Wanting some recommendations of stage musicals

[Lilani]

So recently I got Netflix, and via their offerings of Phantom of the Opera[footnote]Performed at the Royal Albert Hall with an AWESOME set, and an appearance of Andrew Lloyd Webber himself after the end.[/footnote] and Into the Woods[footnote]A musical I remember watching and loving in middle school when I was but a tween.[/footnote] I've remembered how much I LOVE musicals. I remember seeing Wicked live and liking it too, but beyond those I'm really not that familiar with the world of theater. So, Escapists, thespians, I ask for your help. What are some more stage musicals with amazingly catchy music? Because I think that's one thing I really love in a musical, when the music gets stuck in my head for WEEKS and everything I do feels like I'm in a musical. I'd be fine with a movie musical as well, but I really like to watch and admire the effort that goes into stage performances.

Captcha: face the music. Ohoho, that slaps me on the knee.

 

[Asita]

Well the stage version of the Lion King is practically a must see, if you possess the means to see it. Sweeney Todd supposedly does a bang up job on the stage, Pippin...well that can be kinda hit and miss, honestly (I might recommend checking out the 1981 recording with Ben Vereen). And if you don't mind a LOT of irreverence (and some lewdness), Book of Mormon and Avenue Q have proven to be pretty popular performances.

And you're probably going to see a lot of people suggesting Doctor Horrible's Sing Along Blog (with good reason, mind you).

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Can't exactly go wrong with Les Miserables.


Then of course, Avenue Q

 

[saintdane05]

I just saw Spamalot. Its great, go see that.
Also, go watch Sweenie Todd.

 

[Dr.Susse]

Daw I thought it said "Strange" musicals and I was going to suggest Boojum; a play based on Lewis Carrol's The hunting of the snark.


But for real suggestions either Little shop of horrors or Jekyll And Hyde would be worth watching.

 

[Naeras]

Are you planning on seeing them on stage, or just streamed/downloaded?

 

[Mathak]

Agreed on Les Miserables (the stage version of course, I wouldn't expect anyone to endure Russell Crowe's mumbling), Wicked is pretty good too.

We Will Rock You is nice too if you're a fan of Queen and can ignore the absolutely asinine plot in favour of the singing.

Edit: Both Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar have some really catchy tunes as well, but I don't think they get performed live anymore.

 

[Aris Khandr]

I will echo the recommendations for Spamalot and The Lion King. The Little Mermaid has some wonderful music as well, though I can't speak for the rest of the show, as I have only got the soundtrack. Still waiting for that one to start touring.

Thanks to Moulin Rouge, the "interwoven pop song" musical is fairly popular in movies. Of the lot, I'd say that Across the Universe is your best bet. Glee is surprisingly not horrible, too. I just started watching it on Thursday, and am already halfway through the first season. Similarly, High School Musical does have some really great music in it. The first one was clearly a "made for TV movie", but if you already love musicals and Disney, there's no reason not to give it a try.

The classics are so for a reason, so it is easy to suggest The King and I or The Sound of Music. Similarly, despite my personal less-than-favorable opinion on religion, Jesus Christ Superstar is one of Webber's better musicals. Somewhat awkward to pick your (extremely religious) mother up from the airport while rocking out to "This Jesus Must Die", though.

 

[Naeras]

We Will Rock You is nice too if you're a fan of Queen and can ignore the absolutely asinine plot in favour of the singing.

Dude, the plot of WWRY was awesome. >=[

Or, well, it wasn't, but unlike most other musicals with stupid stories, the plot of WWRY stopped taking itself seriously about an hour before any of the actors got on stage, which was definitely welcome in my book. Especially since they replaced the entire "srs srs musical"-part with guitar solos, somewhat funny pop-culture references and a great technical stageshow. :3

 

[Mathak]

We Will Rock You is nice too if you're a fan of Queen and can ignore the absolutely asinine plot in favour of the singing.

Dude, the plot of WWRY was awesome. >=[

Or, well, it wasn't, but unlike most other musicals with stupid stories, the plot of WWRY stopped taking itself seriously about an hour before any of the actors got on stage, which was definitely welcome in my book. Especially since they replaced the entire "srs srs musical"-part with guitar solos, somewhat funny pop-culture references and a great technical stageshow. :3

I don't mind non-serious plots, but Bohemian Rhapsody has been voted number 1 on the dutch national hitlist for the last 30 years or so, so the whole 'Queen is so subversive and non-mainstream!' just came off as absolutely ridiculous, even if it was the future. The stageshow was indeed great though.

 

[Naeras]

I don't mind non-serious plots, but Bohemian Rhapsody has been voted number 1 on the dutch national hitlist for the last 30 years or so, so the whole 'Queen is so subversive and non-mainstream!' just came off as absolutely ridiculous, even if it was the future. The stageshow was indeed great though.

Heh, well, there's something about the plot that appealed to me nevertheless. I believe it might be the not-so-subtle "message" of the plot, which can be boiled down to "pop music from the 1990s can fuck right off. Also, the world needs more guitar solos".

Still, I love WWRY to the point that I'd say that the only reason someone shouldn't see it, is if they passionately hate Queen. Thus me rushing in defense of the musical here. :V

 

[HHammond]

Anything by Stephen Sondheim. The man is a lyrical and musical genius.