It's that time of year again! We are approaching the weekend at the beginning of the summer where the Broadway community gets together to celebrate the year in Theatre. The Tony Awards!!! And this year seemed to be the year that Broadway finally molded itself into the groove that has been set by the recent downturns in the economy. You see, in recent years, Broadway producers have been hedging their bets and streamlining the kind of material that makes its way to the Great White Way. They've been limiting their funds to shows that can generate an immediate revenue (i.e. Celebrity-led Plays, Movie-based Musicals, "Known" composers and authors, etc.). It has made it really hard for what many Broadway insiders call "the Next Generation" of creatives to make a name for themselves in the Theatre (meaning if you're looking for the next Stephen Sondheim, you might not find them on Broadway!). However, this year had a huge melting pot of all these elements that people have been lamenting and (in one way or another) they all seemed to be an example of Broadway getting "back on its feet," as it were. One thing we have learned in the last few years and especially this year is that the Limited Run show is here to stay. For years, the Roundabout Theatre Company, the Manhattan Theatre Club and the Lincoln Center Theatre have been masters as Broadway's repertory houses. And all three of those companies had shows this year that both wowed the critics and excited audiences. Roundabout produced revivals of Harvey (starring The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons) and Rupert Holmes' Tony-winning audience-solved Musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood (featuring Chita Rivera and Stephanie J. Block). The latter, which closed after two extensions to its initial limited engagement, has now been nominated for 5 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical. Meanwhile, the Manhattan Theatre Club, which has recently become the pioneer of great plays both Off-Broadway, produced two well-received plays (The Other Place starring Tony nominee Laurie Metcalf and The Assembled Parties which is nominated for Best Play). And Lincoln Center, which was enjoying the success of 2011's Best Play War Horse until its closing in January, has had other success with a much-hailed revival of Clifford Odets' Golden Boy which featured Monk's Tony Shalhoub, Chuck's Yvonne Strahoski and Broadway Musical star Danny Burstein (the limited run production which closed in early 2013 is nominated for 8 Tonys including Best Revival of a Play). They also produced Two and a Half Men star Holland Taylor's tour-de-force one-woman show Ann, where she plays former Texas governor Ann Richards (for which she is nominated for Best Actress this Sunday!). Limited runs have been the thing to beat this year when it comes to a hit Broadway show. And it wasn't only these three companies getting into the Limited Run action. Producers have always enjoyed investing in a production that has a big star over the marquee. And what makes a big star sign on for such a challenge as 8 times a week? The answer is a Limited Engagement! This year we have seen big name stars like Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johannson, Alec Baldwin, Bette Midler, Alan Cumming, Cicely Tyson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Sigourney Weaver and Jane Lynch all take time out of their busy Movie-TV star schedules to take on a role in Play, Musical or even a Revival. And each of the productions these stars are (or were) a part of has made some kind of impression either critically, financially or both. But of course with all this sweet star-led revenue, there comes the bitter side of the double-edged sword that Celebrity can bring (cough cough Shia LeBouf cough cough). And many a Broadway die-hard will still lament that the Great White Way has become a "summer camp" of sorts for Film stars who just want to "Hollywood-ize" their day-to-day stomping grounds. Despite all that, it seems that Broadway really has tried to welcome the Celebrities who want to challenge themselves and try their hand at 8 performances a week (and whether they meet that challenge or not is a subject for another blog!). But the biggest thing that Broadway seems to be accepting now (to a certain degree) is the mass amount of Musicals based on previously produced projects (basically, Movies!). And nothing is a stronger testament to that than the four nominees for Best Musical: Kinky Boots, Matilda The Musical and the limited engagements of A Christmas Story: The Musical and Bring It On: The Musical (I guess it's safe to say that if it had the words "The Musical" after it, it probably was well-liked this year!). All four of the nominees are based on Movies (granted Matilda is more based on the novel by Roald Dahl, but the 1996 film version starring Mara Wilson is quite popular with some audiences!). This trend was actually started by the Walt Disney Company in the 1990s (with their hit staged versions of their films Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King!) and was perfected by the likes of Mel Brooks (The Producers), Marc Shaiman (Hairspray), Elton John (Billy Elliot) and even Monty Python (Spamalot) throughout the next decade. It seems that now Broadway has finally figured out a way to accept this trend. In addition, they've managed to encourage newer composers and authors to make their Broadway mark (or even debut!) with this trend. Three of the Best Musical nominees (Kinky Boots, Matilda and A Christmas Story) are also nominated for the Best Score Tony Award and all three of those shows are by composers who are making their Broadway debut (Kinky Boots is by '80s icon Cyndi Lauper, Matilda is by Aussie rock musician Tim Minchin and A Christmas Story is by the brand new pair of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul). So maybe someday we will find the next Rodgers and Hammerstein...as they are making the "long-awaited" Musical version of Argo! No matter what, Broadway is always going to be an ever-changing animal that depends on audiences to be a success (either creatively or financially!), which is what live Theatre is all about. And I will still be a fan of that animal (as always!) so I will be watching CBS at 8PM on Sunday night as the Broadway community gathers with host Neil Patrick Harris to celebrate the year in Theatre! Happy Tony watching!
