#2
8th Feb 2009 at 12:37 PM
I have been a huge musical fan now for about 10 years, since my mum first took me to see The Phantom of the Opera when I was 14.
I live in Adelaide, Australia, but lived in New Jersey for 2 years, where I tried to see as much on Broadway as I could (and could afford!), and lived in Calgary, Canada for two years where the woman I worked for was the director of the theatre there and was able to get me free tickets. To date I have seen:
In Australia-
- The Phantom of the Opera
- Fame
- The Sound of Music
- Singing in the Rain
- The Pirates of Penzance
- Wicked
- The Mikado
On Broadway-
- 42nd Street
- Gypsy
- The Phantom of the Opera (which had nothing on the Australian performance!)
- Beauty and the Beast
- The Producers
- Wicked
- The Boy from Oz (with Hugh Jackman! I was also very homesick at the time and burst into tears halfway through it... quite embarassing!)
In Canada-
- Chicago
- Cats
- The Phantom of the Opera
I am also travelling to Melbourne next week to see Wicked for the third time, and Billy Elliott for the first time.
My favourite musical would have to be Wicked- the sets are amazing (particularly the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway), the costumes are fabulous, and the music and dancing is so much fun. I have to say the Broadway production was better than the Australian production, but I was lucky enough to see the original Broadway cast, and noone can measure up to those two fabulous girls!
I truly enjoyed everything I have seen, and all the musicals were so different that they cannot be compared. But coming in second and third I would have to say The Boy from Oz and The Producers were the best.
The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway was the biggest disappointment, as it seemed very tired. The sets and costumes had nothing on the newer Broadway productions, and the actors were... okay.
Enjoy Wicked- it truly is amaxing!