All About Musicals/Showtunes!

[caryatid_kitten]

Broadway, off-Broadway, off-off Broadway even local musicals or Filipino produced versions of Broadway shows...This thread is about musicals! I've always been a Broadway obssessed kid -- thanks to repeatedly watching Sound of Music when I was younger (Betamax era...) LOL...I strongly believe my love for musicals was rooted from being exposed to that movie...hahah

As of NOW, I PERSONALLY think RENT is the best musical ever. In terms of story, message, music and production - - RENT is my top pick....

I can go on forever talking about musicals...Well, let this be the Broadway junkie's avenue to talk about their favorite shows, least favorite shows, unofficial reviews, dream cast, favorite stage actors...etc....

[enteng.00]

i lined up for the lottery of Rent kanina, minalas ako, di ako nanalo! kaya ayun, i ended up sa lower east side to eat at the filipino restaurant there...hahahaha! lilinya ulit ako tomorrow. i dont wanna spend f*****ng plus plus plus dollars for rent - i love the musical, but i just wanna see my favorite eden espinosa and will chase perform. haha...it's nearing its final bow come september.

[caryatid_kitten]

I watched Rent 2x within the last month or so. Eden Espinosa and Will Chase were awesome! Walang kakupas-kupas talaga ang Rent...I swear :P Ha ha ha.

Another musical that's currently in my system is A Chorus Line. I must say that's a showcase of pure talent...No fancy sets or anything. I truly enjoyed it...I got the album at itunes stores and now I'm singing "Dance 10, Looks 3"

I also like Gypsy. Patti LuPone OWNED the stage. I've never seen anyone who has owned the stage - - or the THEATRE that way. She was spectacular!

Hmmm...Was it just me, but I didn't exactly enjoy Spring Awakening...The music was interesting, but there was something incoherent about it. Oh well...To each his own....

more later...hahaha

[enteng.00]

I love Spring Awakening, I saw the show like 5 times and I surprisingly level it to my fondness of Rent. The beauty of SA is the contrast of the plot and the music. The plot is very early, pre-nazi era and the music is set with contemporary twist to reach for contemporary audiences - the whole libretto and music was composed by no-other-than the uber talented music icon - Duncan Shiek who was a valedictorian at The Juilliard School of Music.

I was able to watch A Chorus line and I am very happy that I was able to meet Mario Lopez - currently - the top 1 in the list of America's Hottest Bachelor according to People Magazine of June 2008.

Patti Lupone on the other hand is a broadway gem, the reason she's born on earth is because she was bound to do GYPSY.

Eden Espinosa is an ultimate love, since her first stint as original stand-by for Idina Menzel as Elphaba in WICKED:The New Musical (broadway's most successful musical ever! and my most favorite too), then went on originating the role and the musical title itself - BRKLYN (which was a total mess and flop) - Eden became a household broadway favorite when she returned as an Elphaba third replacement. She is love.

Will Chase went to Manila, played Chris in Miss Saigon with Lea S. He's cute. He's ok. I just wanna see him in rent cause he's cute - married - and rumored to be gay. hahaha.

[diane15]

RENT = awesome. for me Rent din is the bestest.
Thanks to Jonathan Larson. Jonathan Larson is my hero!!
Yehey

okay, mag-pro-promote ako:

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Hairspray the Musical (in Manila!)
The BIG FAT Broadway Musical hit goes LIVE ON STAGE!



Winner of 8 TONY AWARDS INCLUDING BEST MUSICAL!!!
It’s a great show, winning 8 Tony Awards in Broadway. It’s being produced by Atlantis Productions, the same group who brought the hit musicals Rent, Avenue Q and Cinderella to Manila. Venue will be at the Star Theater, CCP Complex, 8pm.