It's still Awards Month! And yesterday, the final ballots were due for the 85th Academy Awards (whether they want to call them that or not!). So now it is time for me to give my final Predictions in the major categories. And just like previous years, I like to hedge my bets, so to speak. I love to tell my readers who I think "Will Win," but then follow with a "Dark Horse" or "Spoiler" (this year being referred to as "But..."). One comment you will see often throughout this article is that this has been one crazy Oscar season (for many different reasons!). And with a crazy season, nothing is easy and anything can happen. So let's dive right in with
MY 2013 ACADEMY AWARDS PREDICTIONS
BEST PICTURE The Nominees:Amour, Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Zero Dark Thirty Category Overview: Just like last year, we have 9 nominated films in the top category. However unlike last year where The Artist was the early front-runner and pretty much kept that status throughout the precursors, several of this year's nominees have enjoyed that honor in this crazy Awards season. And now that all the precursor Awards have had their say and it seems like one film has emerged towards the winner's circle, I remind you that in a crazy season like this: anything can happen! Will Win: Now that it has won ALL the Guild Awards (including the Actors and Writers!), Argo has placed itself into becoming the first film since Driving Miss Daisy (back in 1990) to win Best Picture without even being nominated for Best Director. It is a favorite of the critics and audiences have rallied around Ben Affleck since his snub from the Director's branch of the Academy. But...: It's not all over for Spielberg and Company! Having the most nominations could still have weighed with Academy voters. Some could feel that with all the Guild wins, Ben Affleck has been sufficiently compensated for the snub and it's now time to be more "traditional." And as brilliant as Steven Spielberg's gem is, Lincoln does fall into the "traditional" genre that is better known as "Oscar Bait."
BEST DIRECTOR The Nominees: Michael Haneke, Amour; Ang Lee, Life of Pi; David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook; Steven Spielberg, Lincoln; Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild Category Overview: With several high profile snubs in this category (Ben Affleck, Kathryn Bigelow, Tom Hooper, Quentin Tarantino and Paul Thomas Anderson), one would think that this would be an easy win for one of Hollywood's biggest power-players. But as I said earlier, nothing in this Oscar season is easy. Will Win: Despite a small band of detractors, Steven Spielberg is one of Hollywood's greatest directors and it surprises people that he only has TWO Academy Awards for Best Director (for Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan). This is the chance for Hollywood to give him his due and honor him with a well-deserved third Oscar for Lincoln (especially now with the likes of Ben Affleck and Kathryn Bigelow out of the race!). But...: That small band of detractors are rallying behind Ang Lee and his stunning visual achievements in Life of Pi. And it is possible that their arguments have swayed some of the Academy voters. While I still say Spielberg has it in the bag, I wouldn't be too surprised should Ang Lee's name be read on Sunday.
BEST ACTRESS The Nominees: Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty; Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook; Emmanuelle Riva, Amour; Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild; Naomi Watts, The Impossible Category Overview: Wallis is the youngest Best Actress nominee ever and Riva is the oldest (and each are receiving their first nod!). The other three (Lawrence, Chastain and Watts) are receiving their second Oscar nomination. Will Win: Jennifer Lawrence was an early front-runner in the category the minute Silver Linings Playbook premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. With a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors' Guild Award under her belt, the young actress is on her way to Oscar glory. But...: Lawrence is not the only one here with a Golden Globe Award. Jessica Chastain, who gave a stunningly brilliant performance in Zero Dark Thirty, won both the Golden Globe and the Critics' Choice Award for her efforts as a determined CIA Analyst. Though the "torture issue" surrounding the film might have made voters squeamish to give ZDT a high-profile prize. However...: Both Chastain and Lawrence have lost a few critics' prizes (the National Board of Review and the L.A. Film Critics) and last week's British Film Award (BAFTA) to Amour's Emmanuelle Riva. The French character actress has been a star in France for several decades and many have pointed out that this is her chance to be honored by Hollywood for her many years in French Cinema (and we know how the Academy loves to give "Career Oscars!").
BEST ACTOR The Nominees: Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook; Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln; Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables; Joaquin Phoenix, The Master; Denzel Washington, Flight Category Overview: Phoenix was an early front-runner, but spoiled his chances when he stated his true feelings about the whole campaigning process. Jackman and Cooper both wowed audiences with their performances and Washington gave his best in a complex role (as he always does!). But then there's Daniel Day-Lewis. Will Win: From the moment critics and audiences saw screenings of Lincoln, the writing was on the wall that Day-Lewis would become the first performer to win a third Best Leading Actor trophy. His performance is so nuanced and brilliant that no one can really compare to him (which is kind of unfair!). The best description of Day-Lewis came from Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman who compared his style to a combination of the method attitudes of Marlon Brando and the classical training of Sir Laurence Olivier. That's a combination that deserves every Award ever made! But...: There really isn't one in this category! It's one of two major categories this year where there is a surefire front-runner from the word "Go." The only thing that could stop Day-Lewis is a complete and utter shut-out of Spielberg's film. But then who would the beneficiary of such a shut-out be? The most likely would be either Jackman or Washington, and both of them have not gained enough traction in any of the precursors to be a real threat (despite Jackman's Golden Globe win!).
