Best Musicals About America- Page 2
Best Musicals About America
MusicAngel
Stand-by Joined: 9/26/08
#26Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 12:50am
"Assassins and Ragtime are really the only two answers, I think. "
Seriously?
1776
Oklahoma
Hair
Ragtime
Rags
Music Man
West Side Story
In the Heights
And those are just the ones quoted on this thread.
Hi, Shirley Temple Pudding.
#27Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 1:35amThe Pulitzer Prize winning "Of Thee I Sing" comes to mind, as well as its less successful sequel "Let 'Em Eat Cake"
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#28Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 10:53amI can't believe no one mentioned Showboat - which chronicles 25 years of changes in American culture and values - all while telling a schmaltzy love story!
#29Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 11:00am
I like munkustrap's list, to which I would add
A Little Night Music
Kwamina
We Take The Town
First Impressions
Metro
The Baker's Wife
Lost In The Stars
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#30Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 11:01am
As jasonf said, to call "Assassins and Ragtime" it, is absolutely asinine.
TOns of shows deal with it, but if you had to say there was only ONE musical about America, it would e 1776. It's about writing the Declaration of Independence, which, correct me if I'm wrong, but we wouldn't even *have* an America without it.
And, while I think it makes a better album than show, The Civil War should count.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#31Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 11:24am
The Human Comedy
Anyone Can Whistle
Streets of New York
Side Show
Jesus Christ Superstar
With Irma you gotta do something!
#32Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 12:34pmFela!
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert
#33Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 12:39pmI have to add Parade and Scottsboro Boys to the list.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
wonkit
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
Mekroth
Broadway Star Joined: 2/23/08
#35Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 3:52pmAnd I'm going to add Fiorello! and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
MusicAngel
Stand-by Joined: 9/26/08
#36Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 4:16pm
Hmm.. suprised no one mentioned American Idiot. It certainly does describe America in the same direction as Urinetown does.
Updated On: 7/2/10 at 04:16 PM
#37Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 5:12pm
Human Comedy for the win.
I also have a soft spot for Assassins, 1600 Penns., Ragtime, Rags and Music Man
"There are only two worthwhile things to leave behind when we depart this world of ours: children and art."
-Sunday In The Park With George
Updated On: 7/2/10 at 05:12 PM
Q
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/05
#40Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 5:33pm
Caroline, or Change
Ragtime
Assassins
Parade
-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
#41Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 5:57pmBEN FRANKLIN IN PARIS described Franklin's visiting the king of France to get financial and moral support for the War of Independence. It starred Robert Preston who was his usual authoritative self and boasted a good score, helped by Jerry Herman. This 1964 musical flopped at 215 performances, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. And the sets and costumes were great.
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
#42Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 6:59pm
I adore Quilters!
Updated On: 7/2/10 at 06:59 PM
#43Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 7:55pmYa, even though Parade, if a part of America's dark past it is one of the best....And ofcourse Ragtime.
"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-
#44Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/2/10 at 7:58pmside note... I saw HAiR on the fourth last year, and everyone - cast and audience - cheered in "Going Down" when Berger says "it's like the fourth of July". It was very America pride-y.
"I've never encountered such religiously, you know, loyal fans as Broadway musical theater fans. It's amazing."
--Allison Janney
chewy5000
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/09
Hannahbelle
Understudy Joined: 9/20/08
#46Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/3/10 at 12:08am
If groups or subcultures of America count, lots of musicals could be included.
Rent, Avenue Q, Hairspray, Guys and Dolls, etc.
KT1385
Swing Joined: 6/28/10
#47Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/3/10 at 2:28amSTATE FAIR always seemed like an idyllic snapshot of mid-century Americana to me.
gypsy4
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/07
#49Best Musicals About America
Posted: 7/3/10 at 3:52am
How is "A Little NIght Music" about "America"? Some of these choices.. :-/.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
