# Your favorite musical. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766 "2012-10-05T02:08:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mewl\_Dear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mewl\_Dear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mewl_Dear)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/1 "2012-10-05T02:08:46Z")
I would guess this has been done before. Jesus Christ Superstar and The Wall come to mind. ---
**Author:** ![CyclopticXander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@CyclopticXander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyclopticXander)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/2 "2012-10-05T02:30:42Z")
I doubt I’ll ever adore a musical as much as Chess, and it’s criminally overlooked. [Chess In Concert: Live From Royal Albert Hall Trailer - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lddMjq_bgg) Here’s a trailer for the best production of it, and really the first to even do the show justice. ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/3 "2012-10-05T02:38:29Z")
Are you talking about movie musicals or musicals that originated on the stage? Movies: It’s a cliche, but **Singin’ in the Rain**. Runners-up: **The Band Wagon** and **On the Town**. Stage: **Guys and Dolls**. Runners-up: **Parade** and **Avenue Q**. Also, an honorable mention for **Brigadoon**. The show itself is soul-crushingly boring, but I love the music. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/4 "2012-10-05T02:45:51Z")
> [@CyclopticXander](#): > > I doubt I’ll ever adore a musical as much as Chess, and it’s criminally overlooked. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lddMjq\_bgg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lddMjq_bgg) Here’s a trailer for the best production of it, and really the first to even do the show justice. OK, now I totally want to see that. I’m too young to have caught Chess when it came out, and as you say, it’s underlooked, not often done and I’ve never heard of a production in my area in time to see it. ☹ I can’t answer this question. My backspace key is going to wear out if I keep trying and correcting myself. The most I’ve ever enjoyed myself at a show? That’d be a local dinner theater production of Song and Dance (another underlooked one, IMHO.) The one I’ve seen the most and spent the most money to see repeatedly in different cities? Les Mis. The only one I loved enough to audition for at a professional level (and fail miserably, I knew I never had a shot, but I had to try)? Rent Favorite musical made for movies? Moulin Rouge Favorite movie production of a stage musical? The King and I Favorite you’ve-never-heard-of-it musical? Hero Favorite internet musical? Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog Favorite musical to be in? Jesus Christ Superstar …wait, no, Hair…wait, no, Grease …arrrgh! ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/5 "2012-10-05T02:47:24Z")
Not really a fan of the form, honestly, but there will always be a soft spot in my heart for _ **My Fair Lady** _–I saw it on TV as a little kid and fell in love and always will be. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/6 "2012-10-05T03:11:08Z")
Hard to choose just one, but for a stage musical, it’s currently **The Drowsy Chaperone**. Movie is, of course, **Singin’ in the Rain.** ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/7 "2012-10-05T12:56:02Z")
I can narrow it down to 3: \*Funny Girl My Fair Lady West Side Story \* ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/8 "2012-10-05T13:02:24Z")
Toss-up between _Hedwig and the Angry Inch_ or _South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut_. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/9 "2012-10-05T13:15:41Z")
> [@Mewl\_Dear](#): > > I would guess this has been done before. > Jesus Christ Superstar and The Wall come to mind. I don’t think of The Wall as a musical, and I’m going to keep right on not thinking it…otherwise that would make this question even harder! Movie musicals, I’ve got a soft spot for the 1980’s version of Little Shop of Horrors (though I lived and breathed Grease for several of my formative years). Stage musicals, I’ll give it to Book of Mormon at this time. I saw it last spring on Broadway, and I have the soundtrack on my iPod. Yes, I am working out at the gym to Hasa Diga Ebowai. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/10 "2012-10-05T13:34:30Z")
The wife’s favorite _Jesus Christ Superstar_, closely followed by _West Side Story_. Mine is either _The Music Man_ or _Camelot_. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/11 "2012-10-05T14:39:53Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > OK, now I totally want to see that. I’m too young to have caught Chess when it came out, and as you say, it’s underlooked, not often done and I’ve never heard of a production in my area in time to see it. ☹ _Chess_ has a pretty convoluted history, as I understand it. I think it was originally performed just as a concert, not a fully-staged musical, and released on record. Then it was significantly changed and ran on Broadway. I remember reading that there are (or at some point were) competing interests between the two versions that keep it from being performed more. I saw a touring production in 1990 that I rather liked. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/12 "2012-10-05T15:02:27Z")
