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Broadway Musicals: Synopsis & Reviews

If you're interested in pre-Broadway tours, Broadway show touring companies, and revivals, click here, because you've come to the wrong page. Those who have seen these shows will notice that we've oversimplified the plot synopses a bit, but there are so many shows here that we had to do something to keep the pages from being a million miles long!

BROADWAY PRODUCTIONS

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

March, 1997; St. James Theatre, NYC w/ Whoopi Goldberg. Revival of the classic Larry Gelbart/Stephen Sondheim musical. A comedy set in ancient Rome with so many funny plot twists and turns it'll make your head spin. Whoopi Goldberg makes it extra special. A must see. A few instances of bedroom humor, but it should be ok for kids over 12. CD w/ Nathan Lane (original star) available. Closed.

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Aida

June, 2000; Palace Theatre, NYC. Elton John and Tim Rice took the story from the Verdi opera of the same name and wrote new music for it. Set in Egypt in the time of the pharoahs. A warrior gives a slave as a gift to the princess he is betrothed to. Little does he know that the slave is the Nubian princess. The warrior falls in love with the Nubian princess and the ensuing love triangle leads to tragedy. We loved this show! Adam Pascal (portrayed Roger in Rent), Heather Hedley (portrayed adult Nalla in The Lion King), and Sherie Rene Scott really work well together. They were great, as was the rest of the cast. The music was outstanding, the sets were cool (loved the swimming pool effect), even the costumes were neato (especially during the "My Strongest Suit" fashion show!). We highly recommend this show-we also took our 80 year old grandmother to see it and she absolutely loved every minute of it, so you know it's definitely got something for everyone. Kids under 10 might be bored, since the storyline wouldn't be something they're interested in, but there is talk of turning the show into a full length feature cartoon, so someone must think otherwise over at Disney. Please, please, please let them have the sense to use the Broadway cast as voices for the movie-that would be cool.

Big River

July, 2003; American Airlines Theatre, NYC. Roger Miller and William Hauptman wrote this musical adaptation of Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn". In the show, we follow the adventures of Huckleberry Finn and his pal Jim as they ride a raft down the Mississippi. The original production of this musical won 7 Tony awards in 1985. The special thing about this revival is that it was put together by Deaf West Theatre, a theatre company based in Los Angeles that produces plays and musicals using deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing actors, all using sign language supplemented by voice. We really enjoyed the staging of this show-we know some sign language and it was really terriffic seeing it used in a Broadway show. All the actors are top notch, and are very skilled in American Sign Language. Not to worry, though, if you don't know sign language, everything is also spoken-hearing actors do their own speaking, and deaf and hard of hearing actors either have doubles standing with them doing spoken lines, or someone else will be on stage doing it-for example, the actor playing Mark Twain does Huck's lines, but Pap Finn has a twin following his every move, which is great fun watching. We really enjoyed this show-everyone was fantastic, and the musical numbers were great. Deaf West should definitely bring more stuff to New York. We hope that this production is eligible for Tony awards next year (it should be), because they deserve some. Everyone should see this show-not only is the sign language beautiful to watch, but it's a learning experience as well as being a fun evening.
Here's an example of who not to bring to the show, however: At the beginning of the show, there were 3 empty seats behind us. At intermission, there were 3 children sitting there, approximately 12, 10, and 8. They must have been sitting with their parents further back during the first half of the show, and were encouraged to move to these 3 seats on the side of the 3rd row (behind us) because they were probably annoying their parents during the first half. The whole time they were behind us, they were whispering to one another, and the youngest child (a boy, about 8) kept saying how bored he was. By the way, this performance was July 11, 2003 at 8 pm, and they were sitting in row C seats 6, 8, and 10, so you know who you are if you read this! Parents, please don't bring young children to these shows if they don't want to come, and then encourage them to move to other empty seats because they are annoying YOU. We pay money to see the show, not to listen to your kids whine about how bored they are!

Candide

July, 1997; Gershwin Theatre. Andrea Martin and Jim Dale star in Leonard Bernstein's adaptation of the book by Voltaire. The misadventures of a young man named Candide are followed as he finds his true love, Cunegonde, then loses her and finds her again a number of times. Jim Dale as Voltaire and Andrea Martin as the Old Lady were both fabulous! Great for the whole family, this was by far the funniest musical we've ever seen! Unfortunately, it closed. (See Musicals that Never Got a Chance for info on the closing. Check out the CD, available now in stores.