Ticket Prices:
P1,200 (Rows A to I)
P1,000 (Row J to S)
P800 (Rows T to X)
P600 (Rows Y to Z)

Leading the Cast are:
Nyoy Volante as (Seeweed)
Michael de Mesa (Edna)
Menchu Lauchengco Yulo (Velma)
Dulce (Motormouth Maybelle)
Leo Rialp (Wilbur Turnbald)

Bobby Garcia directs for ATLANTIS PRODUCTIONS

[diane15]

After its highly successful staging of Footloose (2005) and Disney’s High School Musical (2007), Stages Production Specialists Inc. launches its 3rd and most ambitious production yet -

West Side Story (Manila)



Ticket Prices:
P1,200 (orchestra / loge center)
P1,000 (orchestra / loge side)
P700 (balcony center)
P500 (balcony side)

Touted to be the best musical of all time with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and original choreography by Jerome Robbins, this exciting production will be headed by Asia’s pop superstar Christian Bautista as Tony and Joanna Ampil of Ms. Saigon fame as Maria.

Audie Gemora directs, promising to bring something new for the current generation of theater goers, yet still keep all of West Side Story’s original charm for the generation who wishes to relive the glorious moments of the 1959 Academy Award Winner for Best Film!
West Side Story is an intense, dramatic dance musical with many show-stopping numbers and immortal songs like “Somewhere”, “ Tonight”, “One Hand One Heart”, “America” and “Something’s Coming.”

It will surely be a night “like no other night”.

September 6, 2008 - Opening Saturday Night 8pm at the Meralco Theater, Ortigas, Pasig

[caryatid_kitten]

Dream roles anyone???? ako Mimi Marquez followed by...Louise from Gypsy. LOL. =D

[diane15]

I've always wanted to be Elphaba OR Nessarose (idk why. weird.) then yeah, Louise from gypsy

I don't know if I could manage being someone in Rent lol if I could I think I could only do Joanne's role [yeah. less dancing AND showing off! lol]

[enteng.00]

Given a chance to perform, I want to play Fabrizio Nacarelli (Light in the Piazza) or Emmet Forest/Warner Huntington III (Legally Blonde).

[caryatid_kitten]

I'm wary of watching West Side Story - - di kaya masyadong "commercialized"??? I remember watching The Little Mermaid in Meralco theatre and I was disappointed like hell.

Then again, that's Joanna Ampil

[enteng.00]

yeah, my take on that is - Joanna Ampil is the solitary reason why I will will be compelled to see it - but then again, I'm so far away...

Trumpets' little mermaid - i say - is far better than the one playing here on broadway, I tell you....

[diane15]

^ I've read some *really* bad reviews about The Little Mermaid on Broadway... Is it really that bad? (to think that it was nominated on the Tony's)

[enteng.00]

^ I've read some *really* bad reviews about The Little Mermaid on Broadway... Is it really that bad? (to think that it was nominated on the Tony's)

bad, really bad. even Sheree Rene Scott and her 'big name' can not salvage the whole show. sayang. Disney's glory ends thru Lion King the Musical. Though i find Mary Poppins at part with Aida and Beauty and the Beast.


My top picks for contemporary broadway:

Wicked:The Musical (a must!)
Gypsy (stellar cast)
In The Heights (the energy of the musical goes beyond the proscenium of the stage! grabe!)
Lion King the Musical
Rent (the novelty of its closing and Eden Espinosa's playing until it bows)
Spring Awakening
A Chorus Line (same as my reason for Rent and my golly, America's Hottest Bachelor is performing - Mario Lopez!)
Legally Blonde the Musical (the coolest way to get a very good and very entertaining fresh show on broadway)

[The Kryptonian]

As of NOW, I PERSONALLY think RENT is the best musical ever. In terms of story, message, music and production - - RENT is my top pick....

100% agree. And "Seasons of Love" is one of my favorite songs. Just inspirational and will change your mood in any given day.

I also like "One Song Glory" - cool act.

[caryatid_kitten]

Disney's Little Mermaid is THAT bad?! That's one of my favorite Disney Flicks - - in terms of music.

I chose not to watch Legally Blonde though people have said it was cute...There's just something about a dumb blonde flick that I'm not too keen on seeing on Broadway...hahaha...Such an opinionated b*tch I am...=P That being said, do tell me more about it...