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS The Nominees: Amy Adams, The Master; Sally Field, Lincoln; Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables; Helen Hunt, The Sessions; Jacki Weaver, Silver Linings Playbook Category Overview: All of the actresses in this category have been nominated before (though three of them are new to the Supporting Actress category!). Will Win: Is there any doubt that Anne Hathaway will win this one? From the second her voice was heard in the trailer singing the iconic "I Dreamed a Dream" song, pundits placed her at the top of their lists for this category. Then when the film premiered, critics (even the ones that didn't like the film!) fell in love with her tragedienne performance especially when they discovered she sang the song live in one take! On top of all that, she has been the most gracious winner at the precursors. She has given heartfelt speeches and sincere praise to her fellow nominees (especially Sally Field!). She's become the kind of Oscar contender Academy voters just adore. But...: Like Best Actor above, if there is a "Spoiler" here, it would be minute. Sally Field gives a great performance as Mary Todd Lincoln in Steven Spielberg's film. The fact that she had to fight to keep the role once Liam Neeson backed out of the project is the kind of story Academy voters love. However, it's a story that is not unfamiliar in Field's career. Back in 1979, she had to fight to get the title role in Martin Ritt's Norma Rae. Her endeavors were rewarded with her first of two Academy Awards (the second came for 1984's Places In the Heart, another role for which she "fought"). She's been rewarded enough for fighting for her roles. It's Anne Hathaway's turn!
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Category Overview: This category is going to work a little differently! This is the toughest category to predict. Maybe the toughest ever! ALL of the five actors nominated are previous Oscar champs (a feat which has never happened before!). And none of the precursors have been any help to any of the pundits. It seems like they predict one and then someone else wins. So I will take you through each nominee and give you the reason why I can see ANY ONE of them taking the prize on Sunday.
Alan Arkin, Argo - For many, Arkin was the scene-stealing best part of Ben Affleck's political thriller. As the Hollywood producer who joins Affleck's CIA Agent in endeavoring to rescue some American Embassy workers from Iran, Arkin has the best dialogue and the best scenes. He hasn't won any of the precursors, but he's been nominated for every single one. And with Argo surging forward in the top category, it is not unlikely that some of that love could fall Arkin's way.
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook - Out of all the nominees in this category, his win is the oldest (having won his second Oscar in 1981 for Raging Bull!). Like Spielberg, it surprises people that De Niro (being the legend he is!) only has two Oscars. And with his role as Bradley Cooper's tough-talking yet extremely sensitive and caring father, many critics felt that this was De Niro's return to form after years in light/comedic roles (Analyze This/That, Meet the Parents/Fockers, Stardust, etc.). Actors love this movie (with nods in each of the Acting categories!) and De Niro could benefit from some of that love.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman, The Master - Hoffman made himself an early front-runner with his role as a 1950s cult leader in Paul Thomas Anderson's poignant film. He even won the Critics' Choice Award back in early January. However with the film falling off the radar and only getting nods in three categories (the other two being Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress!), his chances have dimmed dramatically. But he is the only contender who won a major Critics' prize. That may carry weight with some of the Academy voters.
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln - He won the Screen Actors' Guild Award for his stirring portrayal of abolitionist Senator Thaddeus Stevens. Some have even said it was hard to tell where Stevens ended and Lee Jones began (which is both a positive and a negative!). He is the category front-runner with most of the pundits, but he has fierce competitors.
Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained - A lot of people felt he should be in the Lead category as he is the contender who has the most screen time in his respective film. But as he is not the title character, Waltz (my personal favorite!) has been relegated to the Supporting field and has raked in a couple prizes to boot! Waltz beat his co-star (Leonardo DiCaprio) at the Golden Globes and just last week was honored with the BAFTA in this category. For someone who at first was not on the radar at the beginning of Oscar season, he has now moved himself in to major contender status.
Will Win: Any one of them could be the winner, but I guess I'll go with the majority (the 27% majority!) and say that Tommy Lee Jones will be the eventual winner. But I go on record saying that any one of these five names could be read from that envelope by The Help's Octavia Spencer on Sunday night.
Sometimes things happen for which there are really no words. And when such things occur, that's when everybody (and their brother!) has something to say.
Usually it is always some form of blame. Over this weekend, I have watched and read and heard (as has most of all of you!) as TV pundits, newspapers, my friends, my family and (of course) the Internet have theorized, accused, opined and grieved over the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT that killed 26 people (including 20 children) on Friday, December 14, 2012. Amid the cacophony were people looking for a solution to such tragedies. But the ultimate answer to that is that there is none. And I don't mean we should let things like this happen, because they shouldn't and we shouldn't. But what I mean is that there isn't just one solution to the multiple problems that led to a horrible crime against nature like the one on Friday.
Of course there are the legal and medical questions. How did such a young man obtain so many assault rifles? Why was this young man, who was said by those who knew him to have a "severe personality disorder," not under a physician or therapist's care? Several articles have been written about renewing the Gun Control argument and several politicians have spoken about the issue. Blog posts have been dedicated to chiding the mental health community and health care in general. There even has been the point made (and it is not the first time!) that the Media is in part to blame for such an event. And while I don't agree that Media is entirely responsible, I will say our 24/7 "need-to-get-the-story-out-first" Media outlets (run by the "dreaded" Corporations!) do not help in such matters and oftentimes make certain things worse.