Chicago

December, 1996; Richard Rodgers Theatre, NYC w/ Bebe Neuwirth, James Naughton, Joel Grey (Ann Reinking was unable to do her role the day we went). Revival of the classic Kander and Ebb musical about murder and mayhem set mainly in a Chicago jail in the late 1920's. Loved it! If you haven't seen it, what are you waiting for? (Now playing at the Schubert Theatre) Not really for kids under 16, because of the subject matter. They'd probably be bored anyway. CD available for this cast, as well as the original production starring Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon.
UPDATE: One of the touring companies has a permanent home in the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas. For our review of that company (which starred Chita Rivera when we saw it, by the way), see the tour review section.

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Dance of the Vampires

November, 2002; Minskoff Theatre, NYC w/ Michael Crawford. Michael Kunze wrote the original German book and lyrics, and Jim Steinman wrote the music and English lyrics to this musical based on the Roman Polanski film of the same name. Set in Transylvania (where else?!) in the 1880's, a woman is seduced by the vampire Count Von Krolok (played excellently by Michael Crawford), who promised she could become queen of the vampires, in exchange for a kiss on Halloween night. However, the town hires a vampire hunter (Rene Auberjenois), which could spoil all the fun. This is a cool musical-it's got a style all it's own.

Elaine Stritch at Liberty

March, 2002; Neil Simon Theatre, NYC. At last, Elaine Stritch gets her own one woman show! This is a fantastic evening of side splitting stories from her life experiences, as well as lots of great songs, including "The Ladies Who Lunch", which she is most famous for. The best story is when she talks about the time she was Ethel Merman's understudy for Call Me Madam, playing on Broadway, while at the same time playing Melba the newspaper reporter in Pal Joey, which for a week played in New Haven Connecticut! The story of how she worked out a way to do both at the same time is a hoot! This was a limited engagement, which is closed now. If you like Elaine Stritch, and wish you could have seen the show, definitely pick up the CD version, which includes most of it, recorded live.

Follies

July, 2001; Belasco Theatre; New York, NY; w/ Polly Bergen, Gregory Harrison, Treat Williams, Blythe Danner, and a host of other well known names. A revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical about a reunion of showgirls being held at the theatre they played at, which is scheduled to be demolished. We are so glad we got to see this show before it closed. It was excellent! The storyline was very interesting-you get to know these stars of yesteryear, and find out about their past, as the ghosts of their former lives follow them around and act out their memories. The "ghosts" were the neatest part-they are continually wandering around the party and interacting with each other-each of the former hoofers has ghost of a younger self observing or mirroring their movements. The music was fantastic-we think the highlight of the evening was Polly Bergen's number-"I'm Still Here", although we liked all of the numbers. It was great seeing Marge Champion, Betty Garrett, and the many others still strutting their stuff. This show was nominated for a couple of Tony awards, which would have been well deserved had they won. Unfortunately, the show is closed, but if there's ever another revival, don't miss it. Kids under 16 will be bored-we've come to the conclusion that Sondheim musicals can only be appreciated by adults-the storylines just won't hold kids attention.

42nd Street

July, 2001; Ford Center for the Performing Arts; New York, NY. A revival of the quintessential backstage musical based on the movie musical of the same name released in the 1930's. Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble wrote the book and used the original songs from a few of the Busby Berkely movies which were written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. It's the depression and times are hard in the theatre scene, so when a famous director says he's doing a show, the guys and gals all come running. A wannabe starlet, fresh off the bus, ends up saving the show by stepping in for the conniving star after an accident sidelines her. The storyline is light, but interesting and full of funny moments. The musical numbers are great-if you like tap dancing, this is the show for you. Top notch tappers make this a really fun show to watch. It's a nice, light show that goes quickly. The cast works very well together, and looks like they're having a fun time doing it, too. Don't miss this revival-it won the 2001 Tony for Best Revival, and rightly so. Good for kids over 10-the dance numbers should hold their attention. CD available.

The Full Monty

December, 2001; Eugene O'Neill Theatre; New York, NY. David Yazbek (music, lyrics) and Terrence McNally (book) adapted this hit movie into a musical. A bunch of steelworkers in Buffalo, NY get permanently laid off from their jobs. In order to make some money, they decide to try their hand at becoming a male striptease act. Things get out of hand when word gets out that they're going to go "The Full Monty". This show made for a fun evening. The cast works together very well, making the show move along rather quickly. The music was great, the storyline had lots of funny moments, and the actors all had great voices, making the songs very enjoyable. This is a great show and a definite must see for musical lovers. Keep in mind, however, the storyline is not for everyone. If you're a guy, you might not be comfortable with the male striptease stuff peppered through the show. Also, due to the adult nature of the storyline, we recommend that you don't take anyone under 18 to see it. (There is very brief nudity.) CD available.

