Thle Mis

I love musicals and particularly live theatre. My 9 year old daughter ask me to take her to see Les Mis (the movie) for the 3rd time yesterday. Yea!!!
My oldest daughter and I saw Miss Saigon three weekends in a row when it was in Phila. last year. Luckily, my daughters have the theatre bug like me and not like you;).
My 9 year old was "Annie" in Annie a few weeks ago. What a proud moment for my husband and me.

LOL to each his own! I absolutely adore musicals, with the exception of a very few, and I love rock and roll, from little indie bands in clubs all the way up to huge, over the top stadium concerts.
But if I had to sit through an episode of Hee Haw ever again (I grew up watching that too) I would probably start banging my head against the wall!!!
ETA: I think Miss Hannigan is HILARIOUS. I used to do shows in high school and she is by far one of the top characters I always wanted to play :-)

hahaha. I like the musicals.... but I HATED Forest Gump. I've had people honestly GASP when I say that! :-)

Whenever people start talking about classics like that the *EVERYONE* likes but they hate...... I always think of the Seinfeld episode where Elaine hates The English Patient, but everyone else loves it.

I haven't seen Les Mis, but it's not one I would recommend for someone who doesn't like musicals. I also grew up around the theatre.... and sometimes it's an acquired taste.

Hee Haw, however, is not that much different than snooty musical. It's just people singing songs that are reflective of their situation. Hee Haw is just *variety* more than a *plot-focused* storyline.

You might do well with a musical that is about songs you like..... do you like Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons? You might LOVE Jersey Boys (I did) because you can sing along with music you know and also you learn a bit about the group.

Also - not sure if you have kids.... but I actually liked the High School Musical movies (well... the first 2 anyway.....) they're cheesy, but they're about things people can actually relate to now.

Well, the movie with Hugh is worth a look :) He's incredible.

I freaking HATE musicals and theater. I am an artist, and grew up that way. It's the one art form, that I just can't learn to love. I LOVE art and it's a huge part of my life...every single day. I respect the talent, but I can't watch it. I have tried my entire life, and I just can't. It's like nails on a chalkboard for me. I love music, of course. I just don't like the medium mixed with acting. I can't explain it. I can read them in book form, but not in musical form.

I don't feel like i"m missing out, at all. Unless, missing out on something you can't stand...is somehow a bad thing...

To each his own Lillym. Musical theater is a true love....you either have that love or you don't. That is also something that is instilled from youth. You kinda' had to grow up with it or with someone in your family in a theater and arts school, or in NY. I am from NY and grew up with theater and arts all around me, so sorry, I love them all and if I don't like them, I am still willing to see it and not criticize it alltogether. I loved Phantom. Not to excited about Miss Saigon...Les Mis was a beautiful story. I take my kids to the theater at least 3 times a year and they too have a natural love of it. So....it all comes down to how you were raised.

I LOVE musicals! But I hated Cats. I left at intermission. I couldn't take it anymore, lol.

Loved les mis....love love love it!!

Guess that's why SOME say OPPOSITES attract. What are you missing? I would say the willingness to widen your horizons. Hating things is a waste of your time and energy. If you think you would be better off telling your husband to go WITHOUT you, try that on for size ..... you might not like the outcome.

I am not a fan of musicals myself. I saw 'Chicago' in London years ago which was fabulous because it was so upbeat and fun/funny. Then I saw another one (completely forget the title) and it was painful to endure. I suppose it is like movies - you like some but then you don't like others for whatever reason.

