| In this article we're going to try to give an idea of | | | | light hearted there is always "The Producers" or |
| what shows to go see if you want to get as | | | | "A Funny Thing Happened" which are also both |
| broad a musical theater background as possible.To | | | | currently playing as of this writing. The Producers |
| just say you're going to see a musical is not only | | | | is probably one of the funniest and off the wall |
| less than adequate but it's inaccurate at best. The | | | | musical comedies ever written while Funny Thing |
| truth is, a musical is not just a musical. Just like in | | | | is a wonderful parody of Roman times. It's worth |
| television and movies there are different types of | | | | going to see this farce just to hear the classic |
| shows, dramas, comedies, mysteries, science | | | | "Comedy Tonight" which has been sung by many |
| fictions, and a number of other genres, so it is | | | | great performers including Nathan Lane who was |
| the same in musical theater. So if you're looking | | | | also in Producers. Of course, nothing needs to be |
| to get a well rounded education and see the best | | | | said about "Springtime For Hitler" which is probably |
| of the best in each genre, what follows is a list, if | | | | one of the funniest songs ever written.If fantasy |
| not totally comprehensive at least representative, | | | | is your thing, there is always "Wicked" which is |
| of the kinds of musical plays that are a must | | | | one of the more recent fantasy plays. Wicked is |
| see.If you're looking for some serious | | | | actually a prequel to "The Wizard Of Oz" that tells |
| entertainment that is tense and dramatic, your | | | | the story of how the Wicked Witch Of The West |
| best bets are shows like Phantom Of The Opera | | | | actually became evil. Ironically, at the beginning, |
| and Jekyll and Hyde. These also fit well in with the | | | | she was the good witch and her sister was the |
| thriller type theme. Phantom is still currently | | | | conniving one. This is one musical that if you go |
| running as well as Hyde and both are very | | | | see it you will never see the original the same |
| dramatic stage adaptations of a couple of very | | | | way again. Musical highlights from "Wicked" include |
| old and well worn movies. The original Phantom Of | | | | "No One Mourns the Wicked", "Popular", "Defying |
| The Opera was actually a silent movie with Lon | | | | Gravity", and "I'm Not That Girl". The original cast |
| Chaney. The updated version is beautifully done | | | | of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who later |
| with some of the most breathtaking music in | | | | went on to "West Wing" fame, may never be |
| recent musical theater history, including the ever | | | | duplicated again. They were just brilliant.The above |
| popular "Music Of The Night" made famous by the | | | | shows don't even scratch a very broad surface. |
| performance of Michael Crawford back in the 80s. | | | | There have been a number of great musicals, |
| Jekyll and Hyde, while not quite as famous, is also | | | | dramas, comedies and fantasies that have come |
| an excellent dramatic play about a man who | | | | and gone over the years. Starting with the ones |
| basically leads a double life, one good, one evil. | | | | mentioned, however, will certainly get you started |
| The musical show stopper of this play is "This Is | | | | on what will hopefully be a long and enjoyable |
| The Moment" sung like nobody else can by | | | | education. |
| Robert Cuciolli.If you want something a little more | | | | |