Movie Musicals, The GOOD and the BAD.

With the trend of the movie musical becoming ever so popular since the success of Chicago in 2002, many theatre fans (including me) have chosen to look back in Hollywood history and explore some of the great and not so great movie musicals. In this post I will suggest the movie musicals of the past, present, and future, any theatre fan should see. One reason theatre fans may not like certain movie musicals is because the movie is not true to either the story, score, or overall meaning of the original show.Shows that I have seen both the movie and a live version of will be marked with a + so you can no how much I had to judge on.In no particular order:

-Thoroughly Modern Millie-Completely different from the show but has alot of heart.
-Hedwig and the Angry Inch-Indie classic
-Rocky Horror Picture Show-Another Indie Cult Classic
-Wizard of Oz
-Cabaret- Liza Minelli and Joel Grey in their prime!
-Singin In the Rain-Amazing classic with classic film stars.
-Funny Girl-Show that made Barbra Streisand famous won her an Oscar and a Tony award.
+-Chicago-Some say the movie is better than the show. I disagree. Both are really great.
+-West Side Story-Good movie that gets the story across, but is so much more beautiful live.
+-The Wiz-Many of the very funny jokes are taken out but the movie still has alot of heart and the score is still in tact.
-How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying-Just a great show. Looking forward to seeing it on Bway
-Grease-Come on! Classic
-Annie-Also a classic. Brightens up your day.
-Little Shop of Horrors-Dark and hilarious. Music well sung in the show and movie.
-The Producers-Almost entire OBC except for Uma Thurman the whole cast is a thrill.
-Hairspray-Fun!


-Nine-Haven't seen live and wasn't impressed by the movie. I've heard from others that the director just doesn't get the point of the show.
-Hair-Just horrible on film. Amazing, Meaningful, and Beautiful live.
-Grease 2-Pukes
-Sweeney Todd-The movie destroys the score. Mr. Sondheim must have been relying on the paycheck to get him over the horrible music talents in this movie.
-Mamma Mia-Just bad no one can sing in it.
+-Gypsy- Neither movie captures the magic.

Have fun yo!

What the F#$K WERE THEY THINKING?

This is the most rediculous thing I've seen in a looooooong time. This can't even be categorized as campy it's just completely 100% wrong. I'm not one to speak out against art or be conservative but this is one exception. This is completely wrong. I really would like to know what went through the administrators heads who put this show on. Never mind putting on a full production of a show for 8 year olds whos voices (or minds) aren't even developed yet, the fact that the subject matter of the show is completely inappropriate for anyone under the age of 13 which it said in the playbill on Broadway. Why this theatre or school or whatever would even be allowed to perform this is beyond me. The show deals with themes of homosexuality, aids, drugs, sex, and poverty, aspects of life most or all of these kids have no idea what it means. The fact that there are children under the age of ten playing for instance a lesbian couple is so wrong. Not for the fact that the characters are lesbians, but because these kids don't know what it means to be lesbian, bisexual, or homoesexual. They are merely acting as a puppet of sorts of whoever is in control doing whatever they instructed by their "director" assuming that they know when to pull the plug and assume trust in the adults who should know when to say when. I am shocked by this production of the show which is not meant to be performed this way and is a piece of art that is meant for ADULTS dealing with ADULT themes that has an important message that should be acted out only when the actors, creative team and everyone involved understands that message. I really wish I could figure out where this place is and call them and ask them out of curiosity what they were thinking. Jonathon Larson would not be proud of what his show has become.