Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Gone, But Not Forgotten - Shows That Close Way Too Soon

I swear, sometimes Playbill.com and I must share a psychic connection.  Every once in awhile, I'll post a blog on something Broadway, and the next day, Playbill.com will post a very similar (and usually better) article! And every once in awhile, they beat me to the punch.  Like with today's blog, which I've been mulling over/working on for more than a week (yes, I'm a big one for advanced planning...).  I guess I'm not too surprised that they posted a similarly-themed article on Sunday.  Well, I already took a good amount of time putting this together, so I'm putting mine out there, anyway. This is what I had before their article posted:

Every year, it seems more and more common that I fall in love with one show that closes before it has barely gotten out of the gate and running.  Don't you just hate when that happens?  Here are those shows from the last 10 seasons.


The One That Closed Too Soon 2003 - 2004: Caroline, or Change 
These Are the Ones That Stayed Around: Avenue Q, Wicked



The One That Closed Too Soon 2004 - 2005: Little Women
I loved the score and the staging.  And I cried like a baby...

These Are the Ones That Stayed Around: Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee



The One That Closed Too Soon 2005 - 2006: Tarzan
The opening sequence was absolutely stunning.  Josh Strickland and Jenn Gambatese were wonderful, and Phil Collins' score is awesome from start to finish.
The Ones That Stayed Around: The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer, Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone



The One That Closed Too Soon 2006 - 2007: The Times They Are A-Changin'
Sure, it was weird.  But the dancing (and the bouncing) were jaw-dropping.  And Michael Arden is an untapped talent.

The Ones That Stayed Around: Spring Awakening, Curtains, Legally Blonde, Mary Poppins



The One That Closed Too Soon 2007 - 2008: Cry-Baby
The Ones That Stayed Around: Xanadu, The Little Mermaid, In the Heights



The One That Closed Too Soon 2008 - 2009: The Story of My Life
Again, I was moved to tears.  And the story songs are among the best in years.

The Ones That Stayed Around: Next to Normal, Billy Elliot, Rock of Ages



The One That Closed Too Soon 2009 - 2010: Come Fly Away
Okay, so I have a thing for choreography that is so good, you hold your breath through every number.  It so happens that Twyla Tharp has provided that for me three times this century (Movin' Out is brilliance.)

These Are the Ones That Stayed Around: Memphis, American Idiot, Fela!




The Ones That Closed Too Soon 2010 - 2011: The Scottsboro Boys, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Catch Me If You Can
The season had three great shows that everyone missed.  Scottsboro is a masterpiece, maybe the best American musical in decades; Women was the first musical done in by message boards and social media, and didn't deserve it, even at the 3rd preview' and Catch Me was the perfect blend of story, stage craft, and score... maybe the best "complete package" since Hairspray.  It suffered in comparison, even though they were so different - I saw it as the same creative team growing together. I guess not many others did...

The Ones That Stayed Around: The Book of Mormon, Priscilla Queen of the Desert




The Ones That Closed Too Soon 2011 - 2012: Bonnie and Clyde, Lysistrata Jones
I've written many a blog about Mr. Barrow and Ms. Parker, so you know I loved it.  Still haunted by the final tableau... And, well, Lysistrata went down so easy, its intelligence went right over everyone's head.  Witty and smart and so well done.

The Ones That Stayed Around: Once, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Newsies



The One That Closed Too Soon 2012 - 2013: Hands on a Hardbody
I loved it, was moved by it, and thought they were a superb company telling an important American story. Too bad most of you missed it.

The Ones That Stayed Around: Kinky Boots, Matilda, Motown: The Musical



The One That Closed Too Soon 2013 - 2014: The Bridges of Madison County
I'm still getting over it.  Maybe next year I'll be able to articulate my feelings.  :-)

Jeff
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1 comment:

  1. I agree with you about "Catch Me If You Can". I loved it - especially the score.

    ReplyDelete

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