I’ve seen five or six stage productions of _ **Tommy** _, so I guess that would be my fave. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/13 "2012-10-05T15:48:18Z")
Does Rocky Horror Picture Show count? If so, that’s the one. If not, it would be my second favorite, Grease. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/14 "2012-10-05T15:59:52Z")
**Cabaret** …both stage and movie version - was quite good. **Chorus Line** was great on Broadway, but the movie version sucked on every level and the producers of that film should be shot. ---
**Author:** ![Gabing\_Gaboing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b38774/32.png) [@Gabing\_Gaboing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gabing_Gaboing)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/15 "2012-10-05T16:08:13Z")
I have to say that \*\*Wicked \*\* was the best musical I have ever seen. I also love **Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat** and **Rent**. Has anyone ever seen **Once**? The song from the Tonys made me think I would really like it too. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/16 "2012-10-05T16:10:05Z")
I’m going to steal some of **WhyNot** ’s breakout categories, for the same reason – no way to answer otherwise… The most I’ve ever enjoyed myself at a show? Front row, Rent, NYC, when Idina Menzel gave me a wink during curtain call. The one I’ve seen the most and spent the most money to see repeatedly in different cities? Les Miserables. Seen it in NYC, DC, San Francisco, Miami. Favorite musical made for movies? Meet Me in St Louis. I can’t explain it. But I love this movie. Favorite movie production of a stage musical? The Sound of Music. Favorite you’ve-never-heard-of-it musical? The King of Hearts. Favorite internet musical? Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog Favorite “old school” musical? My Fair Lady Favorite tap musical? 42nd Street Favorite general dance? West Side Story Favorite musical to be in? Show Boat - I was Windy the riverboat pilot. Good role for me, since I sing in the key of ‘off’ and Windy has no musical numbers. Musical season I’d produce and direct at the local dinner theater I buy after hitting the lottery: Working Sunday in the Park with George The King of Hearts Wicked Avenue Q Aspects of Love Chess ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/17 "2012-10-05T16:14:43Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > _Chess_ has a pretty convoluted history, as I understand it. I think it was originally performed just as a concert, not a fully-staged musical, and released on record. Then it was significantly changed and ran on Broadway. I remember reading that there are (or at some point were) competing interests between the two versions that keep it from being performed more. > > I saw a touring production in 1990 that I rather liked. It was a full stage production when I saw it in London, one week after the opening, but Misters Andersson/Ulvaeus/Price might very well have fiddled around with it after that (I don’t remember). ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/18 "2012-10-05T16:16:25Z")
1. _West Side Story_ 2. Tie: _Guys & Dolls_ and _1776_ 3. _Chess_ (the UK cast recording version) 4. _Wicked_ There are many other shows that I love, but these are the ones I’ve listened to the most over the years. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > _Chess_ has a pretty convoluted history, as I understand it. That’s my understanding, too. The performance in **CyclopticXander** ’s link – in concert at the Royal Albert Hall – is supposedly Tim Rice’s ultimate version: it combines elements of the UK and US versions (and gave me an appreciation for Josh Groban’s voice that I didn’t have before), plus I think there’s some new stuff. It renders The American completely toothless, though, which makes me hate it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/19 "2012-10-05T16:19:37Z")
I can’t possibly pick just one! :eek: Teen years: Camelot and West Side Story. In my 20’s: Jesus Christ Superstar and Cabaret. Well, that’s four, best I can winnow them down. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766/20 "2012-10-05T17:57:54Z")
Overall favorite: West Side Story Best “small” show: The Fantasticks Most compelling characters/drama/dialog in a musical that also has good music: A Chorus Line Best newish show: Spring Awakening Best integration of all the elements of a musical into storytelling: Les Mis (particularly the first half… the second half degenerates somewhat into a sequence of soliloquies in song form, less interesting to me than the way the action moves from sequence to sequence so seamlessly in the first half) Honorable mention: Rent [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-musical/636766.md?page=2)