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Posts Tagged ‘Broadway’

West Side Story has the music. Phantom of the Opera has the romance. Jersey Boys has the nostalgia. But Wicked has the fun.

By far, Wicked is the most enjoyable Broadway musical of all-time. It earned this title despite having a somewhat minor flaw. As a self-proclaimed theater buff I have to admit that if I was to list my ten favorite musical scores, Wicked’s would not make the cut.

Yes, Wicked’s music is only slightly above average.

However, if I had to make a list of the ten musicals I most wanted to see, either again or for the first time, Wicked would be number one with a bullet.

My thesis is proved 52 times a year. Just about every week Wicked is Broadway’s top grossing production-it regularly eclipses the $1.5 million mark. Not bad for a show that debuted on Broadway in October of 2003 to lukewarm reviews.

Below are ten reasons why Wicked is the most enjoyable musical of all-time. Is that an overstatement? It is if you haven’t seen the show. Fortunately for Wicked fans they can not only catch the musical at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway but via the National Touring Company as well.

1. Elphaba and Glinda’s Relationship
Elphaba and Glinda’s unique relationship is quite refreshing. They are not only rivals but best friends. And even though they are witches from a fictional world, their relationship is far more honest than those you’ll find in more realistic shows. Wherever you see Wicked you won’t be cheering for just one of the two witches, you’ll be cheering for both.

2. The Wizard of Oz Franchise
Long before our imaginations were captured by the Star Wars and Harry Potter franchises, they were captured by the Wizard of Oz franchise. Most of us know the story of the Wonderful Wizard and the Land of Oz through the 1939 movie starring Judy Garland. The movie was based on the 1900 book by L. Frank Baum. He continued to write about the Land of Oz for 13 more books. Wicked is taken from a parallel novel by Gregory Maguire that was published in 1995.

3. Movie References
The musical makes several references to events that transpired in the film. Sometimes the musical extrapolates while other times it adds back story. Sometimes the references are germane to the plot while other times the references are strictly for comedic purposes. Spotting them only adds to the show’s enjoyment.

4. “Popular”
The song “Popular” is Wicked’s version of “Master of the House.” It’s the song you won’t be able to get out of your head. It doesn’t matter if you hear the song on iTunes or live in a theater, you’ll be humming its ultra-catchy melody all the way home. The memorable tune appears in Act 1 when Glinda decides to give Elphaba a makeover.

5. Laughs
There’s no one character in Wicked that provides comic relief. Every character is funny. Wicked doesn’t stop being funny when the second act starts. The show is funny from start to finish. Wicked doesn’t rely solely on ironic references to the movie. The show creates genuinely funny moments.

6. Talking Animals
You gotta love talking animals. In Wicked, you have Doctor Dillamond. He’s a talking goat that teaches history at Shiz University. In fact, talking animals, or more precisely animals losing the ability to speak, is a major part of Wicked’s story. While he never speaks in the musical, the Cowardly Lion does make an appearance as a caged cub. It’s Wicked’s only use of gratuitous cuteness.

7. Great Names
Sure Tony and Marie are nice solid names. Yes, Christine Daae is elegant and Frankie Valli is cool, but nothing can touch the character names in Wicked. You’ve already been introduced to Elphaba and Glinda (who begins the movie as Galinda) but that’s just the tip of the witch’s hat. There’s Fiyero (Scarecrow), Madame Morrible, Nassarose, and Boq (Tin Woodman).

8. Green
Kermit the Frog sang how it’s not easy being green and the green thing never seemed to work for The Incredible Hulk. Yet despite their problems we still love them. The same can be said for Elphaba who also has green skin. Don’t worry if you’re watching the show off-Broadway

9. “Defying Gravity”
“Defying Gravity” is the show-stopping moment that ends Act I. And if the hairs on the back of your neck don’t stand up as Elphaba ascends over the stage then you should have your ticket to Wicked revoked. The “Defying Gravity” number is one of musical theater’s all-time greatest moments. If you’ve seen Wicked, whether on Broadway or in another city, you’ll know that’s not hyperbole.

10. Quality
Wicked isn’t the only “fun” Broadway musical. Rock of Ages, Legally Blonde, and Avenue Q are also a blast but you wouldn’t put them in the same category as West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, and Jersey Boys. Wicked belongs with those elite musical-dramas because besides the good times the show is a serious drama with a powerful message. It’s a high quality production that’s also a whole lot of fun.

Author Bio: Ryan Hogan writes for ClickitTicket.com, a website that sells inexpensive family show tour tickets such as Wicked tickets and Wicked Chicago tickets or Wicked Indianapolis tickets to any other Broadway show.

Article by Al Terry

Shrek the musical reviews proclaim Dreamworks Theatricals’ maiden Broadway venture as a fairly average production. This maiden venture is said to have been created at a budget of million. The sets of Shrek the Musical have been designed by Tim Hatley and bear clear evidence of this lofty price tag. The designs are a mixture of high-tech and old-style backdrops. Ornate style frames and pop-up picture book visuals combine with puppets and elaborate costumes to create a truly magical setting.

