1. Songs For A New World - Jason Robert Brown
I’ll begin with a personal favourite of mine: Jason Robert Brown’s Songs For A New World. As I have previously mentioned in my last post, this is not exactly a musical as it is a song revue. Each song is a new story with new characters even though there are only four performers in the original 1997 cast recording.
It begins with an overture-esque opening, The New World, in which all the performers are singing and presenting multiple characters hinting references to stories to come.
If you ever find any venue presenting this production I would recommend wholeheartedly seeing it, whether it is a professional production or an amateur musical society. My first experience with it was being suggested to perform the number She Cries which interested me into looking into all of the show with a great passion.
My first real listening was of the original 1997 cast recording. Find that recording, close your eyes and be bombarded by the emotional stories in Surabaya Santa, The Steam Train, The World Was Dancing and I’m Not Afraid Of Anything and the rest of the soundtrack.
Here's a sweet taste of Just One Step:
2. Into The Woods - Stephen Sondheim
An all time Sondheim classic taking a massive twist of classic fairytales including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and more. Into The Woods links and mashes three core fairytales in a tragic all-too hilarious show.
The 2014 movie version starring the likes of Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, Johnny Depp and many more is a good one to look at if you're looking to watch with children. However, changes were made to match the cinema dynamic.The original 1986 stage version, gives you the real deal unless you see it live, with full blown innuendos, costumes and talent from the queen of musical theatre, Bernadette Peters, as the Witch.
Songs like Agony have a different tone to in the original, though I will give Chris Pine props for his performance which was perfect for the film. Hello, Little Girl is drastically different in the film as it had to be made appropriate in the fact that they actually made Red Riding Hood a child whereas in the stage version the actress is in her twenties, thus the song is actually much more sexual on stage. Just check out the fantastic wolf costume as proof of the sexuality imprinted in the stage production.
Here's a look at the original 1986 and new 2014 Hello, Little Girl's. The difference is huge.
1986
2014
3. Les Miserables - Andrew Lloyd Webber
If you’ve seen the film version of recent years I fully recommend getting more of the experience seeing it on stage. I saw a very well done amateur production about a year ago and was thoroughly impressed by their set and the performance of the leads.
There’s so much to do on stage and I was curious about how they would go about the barricade and the bridge suicide. To the left of the audience there was a small bridge beside the orchestra where Inspector Javert hung holding on in front fell off the stage. He didn’t duck behind anything, he FELL off the stage. Intentionally, of course, but he had me on the edge of my seat. Obviously he had cushioning but it was so unexpected at the time.
With classic songs by the great ALW including numbers as Castle On A Cloud and I Dreamed A Dream. If you want another true classic but one of utter tragedy then this is the one for you. Whether you are interested or not I would highly recommend Les Mis as just a bit of cultural experience. If you’re hooked you also might be interested in reading the original book, though it is not for light readers.
One Day More - Australian Production 2014
On My Own - Film 2012
4. Repo! The Genetic Opera
So far I have only mentioned musicals meant for stage but now I’d like to recommend a musical that is only a film. Repo! is a rock horror musical which takes place in a future where your organs can be repossessed like a car or any other property. Starring Anthony Stewart Head (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Merlin) in an amazing rockstar role as the infamous Repoman.
A very dark themed film with low-mid level gore in surgical scenes such as Night Surgeon and Thankless Job. I would not recommend this if you're squeamish and do not watch with children.
Thankless Job
CAUTION: Not for kids
5. Little Shop of Horrors - Alan Menken
Little Shop of Horrors - Little Shop of Horrors 1986
6. Hairspray
As a final musical to recommend there is lastly Hairspray. Now the original 1988 film is not actually a musical but still worth looking at for some contrast to the 2007 film/stage show that I am actually recommending. I can’t remember which order I viewed these in but they are both worth the watch. Personally, the 2007 version was a much more fun watch.
The original film is recommended for the deeply interested and the remake musical for a lighthearted story about a progressive teenager, Tracy Turnblad. Including themes tackling the issues of racism and segregation in the 60s as well as possessing a killer soundtrack I would highly recommend this with the previously mentioned shows.
Run And Tell That - Hairspray (2007)
There are so many musicals I could recommend that are incredibly entertaining. These are among some that are not as sappy as some make out musicals to be. There are the sappy, overacted musicals and if you are interested in finding them look into Gilbert & Sullivan. If you are further interested I would also recommend the following stage/film/TV special/parody musicals and concept albums.
The Book of Mormon - Stage
Avenue Q - Stage
The Phantom of the Opera - Stage + Film (1986)
The Mikado - Stage
The Nightmare Before Christmas - Film (1993)
Rent - Stage + Film (2005)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Stage + Film (2007)
The Wedding Singer - Stage + Film (1998)
Footloose - Stage + Film (1984)
Chicago - Stage + Film (2002)
Sunday In The Park With George - Stage (1984)
Jekyll And Hyde - Stage
The Last Five Years - Stage + Film (2014)
Oklahoma - Stage (1999)
Sweet Charity - Stage + Film (1969)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show - Stage + Film (1975)
Jesus Christ Superstar
Psych: The Musical - TV Musical Length Special (Season 8 of Psych)
Team Starkid
- A Very Potter Musical - Parody
- A Very Potter Sequel - Parody
- A Very Potter Senior Year - Parody
- Me And My Dick
- Starship
- Twisted - Parody
Queensrÿche’s Operation: Mindcrime - Concept Album (1988)
Devin Townsend’s Ziltoid The Omniscient + Z2 - Concept Albums (2007, 2015)
The Dear Hunter
- Act I: The Lake South, The River North (2005)
- Act II: The Meaning Of And All Things Regarding Ms. Leading (2007)
- Act III: Life And Death (2009)
- Act IV: Rebirth In Reprise (2015)
- Act V + Act VI (In Production)
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