Gypsy

April, 1990; St. James Theatre; New York, NY; w/ Tyne Daly. Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim based this musical on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, one of the most famous strippers of the 1930's. A typical overbearing stage mother, Rose, spends her time trying to break her younger daughter, June, into show business. When June becomes fed up and runs away with her boyfriend, Rose suddenly takes an interest in her other daughter, Louise, who is destined to become Gypsy Rose Lee. Many people have played the part of Rose, including Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Rosalind Russell (movie version), and most recently, Bette Midler (made for TV movie version). Tyne Daly brought her own style to the role, adding to it to make it her own. Though many probably didn't believe she could pull it off, her singing was wonderful, and most certainly fit Rose's personality, which was awarded with a Tony for best actress in a musical that year. This is a great musical for anyone to see; it's fun and moves quickly and the best part is watching Rose transform from an eccentric overbearing stage mother to someone so desperate for stardom that she gives up all else in search of it. Should another production be mounted, kids over 12 will probably enjoy it, and don't worry about the stripper stuff. Remember, this is set in the 30's, when strippers didn't really take all their clothes off, and the subject is treated decently enough that there's no danger of it harming kids. CDs available for the original starring Ethel Merman, all the revivals, and the 2 movies (available on video, too)one starring Rosalind Russel, the other starring Bette Midler. Closed.

Hairspray

July, 2002; Neil Simon Theatre; New York, NY; with Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad. Mark O'Donnell, Thomas Meehan, Marc Shaiman, and Scott Wittman adapted this classic John Waters film into a Broadway musical. It's 1962 Baltimore, and the times they are a changin'. The popular show among teens is the Corny Collins dance show. (This whole story is very loosely based on real events that happened in Baltimore with the Buddy Deane show.) Tracy Turnblad (portrayed by Marissa Jane Winokur) wins a permanent spot on the show. She doesn't exactly endear herself to them when she attempts to fully integrate the show, which only allowed African-Americans on the show once a month. If you've seen the movie, you're familiar with the story. This is definitely the hottest new musical on Broadway. Even while it's still in previews, it's tough to get tickets, and it's easy to see why. We rate this as one of the top 2 musicals we've ever seen. We loved it. The music is great-we were dancing in our seats the whole time. The show moves so fast, you wish it wasn't over when it does end. The whole audience practically erupted with applause after each number-the last time we saw such unanimous love bordering on frenzy for an entire show was Mamma Mia!. All the cast is fantastic, the choreography lively and fun to watch, and even the set design is pretty neat-especially the opening number. If you're a fan of the movie, you MUST go see the musical, but even if you've never seen the movie, we still consider this a must see for everyone. The songs are written in the style of the 1960's, and we can't wait for the cast album to come out, but if you want a preview, they've got 3 of the songs on the show's website:
Click Here for the Hairspray on Broadway Website
You could probably get away with taking kids as young as 8 or 10-the storyline moves quickly, and they'll enjoy the music.

Kiss Me Kate

November, 1999; Martin Beck Theatre; New York, NY w/ Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie. Revival of the musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Sam and Bella Spewack. Set in a Baltimore theatre in 1948, this is kind of a musical within a musical. An actor/producer and his ex-wife are starring in a musical production of The Taming of the Shrew. The funny thing is, the backstage antics very much resemble what is going on onstage. This was a really fun show-Cole Porter's music is always great, and with 2 of the original stars of Ragtime singing the songs, you can't go wrong. Their chemistry is excellent-the animosity between Lilli Vanessi and Fred Graham looked so real, and you could tell Mitchell and Mazzie were having a great time with each of their parts, which made the show even better. All in all, this was a really teriffic show-really funny and very well done by all involved. Don't miss it! Kids over 10 will probably understand it, although there are a couple of moments of what some people might consider politically incorrect (we don't care, but you might)-one example is when the man turns his ex-wife over his knee and spanks her.

