BROADWAY BREAKDOWN- Part two

Now, you can see a musical about why it sucked so much. The whole concept of the musical is going through the stereotypes and the minefield that is; HIGHSCHOOL. The characters are interesting and poignant, it’ll make you grateful that you don’t have to relieve the past. Also the young talent- very impressive.

Synopsis:
A musical about the angst and unintended comedy of being 13.

Billy Elliot

I just watched areally interesting special about the whole Billy Elliot casting process. The interesting thing is that these kids in Billy Elliot are right in that “growth-spurt-puberty” stage, which means little Billy could be all small and boy like one day and then pimply and cracking the next. Needless to say, these are short lived roles. If you’re familiar with the movie you know how touchign this story is, it’s even better on Broadway.

Synopsis:
Based on the hit film of the same name, this is the story of a boy who wants to be a ballet dancer, even though his father wants him to box.

Hairspray

But, people love it. The “motion in the ocean” song really gets your head bobbin’ and your feet tappin. I’ts a favorite amongst young and old, for sure. The old feel connected to the tunes and the dancing, the young people liked the movie and the stupid hair…I’m somewhere in the middle and can still only picture Ricky Lake dancing?

Synopsis:
Set in Baltimore in 1962, Hairspray is the story of plain-jane Tracy Turnblad, who is going to do whatever it takes to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a big girl with big dreams – and even bigger hair – turn the whole town around? Hairspray the Musical is based on John Waters’ 1988 film classic.

South Pacific

This was one of those plays that when I was younger I had very little respect for it’s music, etc, because I was being forced to sing it for school performances and excruciating voice lessons with teachers who smelled like month old coffee. Now that I’ve matured, it’s a different story.

Synopsis:
South Pacific concerns the lives of U.S. military men, nurses and the residents of the Polynesian island they occupy during World War II. Nurse Nellie Forbush is “In Love With a Wonderful Guy,” a French planter with small children. Clean-cut Lt. Cable has fallen hard for Bloody Mary’s daughter Liat. And the seabees, sailors and marines will tell you that there is “Nothing Like a Dame.” The show’s gorgeous score also includes “Cockeyed Optimist,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair,” “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Younger Than Springtime,” “Honey Bun” and “This Nearly Was Mine.”

Vanities

Synopsis:
The lives, loves, disappointments and dreams of best friends caught up in times that are a-changin’. Follow three Texas teenagers from sorority houses to motherhood to women’s lib and beyond.

WEST SIDE STORY!!

AH!! One of the very first songs I ever learned was “I feel pretty”….I was even vain when I was five. My Mom also happened to be in a performance of this show and I was the kid in the wings at every performance, singing full-out so the audience could hear me. If you’re a dance fan, this will be an incredible show…the dancing is SUPERB.

Synopsis:
West Side Story transposes Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to the gang-ridden streets of Manhattan in the 1950s. Instead of the Capulets and Montagues, we have the Puerto Rican Sharks versus the Anglo Jets. In place of Romeo and Juliet are Tony and Maria, two teens torn between ethnic loyalty and their intense, abrupt love for one another. The Leonard Bernstein-Stephen Sondheim score includes “Tonight,” “Somewhere,” “Maria,” “I Have a Love” and “Something’s Coming.”

HAIR

Hippies all over the world are going to be happy to see this one again. I swear I was born in the wrong generation. I also wish I had an afro. Damn.

Synopsis:
The musical that created history by bringing rock ‘n’ roll to the theatrical stage, Hair defines the ’60’s generation by examining a group of young adults struggling for generational and personal identity, dealing with the Vietnam War, drugs and teenage pregnancy. Dynamic score includes “Let the Sunshine In,” “Aquarius” and “Good Morning Starshine.”

AVENUE Q

You’ve got to love it when adults talk an innocent sweet concept, like say- Sesame Street looking muppet characters and then add their own adult perversion to the mix to make a hysterical comedy that looks like it’s for kids, but behind the furry faces it’s all for adults. I mean, if you take the kids they’ll get in early lesson into the crass adult world.

Synopsis:
Singing puppets and their human neighbors tackle life’s most vexing issues – including love, sex, money, race and how to tell your roommate he’s gay. The place is New York City, and the street is Avenue Q, the only address you can afford when you’re fresh out of college, or out of a job, or just trying to find your way in life. A new musical for grown-ups.
Contains mature language and situations; not intended for children.

CHICAGO

If there was ONE role that’d I’d like to land in my lifetime, I’m pretty sure it would be teh role of Velma (if you’re familiar with the movie, that was Catherine Zeta-Jones’ character). I’ve seen this production several times with rotating leads, and each time it’s been incredible. The women are strong, sexy, pissed off…the music is classis, the dancing is fierce. You really cannot go wrong with this one. You’ll be tempted to wear fishnets every day after seeing this, I swear.

Synopsis:
The razzle-dazzle musical where a sensational murder trial is acted out in vaudeville specialties. The score includes “Razzle-Dazzle,” “All That Jazz” and “Mister Cellophane.”

GREASE!

gotta love some LIZA

For the month of December Liza is back on the stage doing a collection of her favorite hits classics, etc. I so wish I would have been able to see Liza in her glory Cabaret days, but since I didn’t get that chance I’ll just have to close my eyes and imagine her in all her Liza- Glory. Minus the new “crazy Liza.”

GYPSY

So glad to see this come back to the stage and get such wonderful reviews. Who doesn’t like a classy stripper story??? Let Me Entertain You has been my favorite line to use before stripping ever since I saw this show….;) Entertaining indeed.

Synopsis:
A consummate show-biz musical suggested by the memoirs of stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. She was once just plain Louise, the awkward daughter of an unstoppably ambitious stage mother. When her pretty sister runs away from the family’s minor vaudeville act, Louise tries to fulfill her mother’s dreams. But it’s not until trouping with Mama dwindles to appearing in burlesque, that Louise finally finds pleasure in the spotlight. The vibrant score includes “Some People,” “Let Me Entertain You,” “Together,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and “Rose’s Turn.”

Young Frankenstein

As far as my FRANKENSTEIN knowledge goes, I have very little; I know Hugh Hefner loves him, and I know what he looks like. So when I heard about the musical and found out that the story is great, and It would be sort of awesome to play a sexy/scary monster on stage, I was pleased that this hit Broadway. Plus, Mel Brooks is wonderful.

Synopsis:
Esteemed brain sugeon and professor Frederick Frankenstein faces a dilemma: Does he continue to run from his family’s dark past in Transylvania, or follow in his grandfather’s footsteps by reanimating the dead? And how about that sexy lab assistant, Inga?

The Story of My Life

Synopsis:
This new musical tells the story of two childhood friends and how that friendship profoundly defined their lives. Thomas Weaver is a best-selling, award-winning author. Alvin Kelby was his best friend for 30 years. But time can test the bonds of friendship, and when it does, Thomas calls on the only resource he has — his stories of Alvin — to learn where things went wrong. A richly melodic musical, The Story of My Life is a soaring tribute to the power of friendship and the people who change our lives forever.

you'll really love 9to5 the MUSICAL!

Synopsis:
Three women depose their smarmy boss and begin making woman-friendly changes in the workplace. Based on the 1980 hit movie that starred Lily Tomlin (a victim of the glass ceiling), Jane Fonda (her husband left her for his secretary) and Dolly Parton (subject of sexual gossip spread by the boss).