Modern Musicals.

I saw a modern musical in Blackpool a few years ago it was called Around the world in 80s days , the traditional Jules Verne story but set to 80s music and it was fabulous, the humour, the singing and acting and the nostalgia of the music was a real treat and of course the gorgeous Grand theatre .

Jersey boys, utterly fabulous, my all time favourite😀

This will really age me but I absolutely loved Calamity Jane with the fabulous Doris day, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Really dated story lines but every song was a winner. I also love Oliver, Chicago, 47th Street, and anything from that era. My mother used to take me to the cinema to see them and then bought the LP and I’m pretty sure I would still be word perfect for every song as they were played so much. I tend to swerve the modern musicals.

Is anyone vintage enough to have seen 'Hair'?

Yep, me! Friends bought us tickets as a wedding present and we saw it on honeymoon.

@Kate1949 . Thanks Kate you’ve given me an ear worm now 😂. All that’s going through my head is ‘you’re drunk you’re drunk you silly old fool , till you cannot see’ . I cannot remember any more so it’s going round in circles!

My favourites of the ‘old’ musicals :-
My Fair Lady
Oklahoma
Calamity Jane
Guys and Dolls
On The Town

Modern era:-
Chicago
Les Miserables
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Billy Elliott
Rocky Horror Show

Booked for this year
Blood Brothers
Dirty Dancing
Moulin Rouge

A local opera company rehearses in our church hall. I was attending a meeting there and on the way out, I spoke to a member of the company and told them I liked the music but didn’t recognise the songs. It was ‘Made in Dagenham’. Apparently, the traditional musicals we grew up with don’t fill seats the same as the modern ones. I enjoy them all, old an new, but still think ‘Sister Act’ is one of the best.

My first date with my now husband was to see Hair. Very risqué in its day.

I am not really a fan of musicals as to me, the songs often seem to be lacking in melody. The point of a musical is surely that it should be musical.
However, there are a few good ones, some of which have been mentioned, but no one has so far mentioned Phantom of the Opera which, in my opinion, is a stunning piece of theatre in every way.
Give me a rock concert or a blues band or Andre Rieu or a symphony orchestra any day.

It’s a good job we are all different because Andre Rieu just leaves me cold.
One of my friends can’t watch enough of him and a few years ago flew to Dublin to see his show.

Dodo43

I am not really a fan of musicals as to me, the songs often seem to be lacking in melody. The point of a musical is surely that it should be musical.
However, there are a few good ones, some of which have been mentioned, but no one has so far mentioned Phantom of the Opera which, in my opinion, is a stunning piece of theatre in every way.
Give me a rock concert or a blues band or Andre Rieu or a symphony orchestra any day.

We were fortunate to see Michael Crawford’s last night playing the Phantom along with Sarah Brightman. Have seen it at least ten times since.

Have seen Les Mis about the same amount of times, including when Alfie Boe was in it.

We saw the original version of Miss Saigon, complete with life size helicopter, rather disappointed when we saw it on its return to the West End 12 years ago to find the helicopter had been replaced by a screen version.

Have seen most musicals on in London over the years, curtesy of our close friend who owned a ticket agency.

Was extremely fortunate to see Chorus Line in New York on my birthday many moons ago. A surprise birthday weekend away from and with DH.

Usedtobeblonde

It’s a good job we are all different because Andre Rieu just leaves me cold.
One of my friends can’t watch enough of him and a few years ago flew to Dublin to see his show.

I cannot cope with Andre Rieu 🤮

I love opera having had a mother who had old 78s that were played until they wore out. So yes I loved Madame Butterfly when she took me to see it. But I also loved Miss Saigon and thought it a wonderful reinterpretation of the theme bringing it to closer history. Thank goodness I too saw the version with the real helicopter GrannyGravy I was very late to Gilbert and Sullivan, my mother was an 'opera snob' who didn't like 'operetta', but I discovered them and do like some.
I have a huge pile of programs for musicals I've seen, and while I might not always come away singing the songs I can't think of one that I thought a waste of my time or money.
I don't think anyone has mentioned Notre Dame de Paris, which I saw circa 2001 with Danni Minogue, which had one of the most impressive sets I've seen. Or Showboat that did a limited London run with an all American cast years ago. Old Man River was a total showstopper, the first I'd ever encountered! I loved Lion King, was so pleased I had an aisle seat but found there was so much to look at I'm sure I missed some. My all time favourite for songs has to be Jersey Boys which I've seen 4 times. Only surpassed by seeing Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on his first time on Broadway in 2012. Oh and Sister Act with Whoopi Goldberg as Mother Superior, when she returned after her mother's illness meant she left the show for a while.
I love live theatre, whether it be a play or musical. Don't go nearly as often these days which I regret, I should go to more local productions and not just rely on going into central London. We saw The King and I locally featuring Helen George of Call the Midwife fame, she was a brilliant singer which I wasn't expecting., and it was an excellent production.

I belonged to a local musical drama group for many years and was lucky enough to be in;
South Pacific
My Fair Lady
Brigadoon
Annie Get Your Gun
Wizard of Oz
The Sound of Music
Oliver
The king and I
I enjoyed them all.
Of the ones I have seen in the theatre , my favourites were
Les Miserables
Joseph
Jesus Christ Superstar
Miss Saigon
Blood brothers
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Cabaret
Evita
Carousel
Crazy for You
Spamalot
The Music Man
Ones that I wouldn’t rave about are Wicked, The Greatest Showman and The Lion King.

GG you've reminded me that we saw the lovely Michael Crawford in 'Barnum'. He was brilliant.

Oh I agree about The Lion King. I thought the acting was terrible, the whole thing reminded me of a Year 6 production when I was teaching. I was in the minority though as there was a standing ovation at the end. Similarly DH and I went to Come From Away which had rave reviews and we hated it - again the only ones sitting for the standing ovation!!

This thread has been fascinating in showing the differences between us when it comes to our taste in musicals, hasn’t it? Reminds me of that saying One man’s meat is another man’s poison.

I watched the first 'Wicked' which I thought was going to be an ordinary film. It wasn't, it was a musical but not like the ones I'd be used to. I really want to see part II, but I can't see myself enjoying it!

Go and see the touring production of Top Hat, it’s fab!

Basgetti

There’s to be a Trainspotting musical, apparently……

Trainspotting the musical has been going for years, immersive theatre at its best, its my favourite film and the best musical theatre I've been to and I've been to very many

Maremia

Is anyone vintage enough to have seen 'Hair'?

Saw the new touring version about 7 years ago

I saw the original Hair in London.

My absolute favourite is Jesus Christ Superstar - saw it at the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park (2 years running!) And we are going to see it in London this summer. I often have a good sing along to the music in the car! Recently enjoyed Matilda with the DGCs, and DH's favourite is South Pacific. DD and I go to a musical for her birthday sometimes - last one was Oliver. Yes saw Hair in West End - was very envious of two friends who saw it very early on!

Really, Deepat? Interesting. Irvine Walsh was interviewed just this week on This Cultural Life about the challenges of turning it into a musical.
Are you sure?