Kiss of the Spider Woman

November, 1993; Broadhurst Theatre; New York, NY w/ Carol Lawrence (Chita Rivera was on vacation. We saw her in the post-Broadway touring company, though. See the touring company section for a review of that.) A fantastic Kander and Ebb musical, based on the novel by Manuel Puig, which was adapted to film (not a musical) starring William Hurt and Raoul Julia. Set in a Latin American prison in the recent past, a gay window dresser in for "corrupting a minor" and a captured revolutionary share the same cell. This is another example of how Kander and Ebb can take unusual subject matter and make a great musical out of it. The staging of the show is very interesting-you can do a heckuva lot with jail cell walls! The music and choreography are great- we didn't know Chita Rivera would be on vacation, but we were really happy to find out Carol Lawrence was her replacement for that show. She's right on par with Rivera-they're both considered to be the best in the business. Check this one out if it ever comes back as a revival, but in the meantime get the CD at the store. Again, if you can go see it, due to subject matter (prisoner torture, other adult subjects) kids over 16 should be OK with it.

UPDATE: We did end up seeing the show with Chita Rivera as well, when it went on tour-for the review, see the tour review section.

The Last 5 Years

March, 2002; Minetta Lane Theatre (Greenwich Village, NYC). The latest musical by Jason Robert Brown, Tony winner for Parade. A unique musical, in which the story of a couple's meeting, marriage, and ultimate split-up is told from 2 different points of view. The man, Jaime (played by Norbert Leo Butz) tells the story from beginning to end. However, the woman, Cathy (played by Sherie Rene Scott) tells the story backwards, from end to beginning. Jamie and Cathy alternate songs through the entire musical, which really was a cool idea. The idea really works, and makes for an interesting show. The songs are great, and the performers did a teriffic job. Definitely a must see. Although this was not really playing on Broadway, we decided to include it here, anyway. It's no longer playing in Greenwich Village, but hopefully someone will try to bring it to Broadway at some point. Kids under 16 would probably be bored, since there's no action. Available on CD.

The Life

July 1997, Ethel Barrymore Theatre. Set in New York City's Times Square in the early 1980's, this musical is all about "the life", the slang term for being a prostitute. The story follows a group of prostitutes through trial and tribulation, especially 2 women: Queen, who dreams of getting out of the business, and her friend, Sonja, who never will. The music is fantastic, as well as the choreography and staging. The Tony's won by Lillias White, "Sonja" and Chuck Cooper, "Memphis", were well deserved. It's obvious this one isn't for kids, so if it ever comes around your area on tour, be sure to get a sitter. Check out the CD, available in stores now. Closed.
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The Lion King

July 1999, New Amsterdam Theater. The musical based on the Walt Disney cartoon. The trials and tribulations of a lion cub destined to be king of his pride. Julie Taymor, who directed and designed the costumes, certainly deserved the Tonys she got. This is a FANTASTIC show! The music will be familiar if you've seen the cartoon, but the original songs have been jazzed up and new songs have been added, all of which was top notch. The actors did a great job and really made the show believable. This isn't just a bunch of people in big bulky animal costumes-Ms. Taymor's designs are modernistic and really cool. Even the people dressed up like grass were neato! The staging and scenery were just as cool as the costumes. We can't wait for Julie Taymor to direct something else! This show is a must see for everyone.

A few cautions about being in the audience, though: Even though Disney spent millions renovating the New Amsterdam for the show, they didn't do such a hot job making it comfortable for the audience. Balcony seating is extremely cramped. Our knees touched the back of the seats in front of us, and we're not tall people. The balcony seats are also on a slight leftward slant. It's really weird-we felt like we were sliding down a hill, and so did the people we asked that were sitting around us. Also, there are a number of lighting poles in the balcony which, even though they're sort of skinny, may still be an obstruction for people seated behind them. (The ticket office didn't consider this obstructed view, so beware.) One final warning-if you do not like children and you tend to be easily annoyed by audience members who do not observe theatre etiquette, you might not want to see the show. The audience was in large part families with children and you know children under 8 normally can't sit still and pay attention to ANYTHING for more than 2 minutes. Believe us, we know-there were 4 in the row in front of us bouncing around, talking, and playing with their toys starting about 10 minutes into the show. We knew what we were getting into, but that didn't make it any less annoying. Why any couple would spend an extra $175 to take their 3 children is beyond us. Please, won't you all get a babysitter (it's cheaper!) and rent the cartoon for the kids to watch at home, so the rest of us can enjoy the show!

