Professional Documents
Culture Documents
AnnieGetYourGun
MusicandLyrics:IrvingBerlin
Book:DorothyandHerbertFields
Director:JoshuaLogan
Choreographer:HelenTamiris
Otherworks:
CallMeMadam
HolidayInn
WhiteChristmas
WatchYourStep
Stop!Look!Listen!
TheCenturyGirl
Yip!Yip!Yaphank
ZiegfeldFolliesof1919
TheCocoanuts
FacetheMusic
AsThousandsCheer
LouisianaPurchase
ThisistheArmy
MissLiberty
Mr.President
Sourceofstory:
ThelifeofAnnieOakley
Yearopened:1946
Where:ImperialTheatreinNYC
Roles:
AnnieOakleyEthelMerman&BernadettePeters
FrankMiddletonRayMiddleton&TomWopat
DollyTateLeaPenman&ValerieWright
TommyKeelerKennethBowers&AndrewPalermo
WinnieTateBettyAnneNyman&NikkiSnelson
RepertoireSongs:
IGotLostInHisArms
GottheSunintheMorning
YouCantGetaManwithaGun
Thoughts:
(Ilistenedtothe1999revival)Ihavelistenedtothetypicalsongsfromthismusical,No
BusinessandAnythingYouCanDobutthisisthefirsttimeIlistenedtoallofthesongs.I
mustsaythatthismusicalhasalotofgreatmusicinit.MorethanIexpected.Theorchestration
isbeautiful,especiallyinMyDefensesAreDownItdoesalottohelptheactoractthesong
withallthemusicalitygoingoninbetweenphrases.
2.FinniansRainbow
Composer:BurtonLane
Lyricist:E.Y.Harburg
Book:E.Y.HarburgandFredSaidy
Director:BretaigneWindust
Choreographer:MichaelKidd
OtherWorks:
BurtonLane
EarlCarrollsVanities
SinginTheBlues
HoldOntoYourHats
LaffingRoomOnly
OnaClearDayYouCanSeeForever
Carmelina
E.Y.Harburg
HoorayforWhat
HoldOntoYourHats
BloomerGirl
Flahooley
Jamaica
TheHappiestGirlintheWorld
DarlingoftheDay
Source:
OriginalStory
YearOpened:1947
Where:46thStreetTheatre,NYC
Roles:
SusanMahoneyAnitaAlvarez
SharonMcLonerganEllaLogan
WoodyMahoneyDonaldRichards
RepertoireSongs:
HowAreThingsinGloccaMora
Thoughts:
Thiswasaninterestingmusical.Themixofmusicstylesmadeitcaptivatingtolistento.
ThemixbetweentheclassicirishstyleandR&BandGospelmadeitunique.Iwouldlovetosee
thismusicalinproductions,especiallythepartwheretheSenatoristurnedintoaBlackman.
Thereareveryfewsongsinthismusical,only13.
3.KissMeKate
ComposerandLyricist:ColePorter
Book:SamuelandBellaSpewack
Director:JohnC.Wilson
Choreographer:HanyaHolm
OtherWorks:
ColePorter
AnythingGoes
HighSociety
CanCan
HappyNewYear
SilkStockings
MexicanHayride
SomethingfortheBoys
LetsFaceIt!
PanamaHattie
LeaveittoMe
YouNeverKnow
Source:
Shakespeares
TamingoftheShrew
YearOpened:1948
Where:NewCenturyTheatre
Roles:
LoisLaneLisaKirk
BillCalhounHaroldLang
RepertoireSongs:
IHateMen
WhyCantYouBehave
SoInLove
Thoughts:
Thishastobeoneofmyfavoritemusicals.Ilovethemusicinitbecauseoftheswitch
betweenintheplayandoutoftheplay.Itisbeautifullyorchestratedandtheorchestrationpairs
sowellwiththelyrics.Ithelpsliftthemeaningofthewordsandreallydoesagreatjobof
transportingyouintotheworldofthemusical.
4.PalJoey
Composer:RichardRodgers
Lyricist:LorenzHart
Book:JohnOHara
Director:GeorgeAbbott
Choreographer:RobertAlton
OtherWorks:
RichardRodgers:
TheBoysFromSyracuse
TooManyGirls
ByJupiter
Oklahoma!
Carousel
StateFair
Allegro
SouthPacific
TheKingandI
TheSoundofMusic
LorenzHart:
BabesInArms
TheBoysFromSyracuse
OnYourToes
"
AShipWithoutaSail
"
"
Bewitched,Bothered,andBewildered
"
"
BlueMoon
"
"
BlueRoom
"
"
DancingontheCeiling
"
"
FallinginLovewithLove
"
"
GladtoBeUnhappy
"
"
HaveYouMetMissJones?
"
"
HeWasTooGoodtoMe
"
Source:
ThismusicalwasbasedoffacharacterandsituationsthatOHaracreatedinshort
storiesthatwerepublishedinTheNewYorker.
