Curtain Call for Some of Broadway's Greatest Hits

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Today an Edgar Allen Poe musical entitled ‘Red-Eye to Havre de Grace’,  popped up in my newsfeed and sent my bookwormy self into a hysteria of happiness. The plot of this musical entails the final days of the great poet and how he died. To my dismay, it was an article published in the early fall of 2012; thus meaning that this brilliant musical was no more.

However, this old news made me think of all the great musicals that were taken off Broadway.  Over the years, tons of shows have been produced, and performed beautifully by many actors and actresses. Yet time rolled on and one by one these musicals were plucked off Broadway one by one. Below are my top three shows that should have not been kicked off Broadway:

3) ‘Beauty and the Beast ‘

It’s a tale as old as time that was a hit Broadway musical. Sticking to Disney’s version of the classic fairy tale, this show toured the nation and dazzled audiences with its lavish sets and costumes. The show even included songs that weren’t in the movie such as Maison de Lunes, Human Again, Home, If I Can’t Love Her, and many others.  ‘Beauty and the Beast’ started its Broadway run in 1994 and completed it in 2007 and was considered to be Broadway’s eighth longest running musical. Even more intriguing about this play, the woman who played Belle also voiced Meg in the Disney classic, Hercules.

2) ‘Monty Python’s Spamalot’

Some things in life are bad, like getting kicked off Broadway. This play “ripped off” Monty Python’s Holy Grail flick and created a parody of the King Arthur age that differed from the movie. While the musical heavily touched on King Arthur, Camelot, and his court, it also focused on other Arthurian myths such as the Lady in the Lake. Starting in 2005, it ended four short years later leaving audiences rolling with laughter. It featured many songs, including the ever popular The Song that Goes Like This. Literally, that’s the title, and it’s perfect for that tune.

1) ‘RENT’

How do you measure the years after Broadway? By a live action film featuring Anthony Rapp and enough fans (also known as ‘RENT’ heads) to take up the entire district of Alphabet City. Originally based off of Giacomo Puccini’s classic opera La boheme, this musical focuses on starving artists trying to survive and create in New York.  ‘RENT’ took to the theaters in 1996 and finished its run in 2008, causing its run to last for 12 years.

What Broadway musical would you like to see return to the stage? Feel free to comment and as always feedback and followers are welcomed.