In the spirit of light heartedness and making fun of myself, I am lukewarm on the other arts too (ballet, opera, and symphony). I do well until it starts to feel elitist and/or exclusionary. I can only describe it as that feeling where you want to say - if I was exposed from a tender age and/or a participant of these arts and/or I wasn’t such an uncultured bumpkin, then perhaps I would comprehend it. Regardless it is hardly a good feeling when you are sitting there trying to enjoy your free time and be dazzled by the experience. Classical ballet is fine. I enjoy it but I probably don’t “get” everything I see simply because I am not a dancer. We did see a modern ballet and that was beyond weird, though. Way too interpretive for me. I felt like I had landed on a foreign planet with no common footing. We left at the first break and are far more particular about our ballet outings now. Opera is something I am growing to love only because my two year old is obsessed with it. I prefer it taped, though. When it starts dragging, I can pause for popcorn or a later time. I will say I find it fascinating how depressing the opera plots are. I saw a modern opera once and got the worst case of the giggles ever. What a way to show my maturity I know. First off all of the singers were barefoot which struck me as unbelievably odd. It creeped me out seeing their feet the entire time. Then the female lead started rolling on the ground (I have no idea why because I don’t know the plot) and that did it. I fought the giggles for the rest of the opera. It struck me as so incredibly ludicrous. I was glad it was a short opera. Finally there is the symphony which is hideous because it is at night and the soothing music puts me right to sleep after a long day at work. I chalk it up to being uncultured but at least I keep trying periodically.

I love pretty much anything Andrew Lloyd Webber produces. Phantom is my favorite! I love his music and the special effects they can create on a single stage is amazing. The movie version of these musicals sometimes lose some of their dazzle for me because I have just come to expect special effects in movies.
I loved Mama Mia. It was funny and I love Abba music.
I didn't care for Rent and have no interest in seeing Cats although there are a few songs from each that I enjoy. I would probably like Les Mis, but haven't gotten around to seeing it.
A.

Have you ever tried listening to the recordings of musicals before going to see them on stage? Knowing the songs in advance sometimes makes folks feel more relaxed when seeing the show itself -- it takes off the pressure of "I have to sit here bolt upright straining to hear every syllable or I'll lose the plot and the plot is weird anyway...." It might let you relax a little more and take in the show as a whole package.

I noticed that you mention only the really massive shows that are giant, loud, BIG productions like Phantom, Les Mis, Greats, etc. Go see some shows that are (1) not musicals at all or (2) musicals that are not the big, bombastic, spectacular musicals. If you're "a very practical person" as you say, and you don't like all the sloppy emotions of the gargantuan musicals, have you ever tried seeing a good, modern drama instead? You might find that you are seeing people a lot more like you up there on stage.

It's sad if you let an assumption that all "theatre" is Broadway-style musicals stop you from trying other forms of live shows.

If you like humor, go to funny shows like "Avenue Q" (only if you like VERY rude humor; it's like the Muppets but extremely "blue" though very funny if you like that) or political comedy revues.

I know several women who would love to borrow your husband. The wives like to see shows but their husbands cringe and whine and only want to watch sports. Be glad your husband at least is interested in something that does not involve some form of a ball.

Full disclosure: In our house, the one show that is sacred is "Guys and Dolls." Try that one but do not get the terrible movies that have been made of it. Wait for a professional stage production that does it right! And....listen to the music first and even read the short stories on which it's based. Fun stuff. Not practical, for sure, but a long way from the bombast of Phantom or Miss Saigon.

Ok first I loved it! Yes the singing EVERYTHING gets annoying and at times I was like ok, really is it over, but the story itself is great. I would have loved to see it live, because you really do just want to clap at the end, i mean how could you not (even if it's just because they stopped singing, lol). Find something short, and try to focus on the content maybe and at least then you can enjoy it for what it is even if you never love them.

I love the Theatre. I only hate CATS....ugh. too much spandex and worthless story....

But Les Mise....oh my, please, listen to the music and think about the powerful message of that sad story. It is probably the most amazing story of our human condition and the power to overcome ever written.

LOL, I like Musicals BUT they are wierd when you think about them. Many are dark or have a dark theme to the story. Geez, look up the story line of Sweeney Todd (sp?). Plus it's really not reflective of real life, well atleast in my life we aren't breaking out into song and dance every 15 minutes.

I love musicals, from the classics like "Oklahoma" and "Fiddler on the Roof" to the corny like "Mama Mia." I love almost all of them. However, I hated "Cats" and "Rent."

