of times. I only wish my older daughter could go with my younger D and I to see it next week but she is on the other coast right now. I’m seeing my D in three different shows on this trip to NYC, plus Newsies on the fourth night. The most recent show I have seen was last weekend, my kids’ old high school’s musical, which was Chicago.</p>

20

<p>How fun to read everyone’s responses! I always have a hard time with lists like this because my favorites change all the time!!</p>

<p>Favorite show my kids have been in: Sorry, I’ve got to put 2 (I have 2 kids!). D playing Eponine in “Les Mis” will always be my fave. I know some of you think it’s absolutely NUTS that she’s played it twice already and happily, will be playing it again this summer. I’m sorry, but it’s just the role she was born to play and I really hope she gets to play it professionally one day. But my favorite “moment” in all of my kids’ MT life up to this point was when my S played Horton and D played Jojo in “Seussical.” I just cried through “Alone in the Universe” every single show. </p>

<p>Favorite show you’ve seen: Okay I can’t pick one, and I haven’t seen that many outside of youth/school shows. But I guess “Wicked” wins, although “H2$” with DR and “Anything Goes” with Sutton would be close seconds. “Mary Poppins” was pretty amazing as well! Oh, and “NEWSIES!” Oh, my goodness, it was so great! I wanted them to start over again the second it was done! (It was especially exciting knowing that one of the boys is going to be in D’s class next year) AAAHHHH!</p>

<p>Count us among those who saw a less than stellar performance by Alice Ripley in “N2N.” We loved the show, and the rest of the cast was amazing. I’m glad to hear it was just an “off” night. We were actually kind of shocked by how bad it was that night. But we kept thinking it must be an anomaly because the rest of the show was so great.</p>

<p>Favorite MT performer/performance: I have to agree with Joel Grey in “Anything Goes.” We could not get over what presence and ENERGY that man has! Wish we could see it again!</p>