Ah, the Corporations! They run our insurance companies. They control our TV Networks, Hollywood Studios and Publishing Houses. And they even lobby our government to let them have such monopolies (no offense to Parker Brothers!). And I would even agree (to an extent!) that the overall Corporation-ing of our culture has made us lose a bit of ourselves. I mean, when I think of how much certain companies own in this society, I am reminded of the great Benjamin Franklin quote:
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
We have given a lot of things up in the name of safety, convenience and even (ironically!) communication. But, with all respects to Dr. Franklin, I don't think it is just liberty or freedom we have "given up." I think we have, in several ways, sacrificed our humanity. And yes, I know I am not the first person to say such a thing, but I feel at this time (more than ever) it is important for people to remember. We need to take back our humanity. And it begins with us...on the individual level. We need to check-in with each other, talk to each other and be there for each other. We have all these things at our disposal - Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), E-Mail and all kinds of cell phones! - and we are not using them to communicate. So I charge you, my readers, to go out and actually communicate with the people in your lives. Find out about them. See how they are. If they have a problem, listen to them or help them if you're able. Use the mediums at your disposal if you need. And don't just do it over the Holiday season. Do it all year round. We cannot let people slip through the cracks in our society.
Today is quite a special day. 32 years ago, a young man was born and is now embarking on a writing career. As with most artistic careers, it has been a bumpy road but still creatively satisfying. For today, I want to share with you, my readers, a very special Birthday blogpost. I want to dedicate this post to all the special people who were born on this day. Below, I have listed 25 amazing, important, influential and dynamic people who each contributed something to the world in their own way (be it through the arts, entertainment, sports, politics or anything else!). So let us see which people (besides yours truly!) have helped make September 24 a very special day.
BORN ON
John Marshall (1755-1835): The longest serving Chief Justice in U.S. Supreme Court history was one of the leading Federalists in the early 19th Century.
Franklin Clarence Mars (1883-1934): Founder of the prominent candy company Mars Inc., along with his son created the timeless candy classic M&M's.
Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893-1929): The "Father of the Texas Blues" influenced blues legends from Robert Johnson to B. B. King.
F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940): One of America's most celebrated writers lives on through his works, especially his most enduring: The Great Gatsby.
Audra Lindley (1918-1997): Best known as Mrs. Roper from Three's Company, one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1970s.
Jim McKay (1921-2008): For over 30 years, he hosted ABC's Wide World of Sports as well as hosted 12 Olympic Games and many other sports (ranging from the Kentucky Derby to the Indy 500!).
Theresa Merritt (1924-1998): This lovable character actress of Stage, TV and Film is perhaps best known for her title role on the 1970s cult series That's My Mama!
Sheila MacRae (1924): Actress and singer who was married to the late Gordon MacRae and (most famously) played the role of Honeymooners' Alice Kramden on Jackie Gleason's late '60s variety show.
Anthony Newley (1931-1999): British actor, singer-songwriter and all-around performer is best known for is work in films like David Lean's Oliver Twist and the 1967 Doctor Dolittle as well as his songs for Goldfinger, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and the Broadway hit Stop the World-I Want to Get Off!
Chick Willis (1934): A controversial jazz & blues singer who started by working for his famous singer-cousin Chuck Willis.
Jim Henson (1936-1990): One of the most influential creative minds of all-time (jn my humble opinion!) made millions of people happy with his Muppet creations especially the lovable Kermit the Frog.
Linda McCartney (1941-1998): She served as Paul McCartney's muse, especially during his Wings period, and we are all thankful that she made him "Amazed."
Lou Dobbs (1945): The former CNN anchor who now works for the FOX Business network worked as CNN's money and business reporter since its inception in 1980 but left in 2009 due to issues stemming from his conservative-leaning political beliefs.
Joe Greene (1946): Known to the world as "Mean" Joe Green, the retired Pittsburgh Steeler is now best remembered for a famed 1980 Coca-Cola commercial.
Gordon Clapp (1948): Emmy Award-winning character actor for his work on the landmark ABC series NYPD Blue also received a Tony nod for his work in the 2005 revival of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross.
Phil Hartman (1948-1998): The famed Saturday Night Live comic actor who also did brilliant work on shows like The Simpsons and NewsRadio was sadly murdered by his wife who then killed herself.
Kevin Sorbo (1958): He started as a model, jumped to acting in the late 1980s (auditioning for the leads on Lois & Clark and The X-Files) and got his big break as TV's Hercules on the cult favorite Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.
Steve Whitmire (1959): This protege of Jim Henson was the Henson family's choice to take over the role of Kermit the Frog upon Jim Henson's death in 1990 and he has performed him ever since.
John Logan (1961): This Tony-winning and Oscar-nominated playwright/screenwriter has worked on several critically-acclaimed films (like Gladiator, The Aviator, Sweeney Todd, Rango, Hugo and the upcoming Bond film Skyfall).
Nia Vardalos (1962): She let us into a little bit of her life and family with her hilarious one-woman show turned hit romantic comedy movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Rafael Palmeiro (1964): He was a popular left fielder for teams like the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles until it was discovered in 2005 that he tested positive for steroids, pretty much ending his baseball career.
Robert Irvine (1965): The Food Network chef/host has an abrasive and honest style that serves him well when helping restaurants turn their business around on his popular shows Dinner: Impossible, Restaurant: Impossible and Worst Cooks in America.
Stephanie McMahon (1976): Daughter of the famed Vince McMahon, who owns the Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment company, has made a name for herself as a wrestler and dominant "McMahon" personality.
