CayleeJo
|
Introducing my boyfriend to Musicals? What to show him?My boyfriend and I have been dating for about 3 and a half months now, and he decided to ask what got me so hyped up about Musical Theatre. Well, this spawned a long conversation about what joy MT brings me. In an attempt to help him further understand I sent him home with the first musical DVD I could grab at arm's length, which happened to be Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter). He came back today, and loved it:) Granted, the intense blood and gore in the film could've attributed to some of that, but nonetheless, what, in your opinion, should I show him next?
On hand I have....
Phantom of the Opera (every version since 1925)
Sound of Music
Moulin Rouge
Mamma Mia!
CATS
American Mall
and Evita.
I'm working on ordering the 'Notre Dame de Paris' musical, which is absolutely breath-taking for those that haven't seen it (granite, it's all in french, so i have to deal with poorly translated subtitles, but nonetheless, it's quite brilliant) As well as Funny Girl and a few others, but until then, what do you suggest?? Thanks!
|
Felix Felicis
|
Good shows for guys:
Avenue Q
Chicago
Jerry Springer: The Opera
Little Shop of Horrors
next to normal
Ragtime
tick, tick... BOOM!
The Wild Party
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
|
Beagle On Stage
|
Try something tailored to his existing interests. If he's a rock and roll guy, Jesus Christ Superstar or Hair are good places to start easing him in. If he's a Christian, Godspell is likely to be fun for him. If he's one of those reading people, hook him up with the one based on his favorite book. At this point, it's not about showing him the greatest masterpieces, but capturing his interest.
|
Pounce
|
Re: Introducing my boyfriend to Musicals? What to show him? | CayleeJo wrote: | On hand I have....
Phantom of the Opera (every version since 1925)
Sound of Music
Moulin Rouge
Mamma Mia!
CATS
American Mall
and Evita.
|
Depends on his personality. If you are talking DVDs, for a guy, I think Evita would be the best of that list. Mamma Mia! is really a chick-flick as is Sound of Music. Moulin Rouge is good but it's kind of surreal. And speaking of surreal,CATS might work if he likes cats. PotO...it's ok for a guy but the film just wasn't very good. If he is cool with gays, RENT would be good. A guy could identify with tick, tick...BOOM but I don't know of a video and the CD would be confusing.
|
Salome
|
more sondheim.for sex..
A lIttle night music
for fun..
A funny thing happened on the way to the forum
if he is a history buff have him try ...
1776
shenedoah
titanic
or legends and fantasy...
Camelot
|
Beagle On Stage
|
Re: Introducing my boyfriend to Musicals? What to show him? | Pounce wrote: | | If you are talking DVDs, for a guy, I think Evita would be the best of that list. |
Evita is a gay icon... a movie about Madonna sleeping with guys to become an actress and then dying of uterine cancer isn't really the most masculine place to start.
|
SmallTownIngenue
|
My straight, self professed theater hating brothers both loved Wicked when they saw it on Broadway.
I know it's not the pinnacle of "good" theater, but just saying.
One of my brother's also loved Into the Woods (I was in it so he came and ended up loving the show).
|
wicked_diva
|
Granite is a stone. Granted is the word you're looking for.
That said, I would second the suggestion of 1776, though only if he's a history buff. And I think of your collection, I would probably go with Moulin Rouge as movie #2. I know of very few people who don't like that movie.
|
Pounce
|
Re: Introducing my boyfriend to Musicals? What to show him? | Beagle On Stage wrote: | | Pounce wrote: | | If you are talking DVDs, for a guy, I think Evita would be the best of that list. |
Evita is a gay icon... a movie about Madonna sleeping with guys to become an actress and then dying of uterine cancer isn't really the most masculine place to start. |
Eh...so is most of musical theater. Have to work with what you can.
|
Brigantine
|
If you're looking for movies, I'd also go with Moulin Rouge (Ewan McGregor is a good role model  ).
My husband enjoyed Into The Woods.
for older movie musicals, perhaps The Music Man?
|
NoOneMournsTheWicked
|
My boyfriend isn't very into musical theatre, but I've managed to get him to like a few shows:
Grease (everyone knows Grease, and it's fun)
Spring Awakening (I took him to see it, and he loved it)
Sweeney Todd (There's blood and gore and Johnny Depp)
and surprisingly The Fantasticks (he was humming 'Try to Remember' all day today)
Avenue Q (it's funny)
and my big brother hates musicals, but I took him to see The Phantom of the Opera (we got free tickets) and he loved it. He even downloaded the music.
|
Monsieur D'Arque
|
Now, if you can take him to Broadway, there are plenty of shows with meaty plots and guy-friendly themes, such as... hmm....
