I have loved musical theater since I was a little girl obsessed with watching movies such as The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and Annie over and over. I watched those movies so often that I memorized the accompanying commercials. I’ve studied musicals seriously over the intervening years, as a vocalist and performer, as a composer, as a critical audience member, and as a musical director.
I’ve noticed that my associations with musical theater are very different from those of many people I encounter. I often don’t mention my interest, and when I do, it’s even odds whether my companion’s eyes will glaze over, or he’ll try to change the subject, or worst of all, she’ll make a derisive comment. About musical theater. To ME. Musical theater has gotten a bad rap, and ignorance is rampant about much that moves and interests me about musicals.
Not every musical is an Oklahoma!, with energetic grinning and almost insanely enthusiastic dance numbers that consist of singing about the weather (and once you’re aware of the historic connotations of Oklahoma!, it’s a lot easier to take the aggressive cheerfulness). Not every musical is a puff piece of finely spun sugar that melts in your mouth, leaving nothing of meaning behind. Not every musical is overwrought rock opera from the 80s. Not that I have anything against any of these types of musicals. I enjoy and am interested in musical theater of all shades. But.
Not all musical theater is created equal.
My very favorite type of musical theater may or may not feature any dancing. It often consists of a fairly small cast. There may or may not be fancy lighting or other technical derring-do; in my musicals of choice, the spectacle of the experience is not the point of focus. I tend to adore musicals that have something to say and say it with passion. I look for deep characterization and a satisfying narrative arc. I want lyrics that are both clever and true, and music that drives home the themes of the piece. My goal is to take something away after the show that has nothing to do with a snatch of a tune to hum for the next month.
Musicals are a form of performance art, and like the best theater, are capable of teaching us about ourselves and the world around us. They make us feel, they make us question, and they make us wonder. My favorite musicals will linger with me for months, or in many cases, my entire life. Yes, musicals do feature characters who spontaneously burst into song (unless it’s through-sung like opera), but if done well, the music can harness the emotions of the character and present them in a visceral and memorable fashion. If done by a master, the music can actually both cause and illustrate character development.
This post is the beginning of a series I plan to write and publish every Tuesday for the next month or so, discussing each of my favorite modern musicals (I currently have four), all of which were written and produced in the 1990s and 2000s. I’ll be talking a small amount about the music and lyrics, but my main focus is going to be on the narrative and thematic ambitions of each piece.
For now, if you’re a musical theater buff, what shows are your favorites? And if you’re not, what is your general impression of musicals? Do you like Buffy’s “Once More With Feeling” or “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog”, or are all musicals equally anathema to you? Weigh in and let me know!
The Practical Free Spirit 
I’m not at all discriminating and can’t think of a Musical I haven’t enjoyed. I’d love a life where people randomly broke into song. Looking forward to reading what your top musicals are!
Sometimes I *do* live a life in which I randomly break into song. Mostly at home, though, and rarely in front of strangers. 🙂
I think I’d love more musical theater if I spent the time to look into it more. I love narrative storytelling through song, and I’m rarely surprised anymore to learn that a “standard” song I’ve always liked turns out to be from a musical.
My biggest exposure to the form is via the music of Jim Steinman – he’s best known as Meat Loaf’s song writer, but I really, really enjoy the music from his “Dance of the Vampires” (though the show was apparently poorly received). The show’s German cast album is the only non-English CD in my regular musical rotation.
I remember how excited I was when I learned about the existence of the concept album.
I’m not really familiar with Jim Steinman (although I’ve heard some of Meat Loaf’s work, of course), but it’s always interesting to hear about new work!
I’ve always loved Les Miserables. Chess (the London version), and Sweeney Todd. Pretty fond of Into the Woods, too (I was in a production) and one you don’t hear about much these days – City of Angels. 🙂
Did we talk about how my latest novel was all about a high school production of Les Miserables? I can’t remember.
I have favorite songs from all the musicals you mention. Of course, this isn’t terribly shocking, given how many songs I love…. Can’t beat Sondheim for a challenging night of musical theater, though. And I adore “I Know Him So Well” from Chess, among others. Adore! Makes me want to sing it right this minute.
Oh yes, Chess — I always forget about that show. I actually owned the soundtrack to that (the London version) when I was in high school and really enjoyed it, despite having zero other exposure to musical theatre. Some of the songs still occasionally get stuck in my head for no reason. (Like “The Embassy Lament” — crap — now it’s in my head — argh…)
Yeah, i get songs from ALL those shows in my head at random, too! Chess was a good “gateway” show–“One Night and Bangkok” was a top 40 wasn’t it?
and @Amy, no, I don’t think we talked about Les Mis. that would be a seriously challenging production to mount in HS! Though my HS did Into the Woods, and that was complex.
*starts humming*
There’s a School Edition of Les Mis nowadays that the children’s theater groups and high schools use. It’s somewhat shorter than the original. I think the sets would still be challenging, though.
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My two current favorites are Sunset Blvd and In the Heights. It is a constantly changing list but those are the current ones. I love the use of vocal layers in In the Heights. And I love the story in Sunset.
Oh, we went to see In the Heights last year and I just loved it. The music was fabulous, and I especially liked how the chorus was used.
Believe it or not, I’ve never seen Sunset Blvd., although I’ve seen the (non-musical) movie.
I just saw Sunset for the first time this past year when a very well established local theater group was able to perform it. My brother works for the theater and the next time you guys come out, we’ll have to find a night to go see something!
I’ve seen so many musicals in the past five years that it’s hard for me to pick a real favorite. I think I’ve developed a taste for some of the more musically and narratively complex ones (various of Sondheim’s, The Light in the Piazza, etc), and Kander and Ebb have a permanent soft spot in my heart as well.
Before this run of getting exposed to musicals, I hated the very idea of them — because I was under the fairly strong impression that the field was nothing more than “Oklahoma!” and Andrew Lloyd Webber. It’s amazing how only the worst of the medium seems to get broadly publicized.
(And yes, I know the historical connotations of Oklahoma!, but I still can’t stand the show :))
I’m very glad you kept an open mind and were willing to give musicals another shot. And of course, I think you’ve developed truly excellent taste — that is my completely *disinterested* opinion. 🙂
Les Mis is my favourite. It also has one of the most believable villains.
“Once More With Feeling” is pretty great, though I think I prefer “Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.” Probably because Sarah Michelle Geller didn’t like doing a musical, and it shows.
Pirates of Penzance I really like. Yes, I know it’s cheesy. I like that about some musical comedy. Once people break out into song, it’s like audiences give the characters permission to do, and be, *anything*, no matter how silly. The only other mediums with such freedom of characterization and plot are puppet shows and cartoons.
I really enjoyed the film version of Sweeney Todd, but haven’t seen the stage show.
If Jason Segel ever makes the vampire puppet musical he keeps threatening, I’m so there. Here’s a link to the climactic song:
I always feel happy when people say Les Mis; perhaps there is actually a market for that novel! 🙂
I stayed away from the movie of Sweeney Todd because I was afraid I wouldn’t like it. I heard not all the singers were quite up to snuff, which is the kind of thing that might actually bother me due to my background.
And yes, vampire puppets would be pretty thrilling in a full-on camp way.
[…] with this post, I finish my series on my favorite musicals. Hope you […]