Favorite Things Friday.

I haven't posted one of these in awhile, but I was sitting here whining to no one about my pinched nerve (slighty better today), and I decided to mention a website that I love.
It's called bluegobo.com, and it's a gay boy's dream come true.
It's a video archive of musical theatre clips, some from the Tony Awards, some from old Ed Sullivan shows, and all of them amazing. It's one of those websites where you must set aside large blocks of time before visiting, since you will get caught up in the magic and suddenly discover you've been sitting there for three hours.
The first show I saw on Broadway was "The Secret Garden," and here is a montage created and presented for the 1991 Tony Awards show, narrated by Julie Andrews. (I had trouble embedding the video, so here is a link instead.)

Secret Garden

Amazing. I just love reliving the glorious theatre moments of yesteryear, as well as moments I had the great fortune of seeing live on Broadway.
Enjoy!

Favorite Things Friday.

Being a big ol’ theatre queen, I thought I would share what I believe are my top 10 favorite musicals of all-time. It’s tough enough coming up with just 10, so I won’t even attempt to put them in any particular order.

A Chorus Line
Quintessential classic about auditions for a Broadway musical, featuring gay, Puerto Rican, black, Jewish, Asian, and WASP characters. And Cassie, who gets in because she slept with the director and learns not to pop her head. So to speak.

Les Miserables
Tragic, epic, accessible. And that march-step/waving flag finale of act one still induces goose-bumps.

Ragtime
A slice of Americana with several intertwining stories and a fantastic Ahrens/Flaherty score. “Wheels of a Dream” evokes pure patriotism.

Wicked
Yes, I admit it… I love this show. I’m neither 12, nor a girl, but I got chills when Elphaba flew.

Crazy for You
One of the few shows I saw more than once on Broadway. Great old Gershwin songs, and a farcical book by Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor).Fun, fun, fun! My first Susan Stroman experience... brilliant.

Thoroughly Modern Millie
Pure entertainment, old-school musical. I saw this one three times on Broadway and once here in Chicago on a tour. And fell in love with Marc Kudisch.

Baby
This one has sentimental value, since I was in it once and musical directed it twice. It’s a great show for an intimate setting and also great for community theatre.

Company
Possibly my favorite Sondheim show. It was the first of his that I ever saw (my college did it), and I was utterly hooked in every way. It was also the first show I was ever in (I played Harry).

Into the Woods
I laugh, I cry, I smile… lots of great songs, and one of my favorite to have musical directed and played piano for.

Follies
A masterpiece of Sondheim with a score rich in contemporary ballads as well as delightful but sarcastic pastiche. A sad but realistic commentary on the state of theatre, memory and marriage (well, in 1970 anyway).

Alright, feel free to share yours. But leave mine alone!