Miss Saigon

August, 1993; Broadway Theatre; New York, NY. Boubil and Schoenberg's musical about two people who fall in love during the Vietnam war. An American GI falls in love with a girl who has become a prostitute out of necessity. They lose touch during the fall of Saigon and, unbeknownst to them, the girl is pregnant with his child. Will she ever see him again? This one's a real tear jerker, folks! If you liked the adaptation of Les Miserables by these guys, you'll love this one, too. The music, choreography and sets are all something to see. A real helicopter lands on stage at one point in the show! This is still playing on Broadway and from time to time it goes on tour as well. Don't miss it. Kids under 14 should probably stay home, due to the subject matter (prostitution is dealt with heavily). CD available.
UPDATE: The show closed January 28th! Lea Salonga has rejoined the cast as Kim for the final weeks of the show's run. We ran up to New York to see the show one last time when we found out she was back. Wow. The first time we saw the show, Lea Salonga had already left, and the actress playing Kim was teriffic, but nobody can do it like Lea, and she's still the best ever. The show hasn't lost any of its luster, either. It's still just as powerful as it was when we saw it 8 years ago and it's sad to see it close. Goodbye to a wonderful show that had a great 11 year run. We'll miss it.

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The Music Man

January, 2001; Neil Simon Theatre; New York, NY with Craig Bierko. The Tony award winning revival of Meredith Willson's great musical. A salesman arrives in River City, Iowa prepared to sell the townsfolks all the accoutrements for a boy's band, then skip town with the moolah. He didn't count on falling in love with the town's librarian, who is the first to find out he's a complete fraud. If you think that Robert Preston was the only guy who could ever play Harold Hill, think again. Craig Bierko was a GREAT Harold Hill-when he sings, he sounds just like Robert Preston, and the show's producers probably put alot of thought into that when they signed him for the part. It's a really fun show, with a great cast, including Paul Benedict (remember the Jefferson's next door neighbor, Mr. Bentley?) as the Mayor. The musical numbers are top notch, and the whole show moves quickly and makes for a great time. Don't miss it. The love interest part of the storyline might make kids under 8 bored. A CD is available.

Nine

July, 2003; Eugene O'Neill Theatre, NYC, with Antonio Banderas, Chita Rivera, Jane Krakowski, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Laura Benanti. This revival of the Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston musical is based on the Federico Fellini film "8 1/2". A film director, after having several box office flops, struggles to put together the plot for a new film. While doing this, he examines the many relationships he's had with the women who have come in and out of his life. We were in the FRONT ROW and it was GREAT! They won the Best Revival Tony award, and we can see why. The whole ensemble was wonderful-the musical numbers were great, and the whole show just flew by. For you Antonio Banderas lovers, you've gotta see this show-he's the bomb! Jane Krakowski's number, "A Call from the Vatican", is not to be missed-we were glad when she won the Tony, and this number shows why. Our favorite Chita Rivera was in top form, and we got a special treat-as part of one of her numbers during the show, she talks to some members of the audience, and Dave was one of her choices. We had such fun during this show, it was a shame it had to end. Even the set design was cool-the Grand Canal sequence was neat-there is a pool onstage, which is somehow filled with water you see trickling down the back wall of the stage-neato! Don't miss this show-it's a limited run through November, 2003. Anyone under 16 will probably be bored, and there are lots of sexual references throughout, anyway. There is a cast CD available.

Oklahoma

March, 2002; Gershwin Theatre; New York, NY. Cameron Mackintosh finally brings his critically acclaimed London revival of this beloved Rogers and Hammerstein musical to Broadway. This is the story of turn of the century Oklahoma, not yet a state admitted to the Union. Oklahoma is still wild and untamed, and farmers and cowboys still argue over land usage. It's also a love story about a cowboy and a farmer's daughter. This is a fantastic production, directed by Trevor Nunn with all new choreography by Susan Stroman. The set (designed by Anthony Ward) is really cool, doing a great job of using forced perspective to make the production look big. (We liked the little cubby hole in the top where the orchestra sits-neat!) The dance numbers are great, the singing is great. Can you tell we loved it? What's different about this production as compared to others is that the dream ballet number ("Out of My Dreams") has the same Curley(Patrick Wilson) and Laurie (Josephina Gabrielle) as the rest of the show. These cast members were chosen specifically on the strength of their ballet talent, as well as their singing and acting. Other productions have all followed the original Agnes De Mille choreography, using different people in the dream than are in the rest of the show. This production is also darker than others in terms of exploring Judd Fry and his relationship with Curley and Laurie, which makes things much more dramatic. We also thought Andrea Martin was a great Aunt Eller! Don't miss this production-it's great! Should be ok for kids over 12.