YearOpened:1940
Where:EthelBarrymoreTheatre
Roles:
JoeyEvansGeneKelley
LindaEnglishLeilaErnst
GladysBumbsJuneHavoc
MelbaSnyderJeanCasto
RepertoireSongs:
WhatIsAMan
Bewitched,Bothered,andBewildered
PlantYouNow,DigYouLater
TakeHim
Thoughts:
ThelyricsinthismusicaliseverythingIwouldexpectfromHart.Everythingisvery
symbolic,evokessomuchimagery,andissoromantic.TheFlowerGardenOfMyHeartisa
bigexampleofthis.Thelyricsarepoetrywhichisnotsomethingthatcanbeseeninalotof
contemporarymusic,whichiswhyIenjoyoldermusicalssomuch.Themelodylinesarealsoso
simplealotofthetime,whereastheorchestrationissogrand.
5.TheCradleWillRock
Music,Lyrics,andBook:MarcBlitzstein
Director:OrsonWelles
Choreographer:N/A
OtherWorks:
TheSpanishEarth
AnotherPartoftheForest
Regina
Reuben,Reuben
Juno
Source:
InspiredbyBrechtsstyleoftheatre,itisanallegoryofcorruptionandcorporategreed.
Inspiredbythesocietyinthetimeofwhenitwaswritten.
YearOpened:1937
Where:VeniceTheatre
Roles:
MollOliveStanton
JuniorMisterMaynardHolmes
SisterMisterDulceFox
EllaHammerBlancheCollins
SadiePolockMarianRudley
RepetoireSongs:
NickleUnderTheFoot
Thoughts:
ItverymuchremindedmeofoneofBrechtsplays.Themusicespeciallyremindedmeof
ThreepennyOpera.IenjoyedlisteningtothismusicalthoughIwouldhaveratherseenitin
productionbutthethingsthatwerehappeningbetweenthevocalsandthepianowere
interestingtolistento.Ilovedhowinthegroupnumberstherewasalotofspeakinginrhythm
andthepianowouldjustpoundorgooffonitsownlittlejourney.Ifeellikethemusicinthisplay
didagreatjobofcapturingthethemesinthewritingoftheplay.
6.TakeMeAlong
ComposerandLyricist:BobMerrill
Book:JosephSteinandRobertRussell
Director:PeterGlenville
Choreographer:OnnaWhite
OtherWorks:
NewGirlInTown
Hello,Dolly!
Carnival!
FunnyGirl
BreakfastatTiffanys
Source:
EugeneONeills
Ah,Wilderness
.
YearOpened:1959
Where:ShubertTheatre
Roles:
ArthurMillerJamesCresson
RichardMillerRobertMorse
MurielMacomberSusanLuckey
RepertoireSongs:
None
Thoughts:
TheorchestrationisnotascomplexassomeoftheothermusicalsthatIhavelistenedto
fromthisera.ItalsodoesnotweaveasnicelywiththemelodyasothersbutIlovewhatitdoes
do.Itgivesthemelodysomethingnicetostandonsothatyoucanreallyplayupthelyricsand
themeaningofthesongs(thisisnotforeverysongbutforamajority).Therewerealotof
melodiesthatwereveryfamiliartomebutIhaveneverheardanysongfromthismusicalbefore
soitmustbeusedinalotofpopculture.
7.SomethingRotten
ComposerandLyrics:KareyandWayneKirkpatrick
Book:JohnOFarrellandKareyKirkpatrick
DirectorandChoreographer:CaseyNicholaw
OtherWorks:
Karey:
JamesandtheGiantPeach
ChickenRun
TheHitchhikersGuidetotheGalaxy
OvertheHedge
Wayne:
Hitsongwriterfor:
LittleBigTime
FaithHill
GarthBrooks
Sources:
ThestoryfollowstheBottomBrothers(fictionalcharacters)whoarecompetingwriters
withShakespeare(nonfictionalcharacter).
YearOpened:2015
Where:St.JamesTheatre
Roles:
NigelBottomJohnCariani
PortiaKateReinders
RepertoireSongs:
RightHandMan
Thoughts:
ThismusicalremindsmeofTheProducersandSpamalot.Itissocheesyandcampy,I
loveit.Ienjoyedhowtheymixedcontemporarymusicwithtraditionalrenaissancesounds.Itis
incrediblewhattheydidmakingShakespeareapompousrockstarbecausethatisalwayshowI
imaginedhiminmymind.Iwasjustcampyandalotoffun.Notalotofsubstance.
8.FunHome
Composer:JeanineTesori
LyricsandBook:LisaKron
Director:SamGold
Choreography:DannyMefford
OtherWorks:
JeanineTesori:
TwelfthNight
Caroline,orChange
ShrektheMusical
ThoroughlyModernMillie
Violet
LisaKron:
2.5MinuteRide
Well
InTheWake
Sources:
AlisonBechdels2006graphicnovelmemoir,
FunHome.