I wonder if Rent 2009 tour can make a stop in Manila? (Yeah, I'd watch again...and again)...

...as for now, "Let me entertain you..." LOL

[enteng.00]

Disney's Little Mermaid is THAT bad?! That's one of my favorite Disney Flicks - - in terms of music.

I chose not to watch Legally Blonde though people have said it was cute...There's just something about a dumb blonde flick that I'm not too keen on seeing on Broadway...hahaha...Such an opinionated b*tch I am...=P That being said, do tell me more about it...

I wonder if Rent 2009 tour can make a stop in Manila? (Yeah, I'd watch again...and again)...

...as for now, "Let me entertain you..." LOL

hahaha, may hang-over pa ako ni Patti from last night. SHE IS THE FREAKING GODDESS OF B R O A D W A Y !!!! I'm gonna post my picture with her here...haha, im super happy!

I'll be watching Legally Blonde tomorrow for one more time since it'll be the last 3 performances of Laura Bell Bundy.
LB The Musical surpassed all my expectations and survived my prejudices since the first time I saw it.

Little Mermaid sucks BIG TIME! Waste of money and time.

up and coming musical to watch for the coming season and in the TONY's of 2009 - [title of show]-The Musical....great reviews from major dailies including New York Times.

[diane15]

^ Ohhh Lucky! Post it! post it! hehe

anyways, yeah I've read that [title of show] is really good. I know nothing about it YET but it's starting to get my curiosity. hmmm..

and RENT will be touring next year? Ohh I wish they'd come to Manila *prays*
and sabi yung Last Performance daw ng Rent ay ipapalabas on big screen. (pssshh... I'm negative that they'd show it here though. duuhh lol)

[neth_row]

I've only recently got hooked with musicals. Among the ones I've watched:

Monty Python's Spamalot (Las Vegas)
Avenue Q (Manila)
Wicked! (Los Angeles)
Legally Blonde (Broadway)
Hairspray (Broadway)
The Phantom of the Opera (Las Vegas)

Wicked! is my favorite.

[TimeNow]

My favourite so far is Les Miserables! It's just so grand and I love love love the score and lyrics! It was a plus to see Lea play Fantine on Broadhurst Theatre.

I've also watched Miss Saigon and They're Playing Our Song in Manila and Avenue Q in John Golden Theatre.

I haven't watched Wicked, but I love For Good and of course, Defying Gravity. It's always sold out!

Haven't watched any of the Disney produced musicals on Broadway but I am gonna be first in line when they finally show The Hunchback of Notre Dame. When I was watching the film a few months back, naisip ko talaga na yung songs pa lang niya, talagang pang serious Broadway musical na (Out There, God Help the Outcasts, Hellfire etc...). Then again, it IS Stephen Schwartz, that's why is soooo good. I hope this project pushes thru. Idina Menzel can play Esmeralda...Hehe, pero the odds na Idina will headline another Stephen Schwartz musical...

[caryatid_kitten]

My favourite so far is Les Miserables! It's just so grand and I love love love the score and lyrics! It was a plus to see Lea play Fantine on Broadhurst Theatre.

I've also watched Miss Saigon and They're Playing Our Song in Manila and Avenue Q in John Golden Theatre.

OMG! I envy you. I left New York shortly before they were going to have that limited run of Les Miserables. Les Miz is a classic - - part of my top five, definitely Beautiful is the best word to describe the whole play itself. How was Lea as Fantine???

They're Playing Our Song was cute...I definitely enjoyed it. It's so simple, but the songs are so catchy. I have the both the original broadway cast and london cast albums on my IPOD. I actually liked this more than one of the Broadway show's I've seen recently.

Just a side note, I must say that the cast of Avenue Q Manila is very much comparable to the Broadway cast of Avenue Q. What makes the Broadway version "better" is the set, production, etc..Then again, you can't compare the two since Broadway IS Broadway and the Manila version was staged in a rather small theatre by a very young (but nonetheless, one of my favorite) theatre groups.