Parade

November, 1998; Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center; New York, NY. Alfred Uhry (Driving Miss Daisy) and Jason Robert Brown collaborated on this musical based on the life of Leo Frank, a Jewish man wrongly accused of murdering a young girl who worked in the pencil factory he managed. The story's central point is the Confederate Memorial Day parade, a big celebration. Keep in mind, we're talking 1913 Georgia, here. The south was still VERY touchy about losing the civil war and racism was rampant. The story is quite a sad one. We won't spoil it for you all by divulging the ending here, but if you want to know more about it, try your local library. All in all it was an enjoyable experience. The story was well written. It could have used some tightening up in the slow spots, but that's to be expected with such a new show as this one is. The music was very good and really did add to the story. We recommend you see this one if you ever get the chance, especially since it can also be chalked up as an educational experience. We had never heard about the Leo Frank story before this. Kids under 14 may be bored. Closed. Original Cast CD available.

BY THE WAY: If you do go see anything at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, don't wear anything really heavy. For some reason it was so hot it felt like an oven.

The Phantom of the Opera

January, 1993; Majestic Theatre; New York, NY. Webber's musical adaptation of the Gaston Leroux novel, "The Phantom of the Opera". Set in a Paris opera house in the late 1800's, the story follows a mysterious figure who sees potential in a chorus girl, trying to transform her into a great opera star. His bitterness over his facial disfigurement causes him to commit violent acts along the way to get what he wants. Still running on Broadway, this is one of the greats. There is a touring company as well, so if you can't make it to New York, check out the tour, stopping next at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC this July through October. This show is wonderful all around. Sometimes the set itself is the star of the show, with many elaborate things happening throughout. Children over 12 should be OK with this show-younger ones may be scared by the Phantom or the few acts of violence which happen during the show. CD available.

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The Producers

July, 2002; St. James Theatre; New York, NY. A musical written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan based on the movie of the same name. A washed up Broadway show producer and his accountant have a brilliant plan. Stage a show so horrible that it closes quickly, then leave for Rio with the leftover money. Unfortunately for them, "Sprintime for Hitler", a tribute to Adolph Hitler, ends up being so funny, it's a huge hit. We have balked on our website at seeing this show mainly because of the ticket prices. We decided to go see the show in the cheaper seats (front left balcony at $45 each) just to see what all the fuss was about. (Especially since it's easier to get tickets now that Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick have left the show.) We still feel that the $99 ticket price is outrageous. And so is the new "premium tickets" crap they're trying to see if they can beat the scalpers at their own game-at your choice of $240 and $480 you too can have the best seats in the house,and not have to find a scalper! HA! As we've said before, how is anyone but the rich supposed to go and see shows at these prices? But, putting all that aside, the show was really funny. It's definitely Mel Brooks at his best. The songs were hilarious, and the storyline nutty. Brad Oscar and Steven Webber as Leo Bloom and Max Bialystock were excellent, and at the ticket prices that are being charged, we hope they're sharing in the wealth as much as Lane and Broderick were when they were playing the principal roles. Yes, we loved the show, and yes it is a definite must see. However, there are two caveats. First, the St. James is a pretty good theatre, so don't feel like you have to spend $99-go for the $45 tickets and spend the money you saved on a nice dinner. Second, even though we loved the show, we still didn't see the need for the sweep of every 2001 Tony award. It wasn't the BEST show we've ever seen. Some of the 12 Tonys it won should have been spread around to the other nominees. For example, we STILL think Polly Bergen (Follies) should have gotten best featured actress, and Randy Skinner should have gotten best choreography for 42nd Street. Sorry for the ranting, but we just had to get that out. Go see it, you'll enjoy it, kids over 12 will probably enjoy it, too, but do it in the cheap seats-we need to send a message that this $99 ticket price won't be tolerated! A CD is available.

Putting It Together

November, 1999; Ethel Barrymore Theatre; New York, NY w/ Carol Burnett, George Hearn, Bronson Pinchot, Ruthie Henshall, and John Barrowman. A revival of the musical review of Stephen Sondheim's best stuff. Sondheim put together 34 of his best songs from at least a dozen different shows in such a way that they actually make a story, without very much dialogue at all, which was really cool. Just by following the meaning of the songs, with maybe a word or two here and there, you get the idea that the husband and wife at the cocktail party are having marital problems and the people they've invited are the cause. We really enjoyed this show-everyone did a FANTASTIC job! Sondheim's music is so great anyway-this made it even more fun. We LOVED Carol Burnette!! For those of you scared to go to a Sondheim show because they get too deep, this is the one for you. It's nice to just enjoy the songs without getting bogged down by a thick plot. Some people didn't like the idea of a thin plot, but we really liked the way it was done. Children under 12 might be bored. Closed.

