to start a thread for us to discuss our favourite musicals?

[CharleyDavidson]

I spend a fortune each year on my favourite hobby and scour the 3 or 4 local ish theatres to see what's out there.

I have this week just discovered Rent and was blown away by the performance of Layton Williams. Singing, dancing, back flipping and doing the splits - all in three inch heeled red boots! Just wow. The ticket price was worth it for that itself!

So, what are your favourites (so I can find some new ones to watch)...?

I loved
Wicked
We will rock you
Little shop of horrors
Lion king
Joseph
Only the Brave
Rent
Starlight express
Jesus Christ superstar
Also saw Barnum with Michael Crawford and it was amazing

Good was
Singing in the rain
Sound of music
Chitty bang bang
Mary Poppins
Shrek
Footloose
Wizard of Oz

Meh was
Cats
Evita
Dirty dancing
Book of Mormon
The commitments

Got tickets for sister act in April. Looking forward to that.

Oh so many! Pirates of Penzance and Showboat are firm favourites (although some would argue that PP is more of an opera) and I adore The Producers.

I really like a lot of the Disney ones too, esp Lion King. DD1 was in a school production of Beauty and the Beast last year and it was wonderful. When I was her age I was one of the orphans in Annie.

There's a new one coming out that I can't wait to see. It's called Come From Away
Seems like a strange subject for a musical - the diversion of planes to Newfoundland during 9/11 - but it has been getting rave reviews.

One of the hugely lucky things about living in Toronto is that we tend to be the test market before any of the big musicals go to Broadway. They work out all the kinks here before it hits Broadway & the West End! Come From Away is opening here this month and on Broadway in February 2017. If its any good I am sure it will have a London run too.

I hate Cats too.

How on earth did you find Book of Mormon meh Ruhr?!
I get some people would hate it, but meh? Nope. Can't see it.

I love the old musical films too. Watched them endlessly as a child. Holiday Inn, Easter Parade, singing in the Rain. I think there is nothing more fabulous than random tap dancing in the middle of a scene.

I'd love to see the fake musical Bombshell too Petal the songs were great

I hope School Of Rock and Waitress make their way across the pond too, in fact, School Of Rock is I think, those of you with DC ' the right age' I'm sure I read School Of Rock is hosting open auditions shortly due to the number of kids they need.

Have a google

forgot loads like phantom (loved), west side story (was ok), buddy holly (was ok), Tarzan (was great). I've seen loads of musicals over the years. I love going to them

I love most musicals. However, I think I might be the only person who doesn't get the appeal of Hamilton. I just don't like the music.

Recent ones I've seen and liked: Into The Woods (really not keen on the film though), Groundhog Day, Half A Sixpence, Book of Mormon.

Older ones: Sunset Boulevard was fantastic with Elaine Paige playing Norma Desmond. I also think Lord of the Rings was underrated.

There you go guys.

They are desperate for boys who play instruments

uk.schoolofrockthemusical.com/auditions/

School of Rock is booking in London now - DD has tickets. I saw Waitress on Broadway this summer (original cast). It is lovely - funny, moving and compelling.

Book of Mormon? Think I found it a bit meh as i didn't find it very funny. I sent it a matinee performance and the atmosphere was a bit crap (full of school kids chatting through it)

My favourite musical of all time is west side story but only the film version

Going to watch starlight express again next month. Looking forward to that.

School kids at Mormon. Are you sure. It's minimum age 16 so could have been 6th formers I guess. More likely students.

Yes mostly foreign school kids (I think Italien ones surrounding me directly) maybe students.

They were 16+, looked about 16-18

Like some PPs, I have become slightly obsessed with Hamilton. I love everything about it: the music (especially the different styles of music for different characters/situations), the casting, the intelligent way the story is told. Recently I had a very uncomfortable conversation with someone who openly smirked at the idea that the cast was multicultural. God, the stupidity of some people.

I was hoping to see Hamilton with the original cast, but alas it was not to be. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom have already left the cast, sob.

Just seen Rent is on at my local theatre in April 17

I can't believe Jersey Boys isn't more popular. I'm am embarrassingly obsessed with it - I have the soundtrack on constant repeat and my 4 year old can sing along!

I'm glad I had a quick search to see what Rent was about before going to see it. I'm broad minded (loved Rocky Horror for example) and really liked it, but there were several of the older members of the audience who clearly weren't prepared for the subject matter and didn't come back in for the second half.

Yes you're right that Les Mis is older than many of its audience, so not really modern but I think of as representing a certain era of huge West End musical that's newer than the classics. (Although I'm not a big fan of Oklahoma/Carousel/Showboat either - I like my lyrics wittier and wordier rather than full on romanticism).

West side story
Jesus Christ superstar
Cats
Phantom
Annie

Most of the OG cast have now left Hamilton or announced they are leaving shortly

I might know it word for word

Hamilton is coming to London next year. You can preregister your interest in tickets till Monday.

Best ever...Jospeh then abba, phantom of the opera

Worse which wasnt that bad just compared to the three above...lion king

Id go back to the top three now but wouldnt to lion king.