My 13-year-old is an actor--school plays and stuff. Until now he has always shied away from musicals though. He is going to make his musical debut in his school's spring musical, "Hollywood Hillbillies," based not-so-loosely on the Beverly Hillbillies. If you grew up with Hee Haw maybe you grew up with that too. He's already nervous and I am a little too, but I can't wait! Anyhow, maybe you should try a musical performed by amateurs. I am always amazed by the quality of our local community and high school theater. It's an inexpensive way to become more familiar with the genre and experiment with different types of music. I think the key is finding a style of music you like and find catchy. For example, my dad doesn't like to sit through musicals either, but he loved "The Buddy Holly Story" because he loves 50s style music.

What about kids' musicals like Beauty and the Beast or The Little Mermaid? If you like sports try Damn Yankees or the new Johnny Baseball. My husband sometimes walks around the house humming from The Music Man because he likes band music.

I HATE MUSICALS. Hate them. I can't be in the same room if someone puts Glee on TV. They just make my brain hurt like other people put their fingers in their ears when they hear heavy metal music. They are weird and silly and just WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE SINGING?? There is no reason for them to be singing. If you wanted to torture me, you'd just have to blare show tunes through the house.

So no, you are not alone! I also can't stand those a capella singing groups where the people are all enthusiastic with over-the-top facial expressions. GAH!

It's Les Miz
Even my uncultured brother in law that's about as redneck as they come , loves Les Miz. How can you not??? I dunno I've always loved music in all forms.
Les Miz is about struggle and love and sacrifice and the french revolution and the struggle they , the poor people had. Try the book. You did know it's a book right? It's a classic by Victor Hugo.
Phantom is about love.( also a book) Grease is fun , not a west side story fan. Loved Annie as a kid, The original , not the remake. What little girl doesn't want to be adopted by a rich guy that will give her everything she's ever wanted?
I dunno Music is a passion of mine and I've always love it and musicals.
It's another world.

BTW I grew up watching hee haw too so that has nothing to do with it, I still like hee haw.

To each their own ,but you are REALLY missing out.

ETA: I know what it stands for I've seen it several times. It is very often refereed to as Les Miz with a z because the s is pronounced as a z because it's French. http://www.backstage.com/news/les-miz-who-played-it-best-...
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/opinion/2013/01/21/par...
Les Miz is even listed in the IMDB page for the new movie.

I remember my dad took my stepmom to see les mis on broadway, he said it has a good name because he was les miserable the whole time. She and my sis went to see the new movie, he went with my brother to see Django, lol. I dont mind Disney movies, but other than that, musicals not really my thing. I would also rather see a tarintino movie, for sure.

I generally like musicals, absolutely love a few, but I HATE Annie.

And Beth, there is no "z" in "Les Mis." "Mis" is short for "Miserables."

I laughed out loud at your candor. Cute post. :) I watched Hee Haw on my grandpa's lap when I was about 4yrs old, and that memory makes me smile though I haven't seen it in decades. Cats really was terrible, and I kept watching it just out of sheer wonder: wasn't it the longest running Broadway show at the time? So I just insisted something might happen. It was bad, except that I teared up when they sang Memory. I thought that Rent was entertaining enough, but my friend (her first live theater) was bawling her eyes out and I didn't really understand why. Phantom of the Opera: I walked out at "halftime" (yes I know it's intermission), but I loved loved loved the book and have read it several times. Don't miss out on a fantastic story just because you don't like R&H's over the top production, get the book! Les Miserables: the book is wonderful, I've read it a few times. I've seen a very old show on TV, a live production of it and enjoyed it, liked the PBS special ok, have NOT seen the new movie, but if you don't like musicals then the Liam Neeson version is NOT a musical at all but held true to the book and I adore it. Great story, and I'd suggest his movie version anytime, to anyone.
As for musicals to suggest: Lion King is great, but my all time favorite is Aida. It was so freaking good! I love Aida, and 8 years after seeing it for the first time, I STILL pick up that CD sometimes and sing along. (Not the opera, but the musical). If it ever comes to your town, do yourself a favor and check it out!