The Reasons These Shows are My Favorite Broadway Musicals
I adore Broadway musicals. I admit it happily and freely with wild abandon. How do you choose which is your favorite Broadway musical, though?
For seven years, my husband and I took tour groups of students and families to New York. We thought it was a fitting way for our daughters to be introduced to the city if, in fact, they wanted to pursue a performing career.
Consequently, we saw many musicals while in NYC–twenty-one to be exact.
The Reasons These Shows are My Favorite Broadway Musicals
On occasion, people ask what are my favorite musicals which I especially enjoy attending. Here they are in no particular order:
The Phantom of the Opera ( I’ve seen Phantom at least four times. However, a gal I performed with in Columbia, MO had been part of the cast at one time and was able to take us backstage afterward.)
The Lion King (Took a tour and saw the costumes, masks and set up close and personal. Seen it twice–visually stunning.)
Wicked (We saw Wicked before it was popular and prior to the Tony awards. Got to see Kristen and Edina, too. I heard today Wicked has surpassed Phantom of the Opera as the second longest running musical on Broadway.) Read here:
Les Mis ( I have seen Les Mis several times, but one performance included my student Becca Ayers in the cast.)
The Drowsy Chaperone (I laughed and laughed. This is one I’d like to direct. It’s my kind of humor.)
Newsies (What can I say? It was as much fun to see our kids (with tears in their eyes and broad smiles) meeting the cast afterwards as it was to see the show.)
Oklahoma!, Revival (A fella, Justin Bohon, who I directed once in Music Man in Columbia, MO portrayed Will Parker. We were all so proud to be able to say we knew someone in the production.)
The Reasons These Shows are My Favorite Broadway Musicals
South Pacific, Revival (Again, Becca Ayers was in the show. Got to see Kelly O’Hara, too.)
Mary Poppins (Oh my gosh, Mary flew right over us at the end of the show. I wept.)
Rocky (Who’d think a musical about a boxer could be memorable? When the boxing ring was placed in the audience and Rocky boxed right in front of us, I was awe struck–so clever.)
Chicago (Our first tour was in March, less than a year after 9-11. I will never forget how anxious we felt touring NYC, but Chicago distracted us from our worries and assuaged our fears of being in the city. How? Long legged female dancers and fabulous music!)
Why do I label them Broadway musicals? Because it’s difficult to get your show to Broadway, like nearly impossible. If your show is a. good enough b. backed by solid producers and c. timely or universal you have more an a chance to get there. Just my opinion…..
Page to Stage Musical Lessons
I created a new series of Dramamommaspeaks products through Teacherspayteachers.com. They are called Page to Stage.
Our theatre and music students who follow Broadway, are familiar with the music of shows but not always the history of the musical’s origin, composer, or playwright. Plus, many of the most popular musicals are Tony Award winners. Students should be exposed to this information just as much as the music. Remember: lots of kids love theatre and music but can’t figure out how they can be involved in it if they aren’t a performer or techie.
Maybe your student is a composer or playwright?
Voila! Page to Stage
Each Musical Includes:
- Letter to Teacher
- Warm Up–MY Version of a Popular Physical Warm Up
- Teacher’s Script–what I say and how I say it!
- Photos from the Broadway Production
- Plot of the Musical
- History about the Origination of the Production
- Information concerning the composers and/or playwright
- Tony Awards it Received
- What are the Tony Awards
- New York City Map with Competing Theatres Labeled
- Student Note Page
- Teacher Note Page Key
- Trivia
- Quotes or Lyrics from the Musical–Good for Discussions and Assignments
- Extension Activities–Terrific Suggestions of Ways to Secure the Learning and Enrich the Experience
- Sources & Links to Film Clips from the Show
- And More!
SpongeBob SquarePants, the Musical
What musicals are your favorites? I love to hear about them.
Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net
If you are interested in advice about youth theater productions to direct, check out this post:https://wordpress.com/post/dramamommaspeaks.com/550