Then and again, though, Rock of Ages has an ALL FEMALE, ALL STRIPPER CHORUS.
|
Silverweed
|
| Beagle on Stage wrote: | | Try something tailored to his existing interests. If he's a rock and roll guy, Jesus Christ Superstar or Hair are good places to start easing him in. If he's a Christian, Godspell is likely to be fun for him. If he's one of those reading people, hook him up with the one based on his favorite book. At this point, it's not about showing him the greatest masterpieces, but capturing his interest. |
I echoe Beagle on this one. If your guy is into witty, Woody Allen-esque movies, give him Company (though the show can be difficult to follow from listening to the cast recording for the first time - take him to see a live production of it).
And pretty much everyone loves Cabaret. That's a good one too.
|
Beagle On Stage
|
Re: Introducing my boyfriend to Musicals? What to show him? | Pounce wrote: | | Eh...so is most of musical theater. Have to work with what you can. |
You can be a LITTLE less gay than Evita though.
|
kakoforever
|
If you're sitting at home watching DVDs, don't forget Chicago. It's dark and sexy and funny and well-made.... I think it could work as a guy movie.
|
Xxmcfly85xX
|
One of my straight super sporty macho man friends loves Spamalot. He always talks about it.
And my brother who hates musicals has voluntarily bought tickets to Wicked and Avenue Q and loved them. He's also considered seeing Chicago, but I think in the end he decided that was pushing it for him.
|
Salome
|
dont forget "debbie does dallas' the musical. ist really sexy but not xxx rated like the film lol
|
Mungojerrie_rt
|
| Xxmcfly85xX wrote: | One of my straight super sporty macho man friends loves Spamalot. He always talks about it.
And my brother who hates musicals has voluntarily bought tickets to Wicked and Avenue Q and loved them. He's also considered seeing Chicago, but I think in the end he decided that was pushing it for him. |
I would think Chicago with the murder and sex is less pushing it than Defying Gravity.
|
Xxmcfly85xX
|
| Mungojerrie_rt wrote: | | Xxmcfly85xX wrote: | One of my straight super sporty macho man friends loves Spamalot. He always talks about it.
And my brother who hates musicals has voluntarily bought tickets to Wicked and Avenue Q and loved them. He's also considered seeing Chicago, but I think in the end he decided that was pushing it for him. |
I would think Chicago with the murder and sex is less pushing it than Defying Gravity. |
Very very good point. I don't really know how his brain works, but I assume he thought the likes of Wicked and Avenue Q are sort of light hearted entertainment whereas he saw Chicago as being a more bonafide musical.
|
Brigantine
|
| kakoforever wrote: | | If you're sitting at home watching DVDs, don't forget Chicago. It's dark and sexy and funny and well-made.... I think it could work as a guy movie. |
yes!! I knew there was one more we had. We've watched that a few times.
|
ActingDude17
|
Re: Introducing my boyfriend to Musicals? What to show him? | CayleeJo wrote: | | I sent him home with the first musical DVD I could grab at arm's length, which happened to be Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter). He came back today, and loved it:) Granite, the intense blood and gore in the film could've attributed to some of that |
Show him the Hearn/Lansbury 1982 DVD. It's miles better than the Depp/Bonham Carter/Burton 2007 film adaptation. Plus, it's Sweeney the way it was originally intended to be.
As a straight male, I think I can help with some of this. Sondheim, Sondheim, Sondheim. You can't go wrong with his work. I don't see any straight guy thinking the music/story is girly or anything. Also, you said he enjoyed Sweeney. He'll probably enjoy other musicals by the same composer. Try to avoid R&H (too fluffy), possibly ALW too. Phantom may be okay but it has the whole cliche love story going for it that most straight males (including me) do not go for. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and In The Heights may be good choices too, along with Nine. I second the previous suggestion of Chicago, too. I'll go out on a limb and suggest Rent. There's this stereotype that us straight men don't like it just because it has homosexual characters. Not true at all. If he is tolerant of homosexuality I imagine he'll enjoy seeing what the show is like, at least. Plus, the Filmed Live On-Broadway DVD is so easy to get. Put down Fiddler on the Roof as a maybe.
At all costs, AVOID LEGALLY BLONDE. I hope I was able to help, and kudos to you for getting someone you know into the wonderful world that is musical theatre.
|
bittenbythetheatrebug
|
| Felix Felicis wrote: | Good shows for guys:
Avenue Q
Chicago
Jerry Springer: The Opera
Little Shop of Horrors
next to normal
Ragtime
tick, tick... BOOM!
The Wild Party
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee |
You just listed most of my favorite shows. LOL! 
Also, try Frankenstein: A New Musical. It's incredible. 
