Six Broadway Shows in One Week.
The Greatest and Least Appealing Performances of Broadway, New York.
By Teagan Greer
Six Broadway Shows in One Week. The Greatest and Least Appealing Performances of Broadway, New York.
After I graduated high school, I got the opportunity of a lifetime. I got to hop on a plane with my mom to see one of the most iconic places in all the United States. I can still remember our first trip together: huge crowds of people gathered in clusters as we made our way into the heart of Times Square, incredible views we encountered at the top of the Chrysler building, the questionable hotdogs we ate after we visited the American Museum of Natural History, and the smell of sea salt as we road a fairy on our way to witness the Statue of Liberty. Although we made sure to go to the most iconic landmarks, we also had to make our way to the biggest entertainment New York had to offer: Broadway.
Broadway holds a special place in my soul. Not just because I got to experience it with my mom, but because my mom and I managed to catch not one, not two, not even three, but six broadway shows. All in the span of one week.
I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to experience these musi-
By Teagan Greer
cals live, strengthening my love for the preforming arts. My love only grows as I list what makes broadway so special and why it’s worth a visit. Part of my love for broadway stemmed from the objects, such as the masterfully done costumes and set designs. Part of my love came from the catchy and heartfelt tunes that were sung, and part of my love emerged from the emotions I felt while watching these characters on set. There is, however, one thing I admire most about broadway shows. It is their tenacity to make and preform the best show anyone has ever seen the first time around, and it starts the moment the curtains arise. In movies, actors can take multiple shots to get the pacing, lines, and feeling of the moment just right. In musicals, however, you only get one shot. One shoot to get the felling, lines, and pacing, just right. One shot, and it’s over.
That is why I love Broadway.
You can feel the passion and grit of the actors as you watch the stage, feel the sense of excitement and wonder as the scenes unfold. You
can even experience an out-of-body like phenomenon as you watch the performance come to life before your very eyes. You are a witness to so much more than just a show, you are a witness to a spectacle.
After getting the incredible opportunity of visiting six broadway shows, I categorized these shows from greatest to least appealing. The ranking varies from likability of plot, character development, themes, and so much more. It also ranks what shows I believe inspired me most, to the broadway show I felt least connected to. These are the six broadway shows.
In first place, for the best Broadway show I saw in New York, was the musical “Six”. This Broadway show was loosely based on the historical retelling of Henry VIII’s six dead wives/lovers. Each woman debated one another in musical form to see who had the worst life after they met King Henry. The show had witty jokes, catchy original songs, compelling as well as deeply tragic narratives, and complex character development. This was the first
Broadway show I saw, and it did not disappoint. Their hilarious one liners, angelic vocals, and diva-like attitudes will make you pumped with excitement and craving for more.
Next up on this list is “& Juliet”. This musical is a retelling of the classic Shakespearian story Romeo & Juliet… except, what if Juliet didn’t take her own life? This play explores the life of Juliet if she never drove the dagger into her heart. It also explores how she meets new friends, travels to new and exciting places, and gets into even more complicated situations. All while the narrators, Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, fight over how the story should end. Full of drama, twists, flare, positive LGBTQ inclusion, and outrageous humor, you won’t want to leave your seats. This play marries tragedy with optimism, death with dance, consequence with opportunity, and love with sacrifice. If you had to watch only one musical, this would be my recommendation.
The following musical on this list is the award-winning show “Hamilton”. This Broadway show is about the historical retelling of the life of Alexander Hamilton. It starts at the beginning of his career, defending the notion of freedom outspokenly, fighting for what he believes in, and defending America alongside George Washington. There is a reason why Hamilton is so huge in the musical theater world. Hamilton not only has world class original music and a humorous tyrannical king, but it deals with the consequences of fighting for what you believe in. It even tackles the emotional rollercoaster of pride, shame, loss, and tragedy. Showing what it
truly means to believe and fight for a cause, and asking yourself, “What are you willing to lose to get there?”.
Fourth to go on this astonishing list of performances is “Wicked”. This musical is based on the story of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. With Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch, attending the University of Shiz to find themselves in this magical and dangerous world. It has outstanding original music as well as impressive set designs, costumes, and a complex lore to go with it. While “Wicked” can be great at times, the script for the first act is a bit stiff, the characters personalities were cheesy and two dimensional, and the humor felt dry at times. You would have to wait until the end of the first act and the beginning of the second act to really enjoy the show and invest in the drama. This is not to say that wicked was not revolutionary, it just was slightly overhyped. I would recommend watching it if you have the time, but it shouldn’t be your first show.
Coming up on the back of the list is “The Heart of Rock and Roll”. This show is about a man who works minimum wage at a cardboard box company, but wishes to become a rock star. This musical features classic 80’s rock along with a fun environment and a lighthearted crew of actors. It is a throwback retro musical with fun drama, sassy characters, and plenty of references that will take older generations a trip down memory lane. The only reason why it wasn’t higher on my list wasn’t because it was bad at all. It just didn’t offer as incredible and rich of a story as many of the other performances above did. It is more a fun musical to enjoy with your
parents and grandparents rather than a musical that everyone would like.
The very last musical to arrive on this list is “Water for Elephants”. This show is about a veterinarian who quits his college schooling during the great depression. With nowhere else to go, he joins the circus. This musical has heavy themes, dark topics, and a depressing atmosphere; fitting for the time in which it took place. Although it had wholesome moments, incredible dancing, acting, and intense action scenes, it can be a lot to handle for someone who just wants to watch a lighthearted and funny musical.
Every single one of these shows, no matter how much I loved most to least, gave me a sense of passion and fulfillment. I had seen musicals before in my hometown that gave me that same feeling (“Hades-Town” and “Little Shop of Horrors”), but to see it on Broadway, in New York City, took it to the next level. There were many things that did surprise me, like how much smaller the stages were, or how my expectations, good or bad, were challenged in every musical. One thing I learned is that it is not just the set designs, the costumes, or even the lights that made the performance; It was the scripts, the plots, the actors, and the complex personalities as well as character development. Without these components, none of it would have been possible. That is the beauty of broadway and the Spectacle of musical theater.