Morgan and Paul Hamm (1982): The twin American gymnasts who made names for themselves during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens where they (along with the US Men's team) won a Silver medal and Paul earned the All-Around Gold medal (despite some controversy).
The other day I told you that I would be sharing with you my favorite Broadway Musicals of All-Time. It's a question that has been asked of me for years and years. And because of that, I felt it appropriate to share with you the many musicals that I love that didn't make my Top 25. I needed you to see how hard this subject is for me. I have loved Musicals for years and there are just too many that I adore to narrow it down to a select few, but I did it. As hard as it was, I did it. I managed to pull together and rank my 25 favorite Musicals. And while you may not completely agree with my rankings or my opinions, each of these shows have very good reasons for making it onto this list.
THE 25 BEST MUSICALS OF ALL-TIME
25. Godspell
The mixture of Religion and Musical theatre was a popular theme in the 1970s (Jesus Christ Superstar opened in New York the same year as this Off-Broadway hit!). Stephen Schwartz' folk rock-inspired show was always a favorite in my household growing up. The songs are simple yet complex and they perfectly reflect the feeling of the period (which was about love, peace and understanding). Below is an appearance of the original Off-Broadway cast on the Today show (back when Barbara Walters was the co-host!).
24. Cabaret
Whether it is Harold Prince's groundbreaking original 1966 Broadway production or Bob Fosse's sleek and seductive 1972 film version, this Musical must be mentioned when you talk about Broadway greatness. The Kander and Ebb landmark show is still one of the most popular Musicals (especially in colleges!). Songs like the smashing opener "Wilkommen" (see the 1998 revival below) or the catchy title number (most famously performed by Liza Minnelli on film!) have made this show the innovation that it is.
23. Oklahoma!
It was the first show Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II wrote together and it changed the face of Musical theatre. No show before it had combined memorable songs, fully-developed characters, a complete plot and masterful choreography. And because it is set against the backdrop of the Western territory in the early 20th Century, it is a true piece of Americana. Below, see Hugh Jackman in the London revival singing the powerful title song.
22. 1776
I love this show. It is always enjoyable to me (especially around the Fourth of July!). Who ever thought that a show about the creation of the Declaration of Independence would be a fantastic Tony-winning hit? Sherman Edwards' spritely songs and Peter Stone's smartly written libretto make each of these men (John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, etc.) relatable and still keep that iconic aura they have had in our eyes. Below, most of the original Broadway cast reprised their roles in the 1972 film version.
21. The Music Man
Meredith Wilson's masterpiece about a con man who manages to dupe a small Iowa town into funding a boys' band (that doesn't really exist!) is a classic in every way. Much like its leading man "Prof." Harold Hill, the Musical takes the audience on a ride that ultimately we are the better for taking that ride. Below, original star Robert Preston sings "Ya Got Trouble" at the 1973 Tony Awards as part of a celebration of the best award-winning Musicals.
20. Jersey Boys
I normally do not care for what are termed as "Jukebox" Musicals (Mamma Mia! really annoys me even if it has Meryl Streep!). But this 2005 Tony-winning show has been one of the most interesting recent hits. Its structure is definitely not a "traditional Broadway Musical," but it feels more like Musical in the same way the Oscar-winning biopics Coal Miner's Daughter or Ray are "Musicals." It is both extremely enjoyable (each time I've seen it, everyone is on their feet by the finale!) and fantastically innovative (thanks both to the brilliant direction of Des McAnuff and the sharp libretto co-written by Marshall Brickman who also helped Woody Allen write Annie Hall.).
19. The King and I
Rodgers and Hammerstein were the gods of Broadway in its Golden Age and this show was part of their creative peak. In adapting the true story of Anna Leonowens and her tenure as the tutor to the children of Siam's King Mongkut, they created a relationship that (although very sexually charged, especially in the "Shall We Dance" number below) was about two people from different sides of the world who came to respect each other as equals. That is the kind of good character development that makes great Musicals.
18. A Chorus Line
For most of my life, this show had the honor of being the Longest Running Broadway Musical. Michael Bennett's show about dancers who strive to nail that important audition was (in a way) Broadway's first "reality Musical." Even though the dancers on stage had character names, they were basically playing versions of themselves (to varying degrees). The fantastic choreography and the charming score (by the late Marvin Hamlisch) made this musical so popular that it was a phenomenon all its own (and ten times better "reality" than you would get on Jersey Shore or any of the Real Housewives shows!).
17. Guys and Dolls
This show comes right from the heart of Broadway (in particular Times Square!). Damon Runyon's stories about gamblers and their gals that run around Times Square were light-hearted and charming enough to entice producers into turning it into a lavish Broadway Musical. It is one of the most successful titles and one of the most revived shows in Broadway history. Below, Stubby Kaye reprised his Broadway role in the 1955 film version and sings one of my favorite songs in the show, "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat."
16. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
One of Stephen Sondheim's most popular and most enduring works is also one of his most intense. I mean who writes a musical about a guy who takes revenge on the society that wronged him by slicing their throats and having them baked into meat pies?!?! And yet with Sondheim's masterful score and under Harold Prince's innovative direction, Sweeney Todd has become one of the most important shows of the last 40 years. Below, original star Angela Lansbury alongside George Hearn play the leads and sing about the fun they'll have putting people into pies!
