I think that the musical number "Vicious Cabaret" from V For Vendetta (the comic, not the movie) would make a really excellent part of a musical. Unless, of course, it already is, in which case I need to find the show that it's in.

The Nightmare Before Christmas probably would make for an interesting stage production. Disney actually does a really impressive job of turning their movies into stage productions, even for the stage productions in the parks.

Heck did anyone catch Lestat the musical? ....

I actually almost went to go see it and then I decided it sounded too scary and I let other people go for me. From what I understand the music is pretty good but the over all stage production sucked.

Many things have been made into stage musicals like Evil Dead, and The Lord of the Rings this does not mean they are actually good. I'm actually a little disappointed with musical theater lately. Although Wicked and Avenue Q were bright spots. I have a friend who swears by Boy from Oz, but that was pretty much driven by Hugh Jackman.

I keep hearing mixed things about The Color Purple. I'm not sure I'm ready for that though.

Acutally lately I've been getting a kick out of Forbidden Broadway. Forbidden Broadway is a show that basically rips on all the Broadway productions for the year, not to meantion performers and composers as well. I think my favorite Forbidden Broadway songs have been "Cheetah - Rita" (to the tune of America from Werst Side Story), and "I Sleep with Everyone" (to the tune of Love Changes Everything from Aspects of Love).

And just because I'm a geek, I have to say the magic otaku word: TAKARAZUKA.

(Watched my new copy of Elisabeth for New Year's Eve.  PANTS. ON. FIRE.)

And just because I'm a geek, I have to say the magic otaku word: TAKARAZUKA.

I've watched a few Takarazuka clips (Phantom, Utena, Sailor Moon, Singing In the Rain) and honestly I wasn't too impressed. I really tried to like the Utena musical but it just felt silly to me, I guess. But then again, watching a clip of a show never does it any justice. You have to see a show live to truly appreciate it. (If you watch a clip of Assassins, Sweeney Todd, Avenue Q, or Wicked on youtube you'll never see how amazing it is!) So I'm going to reserve my judgement for now. Hopefully someday I'll see a live Takarazuka show!

Emiemipoemi wrote:

I've watched a few Takarazuka clips (Phantom, Utena, Sailor Moon, Singing In the Rain) and honestly I wasn't too impressed. I really tried to like the Utena musical but it just felt silly to me, I guess. But then again, watching a clip of a show never does it any justice. You have to see a show live to truly appreciate it. (If you watch a clip of Assassins, Sweeney Todd, Avenue Q, or Wicked on youtube you'll never see how amazing it is!) So I'm going to reserve my judgement for now. Hopefully someday I'll see a live Takarazuka show!

Utena and Sailor Moon aren't actual Takarazuka shows, as an FYI.  Phantom... I'm actually pretty "enh" on Phantom, though Haruno Sumire is v. v. hot in it.

The thing that gets me most about Takarazuka is the gender play.  For instance, this song ("Yami Ga Hirogaru" from Elisabeth) is what hooked me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmq7Fw6TZvE

Two women, playing men, singing, dancing, and nearly kissing.  Um.  YES.

But it's true: some theatre just doesn't come across in recordings.

Last edited by tohubohu (01-04-2007 09:17:59 AM)

Emiemipoemi wrote:

I've watched a few Takarazuka clips (Phantom, Utena, Sailor Moon, Singing In the Rain) and honestly I wasn't too impressed. I really tried to like the Utena musical but it just felt silly to me, I guess.

Neither Utena nor Sailor Moon was real Takarazuka...actually...Sailor Moon wasn't even fake Takarazuka, there was plenty of guys in it.

But the clip that made me enjoy the Utena musical was Nanbito mo Kataru Koto Nashi. Touga sings his(her) own duel song and dances suggestively with the Shadow Girls!

tohubohu wrote:

The thing that gets me most about Takarazuka is the gender play.  For instance, this song ("Yami Ga Hirogaru" from Elisabeth) is what hooked me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmq7Fw6TZvE

Two women, playing men, singing, dancing, and nearly kissing.  Um.  YES.

But it's true: some theatre just doesn't come across in recordings.

Oh my goodness, I can't stop watching it. Utterly amazing. Ahh. I...I....

I really need to look into Takarazuka more.

I'm in awe that those women can sing that low for that long and not blow their vioces!

(Has been looking up Elisabeth and watching clip of it. I like it more than the other things I've seen!)

I've never seen a live musical, but there are a few I would like to see. I would really like to see Wicked because I just adore the music . I like the original Producers, but I didn't like the new version. There was no LSD and that made me a sad panda.  As far as musical movies go, I've always liked The Music Man and Easter Parade.

For those entertained by the Elisabeth clip to which I posted a link, I've actually put together the "YouTube Elisabeth" in a post on my LJ here: http://heavenscalyx.livejournal.com/991249.html

Alas, some of the clips have been removed since I did this, but persist.  There's a bunch of good ones there.

Many of my public posts are links to Takarazuka clips that blow my mind.

Want SO MUCH to see this live.

Reefer Madness is WONDERFUL. And so it Alan Cummings.

I just recently saw Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I'm absolutely in love with the music.

Anyone here a Les Miz fan? Been listening to a lot of that lately too!

I love Les Miz. It's an interesting show. It's becuase of that show I made an attempt to read the novel when I was in 7th grade...unabridged. Let's just say I made it just to the point where Jean Val Jean mets Cosette's mother and then gave up. I haven't had the heart to try and pick it up again. I really should though. It disappointed me that I never finished the novel just because I got through The Phantom of the Opera with out any trouble at all. I must have read that book fifty times .

There's a Forbidden Broadway collection of songs spoofing Les Mis. My favorite of which is "I dreamed a show" (to the melody of I dreamed a Dream) which speaks of the change in trends in Broadway. There is is also "Bring it Down" (the the melody Bring him home) in which the Jean Val Jean actor pleads for the key to be brought down.

Oh hey looky lyrics:

I Dreamed A Show

There was a time when show were fun
And they used bright lighting
And the shows weren't so long
And the songs weren't so biting
There was a time then it all went wrong

I dreamed a show in time gone by
When all the scenery looked so pretty
I didn't sing one song then die
And all my costumes weren't so gritty

I did a tap dance and I smiled
And pathos wasn't over stated
My lips were red, my hair was styled
I didn't act so constipated

But now that misery's in style
It's artistic if you suffer
So they tore my dress apart
And the chorus girls walked lame

I dreamed a show in days gone by
Neil Diamond didn't sing my hit song
A pretty girl they'd glorify
And act one wasn't so damn long

Come watch us grovel in the dirt
Then by a souvineer then dawn it
Rich folks py twenty bucks a shirt
That has a starving pauper on it

I dreamed a show of days gone by
When all the sets weren't piles of rubble
I didn't have to belt high E
And be as miserable as me

Last edited by Alithea (01-06-2007 02:27:30 PM)

I just watched a few clips of Forbidden Broadway. I'd never seen it before! I liked it.

puella_nerdii wrote:

And a lot of the musicals that Bob Fosse was involved with somehow rock. Mmm, Chicago and Cabaret.

That is because he is AMAZING.

Whenever my mother gets into a mood, she rents "Fosse" (a compilation performance of all of his best numbers, basically) from the library and watches it over and over again--I almost look forward to those times, because his choreography is just so neat.


Also, basically all I have been doing for the past two days is watching Takarazuka numbers. Over and over again. ALL THE TIME. Thanks a lot, tohubohu. This is definitely all your fault.