YearOpened:2015
Where:CircleintheSquareTheatre
Roles:
MediumAlisonEmilySkeggs
JoanRobertaColindrez
RepertoireSongs:
ChangingMyMajor
Thoughts:
Ilovethatthismusicalreusessongsthroughoutthemusical.Itgivesthecharactersa
chancetoshowtheirgrowthwhentalkingaboutthesamesubject.Ialsolovethedramaofthis
musical.Somanypeopleonlyknowthecampymusicalsandassumethatjustbecauseashow
hasmusicthatitlackssubstanceandthatissimplynottrue.Justasmusicalscanmakeyou
laughandentertainyou,theycanmakeyoucryandfeelsorrowandthink!Thisisoneofthose
musicals.
9.SchoolofRock
Composer:AndrewLloydWebber
Lyricist:GlennSlater
Book:JulianFellowes
OtherWork:
AndrewLloydWebber:
Evita
Cats
PhantomoftheOpera
SunsetBlvd
GlennSlater:
TheLittleMermaid
SisterAct
LoveNeverDies
Sources:
ThemovieTheSchoolofRockstarringJackBlack.
YearOpened:2015
Where:WinterGardenTheatre
Roles:
RosalieMullinsSierraBoggess
PattyMamieParris
RepertoireSongs:
WhereDidtheRockGo?
GiveUpYourDreams
Thoughts:
IhadsuchhighexpectationsforthismusicalbecausethemovieissogoodandIwould
saytheyalmostliveduptothem.ThecharacterMissMullins,Iwasnotveryimpressedwithher
songwhenshehadachangeofheart.Iwouldhavelovedforittohavebeenallanepicrock
songbecauseshehadsucharockerinsideofherinthemovie.ThatistheproblemIthinkwhen
takingmoviesthatdidwellandputtingthemonstage.Theloversofthemovieshavesomany
expectationsthatarehardtoliveupto.IwouldnothaveexpectedAndrewLloydWebbertodo
sucharockmusicaleitherbuttherearelotsofWebberesquemusicalitiesinit.
10.Waitress
ComposerandLyricist:SaraBareilles
Book:JessieNelson
Director:DianePaulus
Choreographer:ChaseBrock
OtherWorks:
LoveSong
Source:
BasedonthemotionpictureWaitresswrittenbyAdrienneShelly
YearOpened:2015
Where:BrooksAtkinsonTheatre
Roles:
JennaJessieMueller
RepertoireSongs:
DoorNumberThree
WhenHeSeesMe
NeverGettingRidOfMe
IDidntPlanIt
Thoughts:
SaraBareillasissuchabeautifulsongwriterbutIdidnotknowwhattoexpectwhenI
heardshewaswritingsongsforamusical.Ishouldhaveknownshewouldwritejust
how
shealwaysdoesbutitmakesabeautifulmusical.Thelyricsallhavesuchdepthin
meaningandeachsongmeanssomethinggrandiosethatwouldlendreallywellto
acting.Iwouldlovetoseethismusicalinproduction.IcanonlyimagineJessieMueller
doesitsomuchjusticesinceshedidanamazingjobinBeautiful.
11.Now.Here.This.
ComposerandLyricist:JeffBowen
Book:HunterBellandSusanBlackwell
DirectorandChoreographer:MichaelBerresse
OtherWorks:
[TitleofShow]
Source:
Originalcollaboration
YearOpened:2012
Where:VineyardTheatre
Roles:
Allfourroles
RepertoireSongs:
GiveMeYourAttention
ThatllNeverBeMe
ThisTime
Thoughts:
ThisismorelikeasongcyclelikeEdgesorSongsforaNewWorld.Itisdifferentfrom
[TitleofShow]butinthebestway.IthinkThisTimeismyfavorite(solo)songinthewhole
showbecausethemusicissobeautifulbutalsobecausethelyricsaresorelatableand
universal.Everyonehashadthesethoughtsonetimeintheirlife.ThismightbewhyIenjoythis
musicalsomuch.Ithasitsfunnycutesysongsbuttherearealwayssongsthatpeoplecan
relatetoonapersonalexperientiallevelthatgivesthismusicalsomuchdepth.
12.Marguerite
Composer:MichelLegrand
Lyricist:AlainBoublilandHerbertKretzmer
Book:AlainBoublil,ClaudeMichelSchonberg,andJonathanKent
Director:JonathanKent
Choreographer:???
OtherWorks:
MichelLegrand:
Amour
AlainBoublil:
LesMis
MissSaigon
MartinGuerre
ThePirateQueen
HerbertKretzmer
LesMis
OurManCrichton
Source:
Basedontheromanticnovel
LaDameauxCamliasbyAlexandreDumas.
YearOpened:2011
Where:TheMillTheatreinGuildford,UK
Roles:
AnnetteAnnaleneBeechey
LucienMattCross
PierrotSimonThomas
RepertoireSongs:
ChinaDoll
TheFaceISee
Thoughts:
IhaveneverbeenafanofthetypesofmusicalslikeLesMisandMissSaigonand
Margueritehasverymuchthesametypeofmusicalstyle.Ienjoyedthemusicalatthe
beginningbutthenbecausethewholeconceptrevolvedaroundParisduringtheGerman
occupation,themusicshifteddramaticallyfrompartytodepressing,whichmadetheeventsgo
byveryslowly.IamsureIwillhaveadifferentopinionifIameverabletoseeaproduction.