15. Oliver!
Just like Oklahoma! and The Music Man brought Americana to the rest of the world (through their hit London productions!), this show was basically London's response. And it became one of the biggest hits on both sides of the Atlantic in the early 1960s. Lionel Bart's clever score and the well-developed use of Dickens' characters (like Fagin, Nancy and The Artful Dodger) have made this Musical version of Oliver Twist one of the most lovable hits (especially among schools, thanks to the use of children in prominent roles!).
14. Chicago
Had it not been for this show's smash hit revival in 1996 (followed by an Oscar-winning film in 2002!), this one would have drifted right into obscurity. But the Kander-Ebb-Fosse collaboration is bold, brassy, sexy, confrontational (at times) and (most importantly) jazzy. It may have been too dark and sardonic for audiences who were enamored with A Chorus Line back in the late 1970s, but it provides a commentary on our culture and our media that has definitely become more prevalent over the last 30 years. Below, original stars Chita Rivera and the late Gwen Verdon perform the finale of the Musical with Fosse's original chic choreography.
13. Man of La Mancha
When it comes to Musicals, one theme is always dominant: Dreams. And in this show, the lead character is a man who follows his dreams. Sure, he's a crazy old coot who thinks he's a knight and mistakes windmills for dragons; but his faith in his dreams make him one of the most inspirational characters ever. Based on the literary classic Adventures of Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes, this Musical's structure is inspired both by its literary roots as well as the 1960s approach to theatre (which was mostly inspired by the Meisner method acting techniques). It uses a "play within a play" motif where the actor playing Quixote is actually Cervantes himself trying to showcase his work and defend his writings. The score (by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion) has some of the most beautiful songs including "Dulcinea" or "I, Don Quixote" or the timeless "The Impossible Dream" (sung below by Brian Stokes Mitchell in a 2003 revival of the show).
12. Evita
The same year he directed Sweeney Todd to great acclaim, the hit Harold Prince had directed in London the year before opened on Broadway to a massive (at the time) advance in ticket sales. Evita was one of the most highly anticipated shows of the late 1970s. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's gargantuan rock opera about the wife of Argentinian dictator Juan Peron was (like Jesus Christ Superstar) first an extremely successful rock concept album that topped the charts with singles like "Don't Cry For Me Argentina." With Prince's guidance, it became a theatrical wonder and a box-office smash. I fell in love with this show at a very young age (my parents adored this Musical!) hearing the Original Broadway Cast album which featured the phenomenal Patti LuPone in the title role alongside the brilliant Mandy Patinkin as the Brecht-like narrator Che (see both of them below performing at the 1980 Tony Awards).
11. The Sound of Music
Thanks to the extremely successful 1965 film version, this Musical is one of the most popular shows in theatrical history. It also is one of the most poignant as it served as the last Musical that Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote together (due to Hammerstein's death from throat cancer in 1960 eight months after the show opened on Broadway). And as their last endeavor, it is one of their best scores. So many songs in this show are just brilliant ("My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" and of course the iconic title song!). Below, the 1998 revival cast performs a medley of songs at the Tony Awards.
10. Gypsy
The same year The Sound of Music opened on Broadway, this show business gem was also running to sold-out crowds. The star power of Ethel Merman combined with an amazing score (by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim) made this Musical a very popular hit. It has been revived four separate times on Broadway, has had several notable regional and tour productions, two (somewhat) well-received film versions and has been named by several critics as the "greatest Broadway Musical." Interesting to note that each major revival has (in some way) incorporated the original choreography by the legendary director Jerome Robbins. It just goes to show the mark that man left on his shows (but more on that in a bit!). Below, watch clips of Patti LuPone in the most recent Broadway revival.
9. Sunday In the Park With George
This one is truly a personal favorite. I was first introduced to this show by my mother who showed me the PBS American Playhouse telecast that showcased the Original Broadway production. Stephen Sondheim's hauntingly beautiful and rich score was just marvelous to hear especially when sung by the likes of Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters. Whenever I hear a song from this show, I think about watching that telecast with my mother and how it was through her (and my father!) that I fell in love with Broadway Musicals.
8. The Producers
There are very few Musicals that have made me literally laugh out loud. And when I say "laugh," I mean an endless stream of gut-busting full-out laughter. And of course that kind of laughter has to come from someone like Mel Brooks. The Musical version of his amazing 1968 comedy is so hilariously brilliant and it is truly a pure "love letter" to Broadway and the traditional style Brooks must have loved growing up. Below, Nathan Lane leads the Broadway cast in a hilarious medley of the shows best songs.
7. The Lion King
When I talked about the stage version of Beauty and the Beast, I (slightly) compared it to a theatrical show at Disneyland and how it was primarily a version of the film on stage (with fantastic sets and costumes). But with The Lion King, director Julie Taymor found a way of innovating animated animals and planting them in front of a live audience. Using masks, puppetry and elaborate costumes, Taymor expands the imagination of everyone who comes to see the show. It also helps that the score from the film (Elton John and Tim Rice's songs and Hans Zimmer's instrumental score) are used to brilliant effect. The show is still one of the biggest box-office hits on Broadway after almost 15 years and shows no sign of stopping.