The Scarlet Pimpernel

November, 1997; Minskoff Theater, NYC. Frank Wildhorn and Nan Knighton's musical adaptation of the famous 1905 novel by Baroness Orczy. Set at the time of the French Revolution, this is the story of a man from the British upper crust who, along with some of his friends, rescues members of the French upper crust who are bound for the guillotine. This show opened a week before we saw it, and it looks like it still needs a few bugs worked out. It was a very good show, but if you're looking for swashbuckling adventure, it isn't here. It's a little slow in a couple of places, but that's the way Wildhorn's "Jekyll and Hyde" started out, too, so as the show evolves, all the kinks will be worked out in time for the Tony's next year, hopefully. Don't let any of this keep you away-overall, we both really liked the show. The music was great, and the performers did a fantastic job. Kids under 12 will more than likely be bored. CD available. Closed.

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Seussical

January, 2001; Richard Rodgers Theatre; New York, NY. Lynn Ahrens and Steven Flaherty, the team who brought you the great musical Ragtime, brings this super fun show based on the works of Theodore Geissel, also known as Dr. Seuss. The Cat in the Hat is your narrator through this whimsical romp that blends together a number of Dr. Seuss books. The base story is a combination of Horton Hatches the Egg and Horton Hears a Who, but we find out about lots of other things that happen in Whoville, which is the speck of dust that Horton finds. Stories blended in include The Grinch that Stole Christmas, The Butter Battle Book, Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat, If I Ran the Circus, and others. The show is great! The cast does a great job of bringing Dr. Seuss to the stage, making it a really lively and fun experience for everyone in the audience. The sets and costumes make everything just as colorful as the Dr. Seuss books are, and it's interesting to see how they worked out the difference between Horton's world and the world of Whoville-a giant magnifying glass frames the Whoville part of the set most of the time. We recommend this show to everyone. Adults will have a great time, and kids old enough to have read Dr. Seuss books will love it, too. Closed.

Side Show

November, 1997; Richard Rodgers Theatre, NYC. Bill Russel and Henry Krieger collaborated on this musical based on the true story of the Hilton sisters, who were Siamese twins joined at the hip. The show concentrates on the events in their lives that took place before they broke into the movies. It starts at the side show where they spent their whole young lives. They are then discovered and go on to Vaudeville to make it big. One word describes this show: WOW. Everything about it is fantastic. The music is powerful and draws you instantly into the story, right from the get-go. Alice Ripley (Violet Hilton) and Lauren Kennedy (Daisy Hilton-Emily Skinner, the actress who regularly plays the part, was unable to perform that afternoon)were absolutely fabulous. Might this be a double Tony for best actress? If Ms. Ripley and Ms. Skinner are nominated, how can you choose just one? Check out the CD, available in stores.
The show closed. For our comments on this total injustice, please see the Musicals that Never Got a Chance section.

The Sound of Music

November, 1998; Martin Beck Theatre; New York, NY. A revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical about the life of Maria Von Trapp. It was a time of turmoil in 1930's Austria, with Nazi Germany and World War II looming ever closer. Maria, a young girl aspiring to be a nun, is sent to be the governess of the 7 children of Captain Von Trapp, a widower. Do NOT let the fact that you've seen the movie a hundred times keep you from seeing the stage version. It's quite different. In this version, the Nazi element is quite a bit more prevalent, especially in the song that was deleted from the movie version (sung by the Baroness and Max) and the huge Nazi flags at the festival, which make the songs sung by the children seem a little out of place (which is what they're supposed to do). Rebecca Luker does a fine job as Maria, and everyone else in the cast was great, too. Do go see this production, it's well worth it. Any kid that has seen the musical on TV will enjoy it. CD available. The show has closed, but is on tour with Barry Williams (Greg on the Brady Bunch) as Captain Von Trapp.

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Sunset Boulevard

November, 1994; Minskoff Theatre, NYC w/ Glenn Close. Webber's musical adaptation of the Billy Wilder film, which starred Gloria Swanson. An old silent movie star has delusions about making a comeback, drawing an unsuspecting screenwriter into her fantasy. We enjoyed every minute of this wonderful show, which unfortunately closed in 1997. If you didn't get a chance to see it, or even if you did, get the soundtrack CD. (The Glenn Close version is the best of all of them.)