The play which is based on the 2001 animated movie version of a childrens’ story by William Steig is based on an ogre who lives in a swamp and falls in love with a Princess. While rescuing Princess Fiona from a tower, Shrek, the ogre comes to learn all about love and how people should not be judged on appearances alone. Read the rest of this entry »

Romanian born French playwright Eugene Ionesco died in 1994, but his musical Exit the King lives on, and is currently being played at the Barrymore Theatre on Broadway, in New York. Described as a “Loopy Tragedy” by the New York Post, this musical is far from traditional and definitely falls well within its given title of “absurdist.” The musical follows well in line with Ionesco’s other works, rejecting logical plot, character development, and thought to create an anarchic form that was completely his own; in this way making him a sort of Dr. Seuss for the adult theater-goers.

The musical tells the story of King Berenger who has lived an incredibly long life, but has somehow managed to ruin his entire country in the process. This king who once ruled and incredible kingdom that was thriving and brilliant is now only the ruler of a meager few thousand, and most of these are elderly or aging. Despite the fact that he has lived much longer than anyone really has a right to, this king is terrified of dying to the point where he refuses to believe the inevitable, at least at first.

Geoffrey Rush is currently brilliantly portraying this king, and doing a marvelous job at fraying at the edges as his kingdom frays around him. Rush is an Australian Academy Award and Emmy Award winning actor who has appeared in Shakespearean plays, he has also appeared in an number of Broadway plays and musicals and has an impressive movie character repertoire as well. His movie appearances include Captain Barbosa in the Pirates of the Carribean trilogy and Inspector Javert in Les Mis?rable. During his career he has won an Oscar, two Golden Globes, and a number of other important awards and nominations. His awards also include an Australian Academy Award and an Emmy Award.

Susan Sarandon is staring alongside Rush, playing the part of his wife Queen Marguerite, who is trying to shove the king into his grave, as he continues to try and thwart death. Sarandon’s incredible acting repertoire has stayed largely in the movies, although she has appeared on Broadway once before in An Evening With Richard Nixon and…a satirical play. In film Sarandon is an Academy Award-winning actress with an Oscar Award for Best Actress, and several Emmy and Oscar nominations to name only a few.

Exit the King tickets are tickets to one of the most incredible acting and theatrical experiences of the year. With two of today’s finest actors on the set, anything is possible and anything can and will happen! This is also a great way to experience the revival of a musical by one of the 21st Century’s greatest playwrights. Eug?ne Ionesco, whose plays were an iconic and important production of his time. His ability to fly in the face of convention has created stories and theatrical presentations that are increasingly relevant as the years go by. Look for tickets at http://www.stubhub.com/exit-the-king-broadway-tickets today!

Author Bio: This article was written by Phoebe Wickliffe and sponsored by StubHub. StubHub sells Exit the King Broadway tickets as well as many other kinds of sports tickets, concert tickets theatrical performances and special events.

There are few Americans that have not, at some point in their lives experienced the musical Annie, one of the most loveable stories ever to appear on stage. Few little girls have not, at some point in their lives, sung along with Annie as she raised her voice in song, singing the lyrics:
“It’s the hard-knock life for us
It’s the hard-knock life for us
No one cares for you asmidge
When you’re in an orphanage
It’s the hard-knock life…”

And for many singing along with Annie to the much more hopeful tune of “Tomorrow” is another rite of passage into the ranks of the American youth. The chorus is an especial favorite, when Annie sings:
“The sun’ll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
‘Til tomorrow
Come what may
Tomorrow! Tomorrow!
I love ya Tomorrow!
You’re always a day a way!”

The songs and music of this hit musical have been with us for over thirty years, and they do not seem to ever go fully out of style. The musical had its roots in the Union-Tribune Comic strip Little Orphan Annie that appeared in the ’60s and ’70s. In 1971 a collection of the comics was bought by lyricist and director Martin Charnin, who started to conceive of a musical comedy based on that very strip. Eventually he was able to convince librettist Thomas Meehan and the composer Charles Strouse to join him in his project, and Annie the musical was born.

These men were hard-pressed to get their musical onto a stage, as no producer believed that their project stood a chance of succeeding. But finally, they found a venue for the show at the Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, where Andrea McArdle was the first little girl to play the part of Annie. There it won the attention of Mike Nichols who decided to produce it on Broadway. It opened on Broadway on April 21, 1977 and that year won seven Tonys including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score. Annie was a big hit with theatre goers and has continued to be a theatre favorite today.

A sequel to Annie titled Annie 2: Miss Hannigan’s Revenge when it opened at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. but was later renamed simply Annie 2 when it moved on to the Goodspeed Opera House and while it was on national tour. When it moved to Broadway, it was again re-titled Annie Warbucks and won excellent reviews on Broadway.

Annie was first made into a movie in 1982, when it starred Aileen Quinn as Annie. The movie version was nominated for two Oscar Awards and three Golden Globes, Aileen won the Best Young Motion Picture Actress Award at the Young Artist Awards that year. A TV version was made in 1999, starring Alicia Morton as Annie.

Annie is currently on tour around the US, and can be seen in many cities throughout the mid-west and the east this winter and spring. Annie other cities tickets are now available at http://www.stubhub.com/annie-other-cities-tickets and are a great way to enjoy some wonderful entertainment with the whole family.

Author Bio: This article was written by Phoebe Wickliffe and sponsored by StubHub. StubHub sells Annie Other Cities tickets as well as many other kinds of sports tickets, concert tickets, theatrical performances and special events.