6. Fiddler On the Roof
Another show introduced to me by my parents (it's a particular favorite of my father's!). This landmark Musical based on Sholem Alecheim's Tevye stories is not just about a Jewish family in a Russian/Ukrainian village. It is about community and adaptation and (dare I say it!) "Traditions." The genius of Jerome Robbins' original staging and choreography is always honored in every production and utilized in some way (see below the 2004 revival). The show is synonymous with "traditional" Broadway.
5. Wicked
The rank of this one probably surprises a lot of you, but there is a reason. When I first heard about this show, I was about to graduate from college and could not afford to go see the out-of-town-tryout that was right here in San Francisco (even though I wanted to, I was just too busy!). But I did hear some good things about it and heard it would be opening on Broadway later in the year. However, that summer and early fall ended up making it one of the worst years in my life. First, in July my Grandmother died after years of battling the effects of a stroke; and then, in October my Mother passed away suddenly from medical complications. It was right before Halloween, which is when this show opened on Broadway. That Thanksgiving, I needed to get away and went to New York. I managed to get tickets to this show (with its Original Cast!) and I immediately fell in love with the Stephen Schwartz score and the brilliant staging by Joe Mantello. It was the show I needed at that time in my life. It made me realize everything was going to be alright. It was like my Mother and Grandmother wanted me to see this show which has since become one of the most "Popular" shows of the last decade.
4. Les Misérables This show is beloved in my family. Everyone who has seen it says that they were just mesmerized and moved by this Musical. Like many shows before it, a Musical version of Victor Hugo's long literary masterpiece seems like insanity. But with a rousing, haunting and inspirational score and memorable characters (from lead Jean Valjean to the tragic Fantine to the treacherous Thenardiers), the show has become one of the biggest hits worldwide. It even is (finally!) getting a film version released later this year directed by Oscar-winner Tom Hooper and starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway. It cannot surprise you that I will be seeing it the day the movie opens at my local movie theater!
3. The Phantom of the Opera Les Miz and this one are almost tied, but this one slightly wins out because I felt that Harold Prince's staging was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen in my life (even though I was only 13 at the time I saw it!). It is considered one of the most unabashedly romantic Musicals in Broadway history. Andrew Lloyd Webber's haunting and majestic score wins me over every time I hear it. And I've already mentioned how I felt about Mr. Prince's genius staging (I mean, he has helped make Opera accessible to the masses!). Below, watch as original stars Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman showcase one of the most memorable scenes in the show at the 1988 Tony Awards.
2. West Side Story
One of the biggest landmarks in Broadway history just had to be on this list no matter what. Jerome Robbins' powerful and enigmatic adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet set against the backdrop of 1950s street gangs is and will forever be a remarkable masterpiece. With a fantastic and almost symphonic score by Leonard Bernstein (with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, his first Broadway credit!) and a moving libretto by Arthur Laurents, the characters literally leap into your hearts (thanks to Robbins' brilliant choreography which he created with the help of his co-choreographer Peter Gennaro). It was bold and innovative and yet, at the same time, it was traditional and theatrical. There is truly nothing like it.
1. My Fair Lady This really cannot be that much of a surprise. I know this show backwards and forwards. I know every line, every song, every orchestration and even every shot of the film. Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's brilliant Musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion is beautiful in every way. It has two of the best leading characters in Broadway history and it features gorgeous sets and costumes (if the production is done right!). And the score is filled with amazing songs like "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "On the Street Where You Live" and Higgins' final soliloquy "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face." Each in their own way are among my favorite Broadway songs (that's a list I can never do, by the way!).
So there, I have done it. I have given you my Top 25 Broadway Musicals. It was difficult and even painful at times, but I have answered the question most people have asked me for most of my life. Are any of these your favorites? I encourage you to tell me your favorite and what you love about it (even if it's not on this list!).
I have been a "Broadway Baby" for as long as I can remember. That's why I use the Stephen Sondheim song title as my nickname, my mantra and the title of my blog. But there is one question that many have asked me over the years that I have always hesitated to answer. What is my favorite Broadway Musical? And over the last few years, I've shared with you many different favorites from Movies to Television to Songs. But I've always avoided that one big question. And there is a very simple reason. There are so many Broadway Musicals that I love, it is too hard to narrow it down. This week, I've decided to do what I consider to be the impossible. But instead of doing a list of 100 or even 60, I have narrowed it down to a list of 25. And if you think 100 is difficult, 25 is no picnic! That being said, before I give you the 25 Musicals that are close to my heart, I thought I would share with you a few of the Musicals that I still like but just missed making it into the "upper echelon" (so to speak!). So I will first talk a bit about 10 shows I think people would be surprised to know are NOT in my top 25. After that, I want to quickly run through 5 more extremely popular Musicals that (on one level or another) bug me, yet I still love them (kind of a love-hate relationship going on there!). Later this week, my top 25 shall be revealed to you. All at once and not one at a time, like I have done in the past. Think of it as my special gift to all the people who have been frustrated when I never answered their original question (Who knows? They may find themselves more frustrated after this week!). But first, the 10 shows that won't be in my top 25 (in no particular order)!
42nd Street
I love the original film and the stage production is a lavish toe-tapping adaptation. The show opened the month before I was born and has one the most infamous opening nights in Broadway history. The show's famed director-choreographer Gower Champion died the day of the opening, but producer David Merrick refused to reveal the news until after the final curtain call.
In the Heights
One of the more recent and unique hits in Broadway history. It's use of hip-hop and latino pop certainly give it a flavor all its own. In a way, it is one of the most original American Musicals of the last decade.