Update: The show has come back in the form of a touring company. Petula Clark is playing Norma Desmond. See our tour reviews section for our thoughts on this version of the show.

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Thoroughly Modern Millie

July, 2002; Marquis Theatre, NYC. Richard Morris, Dick Scanlan, and Jeanine Tesori based this musical on the 1967 movie-musical of the same name, which starred Mary Tyler Moore, Julie Andrews, and Carol Channing. Set in the 1920's, this show focuses on the adventures of Millie Dilmount, a small town girl who moves into a New York City hotel for women with hopes of making it big. The twist is, women living in the hotel keep dissappearing. It turns out a white slavery ring is being helped out by the hotel's owner. This show is great! It's really funny. The way the storyline plays out is a real hoot. The funniest parts are when Mrs. Meers (the hotel's owner) is interacting with her Chinese henchmen. We won't spoil the surprise of just why these parts are funny-you'll have to see for yourself. The whole cast is excellent-kudos to Sutton Foster, who played Millie, and Harriet Harris, who played Mrs. Meers-they really deserved their Tony awards! The choreography was excellent-it really brought that '20s flavor to the show, as did the costume designer-everyone's outfits were lovely. This is a definite must see-we loved it! Kids under 12 might be bored with the love interest portion of the story. If you haven't seen the movie, wait until you've seen the show, so the story isn't spoiled for you. A CD is available.

Titanic: A New Musical

July, 1997; Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. A musical based on the maiden voyage of the Titanic, going from the weighing of anchor to the sinking. The music is wonderful and moving, and the staging is something to be seen. The show takes place on 3 levels to give the illusion of a real ship. After the ship strikes the iceberg, hydraulics are used to simulate the ship gradually sinking by the bow. Wow! We loved it. A must see for all ages. CD available in stores.

The show has closed, but is touring. They did scale it down, but we loved what they did to make the end just as thrilling. To see our review of the touring company, see the tour review section.

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Triumph of Love

November, 1997; Royale Theatre, NYC w/ Betty Buckley and F. Murray Abraham. A romantic comedy/musical based on the play of the same name written by Marivaux. Set in the 18th century garden of the philosopher Hermocrates. A princess poses as a man in order to get closer to a man she's attracted to, the nephew of Hermocrates. Chaos ensues when her secret is revealed to Hermocrates and he falls for her. More chaos when Hermocrates' sister Hesione falls for the princess while she's posing as a man. A fun musical all around. The music is great and Betty Buckley and F. Murray Abraham do a wonderful job in their roles. All the cast works very well together to make this a funny, enjoyable show to watch. The show has closed.

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Urinetown

December, 2001; Henry Miller's Theatre; New York, NY. The off-Broadway smash hit recently moved to Broadway. Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis put together this flat out funny musical. A town similar to NYC has a terrible water shortage, which forces the government to outlaw private toilets. The only restroom facilities available are the public pay toilets owned by Urine Good Company. Go elsewhere, and face the consequences! This musical is GREAT! It's just about the funniest thing we've seen. Imagine, a subject like this for a musical, and yet it really works. The whole thing is very well written-the storyline "flows along", and the music is very good, as well as funny when it should be. New York City these days really does need a laugh, and this is definitely one solution. Don't miss it! Probably ok for kids 12 and over-remember, there's going to be alot of "toilet humor". CD available.

Victor/Victoria

December, 1996; Marquis Theatre, NYC w/ Julie Andrews. Stage adaptation of the Blake Edwards film, music by Henry Mancini. An out of work performer needs money desperately, so she pretends to be a man who pretends to be a woman. It was a wonderful show, and really cool to see Ms. Andrews recreate her film role. Raquel Welch has taken over her role. Kids over 12 will enjoy this one-have them check the movie out beforehand, just in case. Closed. See Musicals that Never Got a Chance for comments on the closing. The show soundtrack as well as the original movie soundtrack are available in stores. We prefer the movie soundtrack, because nobody can beat Robert Preston playing Toddy. His reprise of "The Lady from Seville" is priceless. This number was cut out and changed to a different song for the Broadway production. Why it was changed we can't say for sure, because it's funny as all get-out!

This show reappeared as a touring company. Toni Tennille played Victor/Victoria. We went to see it, so if you want to check out our review of the touring company, see the tour review section.

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