Thursday Thirteen – Missed Shows

I think I’m going to break from the obvious Thursday Thirteen post today and do something a little unexpected.  There are so many things I’m thankful for that I’m not sure I could keep the list to thirteen anyway.

Instead, I’m going to write a post about…missed opportunities, if you will.  I love live theatre.  I’ve been to New York only once and am insanely jealous of those who are able to go.  I just heard that a neighbor down the street is going after the New Year to take her daughter to see The Little Mermaid.  While that show in particular doesn’t interest me, I’m still bummed that I don’t get to go to NYC, too.  I immediately came home and put in my Hairspray soundtrack and started to dance around the house.  That made me think of all the shows that have closed that I will never see.  Also, it made me think of shows that might still be running but I didn’t get to see the original cast.  There are several.  Here are 13 of them:

1. Hairspray with Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur – This is my current obsession.  I clean like a mad woman when I rock out to Hairspray.



2. Wicked with Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel – This just got some awesome reviews and I’ve liked Kristen Chenoweth since Charlie Brown and Idina Menzel since Rent.  The two together are a force to be reckoned with.



3. The Producers with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick – How can you go wrong with a song titled “Springtime for Hitler”?



4. The Lion King original cast – This was such a smash hit, I would’ve loved to have been there when those animals first stepped foot on stage.  And don’t even get me started on the music.
5. Guys and Dolls with Nathan Lane and Peter Gallagher – Really, I love this show because of Miss Adelaide, but I think I’d go see anything with Nathan Lane at t his point.



6. Spamalot with Hank Azaria, Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce, and Sara Ramirez – I didn’t realize who Sara Ramirez was until well after she was on Grey’s Anatomy.  I love finding out when TV stars are Broadway stars first.  And you can’t beat this all star cast.  And, oh yeah, it’s MONTY PYTHON!



7. Avenue Q with John Tartaglia – You gotta love something new and different.  Why not an adult show with puppets?  And the fact that John Tartaglia is now the star of a children’s show…with puppets…is hilarious.



8. Rent original cast – Seasons of Love.  That’s all I’m saying.



9. Godspell original cast – I tend to fall in love with shows that I’ve been in (go figure) and Godspell is no exception.  The highlight of this show for me is By My Side.



10. You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown with the revival cast – Kristen Chenoweth.  Check.  Anthony Rapp.  Check.  Roger Bart.  Check.  And B.D. Wong as Linus.  I’m not sure Linus could be any further from his role on Law & Order: SUV.
11. Tarzan original cast – This is only on the list because the music is by Phil Collins.  I guess I could just buy the soundtrack.



12. Side Show original cast – Can you imagine how hard it would be to do a show when you literally have to be attached to another person’s hip the entire show.  A show about Siamese twins is definitely one I’d see.



13. Phantom of the Opera original cast – Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman.  Music of the Night.  And some nonsense about a falling chandalier…

For more lists, check out Thursday Thirteen!