The Pirates of Penzance
Gilbert and Sullivan were the Rodgers and Hammerstein of their day back in Victorian England. But for me, it was Joseph Papp's hilarious tongue-in-cheek 1980s hit production that makes this show such a treat.
Kiss Me, Kate
This show combines Shakespeare and Musical theatre to quite charming and hilarious effect. Only Cole Porter could give the Bard's great comedy (The Taming of the Shrew) a showman's touch. Plus "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" is one of the cleverest songs ever written!
Funny Girl
She says it herself: She's the Greatest Star! There is no one like Barbra as the legendary Fanny Brice. However, she's put such a mark on the role that no one has ever dared touch it in a major revival.
Rent
This Musical was meant for my generation. Every theatre geek in my high school (including myself!) loved the late Jonathan Larson's masterpiece. It has since closed on Broadway and spawned a mediocre film version, meaning I believe this show belonged to its time and we were the better for it.
Annie Get Your Gun
When I finally got to New York, this was the first Broadway show I saw (with the phenomenal Bernadette Peters in the lead!). Like Cole Porter, Irving Berlin let his songs speak for themselves. And in this Musical, there's no business like it!
Beauty and the Beast
This may shock many of you. I love the 1991 Disney film, you know I do! And I love the Broadway show. Yet (unlike some of Disney's later theatrical productions) while the costumes, sets and effects are gorgeous, the show feels very much like a straight adaptation of the film (with a few new songs added). Like the kind you would have found at Disneyland (Not that there's anything wrong with that for Disney's first theatrical venture!).
A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum
I've talked about how this show has one of the greatest opening numbers in Broadway history. And as Stephen Sondheim's first show as both composer and lyricist, it served as an appetizer for the career he would have. This one was hard to knock off the top 25, but not as painful as the one below.
How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
This was the most painful cut of all. My dad is still mad at me over this (He's still speaking to me, he's just a little miffed!). This Pulitzer Prize-winning satiric powerhouse was beloved in my house. Yet as some new shows have debuted in my lifetime (particularly in the last 10-15 years), shows fall by the wayside. So consider this brilliant piece of theatre Miss Congeniality! Plus watch Harry Potter dance up a storm in the most recent revival!
Now, these next 5 shows are enormously popular in different circles of theatre "geeks" (i.e. critics, fans, crazy people, etc.). Yet each of these shows while I love them for their accomplishments and even enjoy them from time to time, there is just some aspect of it that bothers me. And even though they might bother me, there's some strange part of me that can't resist liking (or even loving!) them. I can't help it, I love to hate them yet I hate that I love them. So from 5 to 1 (1 being the show that bugs me the most!):
5. Spring Awakening
I may be incurring the wrath of many a teenage fangirl with this placement, but I probably already incurred that wrath the first time I bad-mouthed Twilight! But the obsessive love that the teen crowd seems to have for this well-written youthful Musical is what turns me off it. The fact that it launched Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff's careers is a plus in its favor (despite what the Glee haters out there say!).
4. South Pacific
The Broadway gods will curse me for this one but Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1949 Pulitzer Prize-winner has a very un-entertaining plot. The score is absolutely brilliant (of course!), yet the fact that it is based on James Michener's Tales of the South Pacific stories just doesn't do it for me (even though Hammerstein's libretto explores and confronts prejudice in ways the theatre never did before). Despite that, the songs are amazing especially when performed by the likes of Mary Martin, Kelli O'Hara or Glenn Close.
3. Annie
You had to grow up in the 1980s to understand this. I mean, the song "Tomorrow" was everywhere. And if you were a kid interested in Musical, Annie was the predominant choice for children's theatre. Yet there is something about that precocious little redhead that audiences can't resist. The show is getting another major revival on Broadway and there are the talks about Willow Smith "whipping her hair" into the role in a film remake.
2. Cats
When it overtook A Chorus Line as the longest running Broadway show, it was an event (until Phantom surpassed it 8 years later!). And Andrew Lloyd Webber's score is complex and masterful (much like his other shows!). However, how the hell did this show become such a phenomenon?!?! As much as I appreciate the music and the athletic choreography, I occasionally find myself agreeing with the naysayers and wondering why this show worked (my uncle has asked me on 5 separate occasions and I still have no answer for him!).
1. Grease
This Musical qualifies as my guilty pleasure, meaning I'm to admit that I enjoy it (or at least some of it!). And I really shouldn't be, there are tons of theatre geeks like me who love this show and are not embarrassed one bit about it. However, this show annoys me. And I hate that I like the fact that it annoys me! Maybe that's what the creators of the original show meant to do, annoy the audiences into to loving them.
So maybe I have surprised a few of you Broadway fans out there. I maybe I'll surprise you even more later this week with what shows ARE in my top 25. And just FOR THE RECORD: I thought Damn Yankees was damn fun; I love Camelot and I even love Spamalot; I find the scores for Company, Carousel and Jesus Christ Superstar intricate, exciting and thrilling (respectively); I'm just crazy for Crazy For You; And there's nothing like the helicopter of Miss Saigon or the Fosse magic of Pippin; plus I just enjoy the hell out a good Rocky Horror Time Warp. Yet NONE of the shows I just mentioned are in my top 25. Come back later this week to know more!