OH! And The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.. my brother who despises musical theater adores that show.
|
idTAPthat89
|
Re: Introducing my boyfriend to Musicals? What to show him?Sweeney Todd. My boyfriend has watched musicals with me ever since He's even taking me to see Avenue Q!
|
Silverweed
|
| ActingDude17 wrote: | | Try to avoid R&H (too fluffy), possibly ALW too. |
Rodgers & Hammerstein isn't really fluffy... but it can come across that way on the surface to a person who doesn't know much about musicals. It's very sing-y dance-y, and a lot of guys aren't into that.
|
ActingDude17
|
R&H is fluffy, in my opinion. Just not my kind of musical theatre. To me, the song and dance in their shows lacks depth.
Anyway, here's my summary list: Sweeney Todd, Into The Woods, Chicago, In The Heights, Fiddler on the Roof, Nine, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Rent.
|
Silverweed
|
| ActingDude17 wrote: | | R&H is fluffy, in my opinion. Just not my kind of musical theatre. To me, the song and dance in their shows lacks depth. |
Not your kind of musical theatre, I can appreciate...
but...
fluffy? lacking in depth? do my eyes deceive me?
Have you seen South Pacific or Carousel? (And I mean actual good productions, not the movie versions) And that they basically created contemporary musical theatre? And that there would be no Stephen Sondhem without them?
|
Hans
|
| Silverweed wrote: | | Rodgers & Hammerstein isn't really fluffy... but it can come across that way on the surface to a person who doesn't know much about musicals. |
I agree with this. The style of R&H is somewhat unusual today, so it's easy writing those shows off as syrupy and fluffy. It takes a while to accept their style, but shows like Carousel, Allegro, The King And I and South Pacific aren't fluff. They deal with very real and serious subjects.
Even Oklahoma! (when the wonderful Lonely Room is not cut) gives much emotional resonance. Oh, I love that song.
But, yeah, R&H shows are possibly not what one should show one's stereotypically masculine boyfriend.
|
Mungojerrie_rt
|
I never got the ending to King and I. He just dies. Why? So the head wife can sing a long, dramatic song?
|
Hans
|
| Mungojerrie_rt wrote: | | I never got the ending to King and I. He just dies. Why? So the head wife can sing a long, dramatic song? |
I don't quite understand the question.
Doesn't he die because that's what he actually did?
|
Mungojerrie_rt
|
| Dvarg wrote: | | Mungojerrie_rt wrote: | | I never got the ending to King and I. He just dies. Why? So the head wife can sing a long, dramatic song? |
I don't quite understand the question.
Doesn't he die because that's what he actually did? |
I don't know. I the movie it just seems tacked on with no real resolution.
|
Salome
|
| ActingDude17 wrote: | R&H is fluffy, in my opinion. Just not my kind of musical theatre. To me, the song and dance in their shows lacks depth.
Anyway, here's my summary list: Sweeney Todd, Into The Woods, Chicago, In The Heights, Fiddler on the Roof, Nine, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Rent. |
R&H is far from fluffy. (except cinderella).
|
Salome
|
you relaize king and iis based on a true story. king mongut died at that time.
and lady thaing doesnt sing her song after he dies she sings it midway through act I.
|
Hans
|
| Salome wrote: | you relaize king and iis based on a true story. king mongut died at that time.
and lady thaing doesnt sing her song after he dies she sings it midway through act I. |
That's why the question is confusing to me.
|
Oli-Ol
|
I have managed to persuade several of my musical-hating friends to come and see Billy Elliott in London and they absolutely loved it. Even the little boy who completely hates musicals because they're 'my thing' was seriously considering auditioning for either Billy of Michael.
although the amount of swearing might have contributed to that
|
CayleeJo
|
Wow Guys. Tons of Help! I think I'll go with something along the lines of Chicago, Avenue Q, and Oklahoma!, and see what he leans towards from there...
|
ActingDude17
|
| Dvarg wrote: | | Silverweed wrote: | | Rodgers & Hammerstein isn't really fluffy... but it can come across that way on the surface to a person who doesn't know much about musicals. |
I agree with this. The style of R&H is somewhat unusual today, so it's easy writing those shows off as syrupy and fluffy. It takes a while to accept their style, but shows like Carousel, Allegro, The King And I and South Pacific aren't fluff. They deal with very real and serious subjects.
Even Oklahoma! (when the wonderful Lonely Room is not cut) gives much emotional resonance. Oh, I love that song.
But, yeah, R&H shows are possibly not what one should show one's stereotypically masculine boyfriend. |
I guess R&H is just simply not my style. I'm a straight guy so I guess your last comment is pretty well on-the-mark. It tends to be true in my experiences as well.
Good choices, CayleeJo. Great variety and it should give you a sense of what other shows in the field he'll enjoy.
|
Hans
|
| ActingDude17 wrote: | | I guess R&H is just simply not my style. |
That may be true. But you should nevertheless try to get into some R&H shows. It can really be rewarding. And even though the tone of those shows may feel awkward to some people, those are the shows that by and large shaped our way of looking at musicals today. That's interesting in itself.
|
