Broadway 2 A Day: 2000 - 2004 (The Producers, Mamma Mia, Hairspray, Wicked and more)

Alright, we're into the 2000s and we are about to hit some absolute MONEY MAKERS, some SHOWSTOPPERS - let's get into it. And as always, you can follow along with my favorite songs on Spotify here. 

• Jane Eyre
• Have I heard of it before? No, I had no idea there was a musical version
• Did I enjoy it? Overall, but it was sooooo long
• Synopsis: This musical adaptation follows the independent, passionate governess Jane Eyre, through her harsh childhood after being left as an orphan to an uncaring aunt, through her employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she meets the mysterious and magnetic Edward Fairfax Rochester, master of the house and warden of her pupil. Though drawn to each other, they are haunted by the ghosts of Mr. Rochester’s past, which threaten to enjoy any possibilities of a future of love or happiness for either. (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: Sirens
• A Class Act
• Have I heard of it before? Nope
• Did I enjoy it? Not really
• Synopsis: A Class Act is a quasi-autobiographical musical loosely based on the life of composer-lyricist Edward Kleban, who died at the age of 48 in 1987. (Wikipedia)
• Favorite song: Next Best Thing to Love
• The Producers
• Have I heard of it before? Yes, I love this show so much and it's one of my favorite stage to screen adaptations too
• Did I enjoy it? Always
• Synopsis: Fading Broadway producer Max Bialystock is desperate to get to the top of his profession again, and he finds an unlikely ally in mousy accountant Leo Bloom, who hypothesizes that one could make far more money with a flop of a show than with a hit. Together, the two set out to produce the worst musical ever to hit Broadway, with the worst script, the worst director, and the worst cast they can find; the catch is that they will raise two million dollars to finance the show, and they plan to take the money and head to Rio when the show inevitably closes after just one performance. Too bad for Bialystock & Bloom that, against all odds, the show is a total hit! (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: I Wanna Be A Producer
• Urinetown
• Have I heard of it before? Yes but never listened to the full show
• Did I enjoy it? This show is absolutely ridiculous but I did enjoy it
• Synopsis: In the not-so-distant future, a terrible water shortage and 20-year drought has led to a government ban on private toilets and a proliferation of paid public toilets, owned and operated by a single megalomaniac company: the Urine Good Company. If the poor don’t obey the strict laws prohibiting free urination, they’ll be sent to the dreaded and mysterious “Urinetown.” After too long under the heel of the malevolent Caldwell B. Cladwell, the poor stage a revolt, led by a brave young hero, fighting tooth and nail for the freedom to pee “wherever you like, whenever you like, for as long as you like, and with whomever you like.” A brilliant satire modeled off the plays of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, Urinetown is a wickedly funny, fast-paced, and surprisingly intelligent comedic romp. (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: It's a Privilege to Pee
• Mamma Mia!
• Have I heard of it before? Mamma Mia is a lifestyle for me
• Did I enjoy it? I will never tire of this sweet, sweet ABBA jukebox musical
• Synopsis: On a small Greek island, Sophie dreams of a perfect wedding — one which includes her father giving her away. The problem? Sophie doesn’t know who he is! Her mother Donna, the former lead singer of the 1970s pop group Donna and the Dynamos, refuses to talk about the past, so Sophie decides to take matters into her own hands. Sneaking a peek in her mother’s old diaries, she discovers three possible fathers: Sam, Bill, and Harry. She secretly invites all three to the wedding, convinced that she’ll know her father when she sees him. But when all three turn up, it may not be as clear as she thought! (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: Lay All Your Love On Me
• By Jeeves
• Have I heard of it before?
• Did I enjoy it? No, this show seems so odd and out of place
• Synopsis: At a benefit gala to raise money for a new church steeple, Bertram “Bertie” Wooster is preparing to take the stage. The banjo-playing star is thrown for a loop when he finds his banjo has been stolen! Bertie’s faithful manservant, Jeeves, suggests Bertie tell the story of his adventure to Totleigh Towers to entertain the impatient audience. Bertie recounts to the audience how he became embroiled in the romances of several dim-witted members of the privileged class. With mistaken identities, romantic entanglement, and the adventures of the upper class, By Jeeves is the quintessential British musical farce. (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: Travel Hopefully
• The Sweet Smell of Success
• Have I heard of it before? No
• Did I enjoy it? Yes I really did and think this could get a great revival
• Synopsis: The show concerns sleazy press agent Sidney Falcone and his willingness to do anything to get ahead. Sidney manages to capture the attention and patronage of powerful gossip columnist J.J. Hunsecker. JJ is the most popular columnist in America and holds the power of life and death for celebrities and the businesses that cater to them. With JJ's help, Sidney becomes one of the hottest agents in New York. However, catering to JJ's egotistical desires is dangerous business. When Sidney fails to keep JJ's sister Susan from running off with a jazz musician, JJ arranges for Sidney to be murdered. (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: At the Fountain
• Thoroughly Modern Millie
• Have I heard of it before? Yes, I saw this in Pittsburgh a few years ago and Not for the Life of Me was another of my go-to audition songs
• Did I enjoy it? Good music, dumb plot
• Synopsis: It’s 1922, and small-town girl Millie Dillmount has just arrived in New York City, ready to make her dreams come true. Millie’s plan is simple: find a job as a secretary for an eligible bachelor, and then marry him. It doesn’t take long, however, for Millie’s “thoroughly modern” plan to go awry. Her conniving landlady plots to kidnap Millie’s best friend and sell her into slavery in Hong Kong, her wealthy boss seems entirely uninterested in her flirtations, and -- worst of all -- the man with whom she falls head over heels in love doesn’t have a penny to his name. (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: Not for the Life of Me
• Hairspray
• Have I heard of it before? Of course! This is another great stage to screen adaptation
• Did I enjoy it? As always
• Synopsis: It’s 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland, and quirky, plus-sized, teenage Tracy Turnblad has one dream: to dance on "The Corny Collins Show". When she gets put in detention with the African-American students in the school, they teach her some of their dance moves, and her new found groove wins her a spot on Corny’s show. Overnight, Tracy transforms from a nobody into a star, and uses her newfound influence to advocate for racial integration on the television show. Tracy faces scrutiny and bullying from the network producer, Velma, and her popular, but vicious, daughter, Amber. With the help of the teenage heartthrob Link, host Corny Collins, and Motormouth Maybelle (the host of "Negro Day" on Corny's show), Tracy overcomes the odds and succeeds in her mission to integrate "The Corny Collins Show". (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: Without Love
• Movin Out
• Have I heard of it before? No
• Did I enjoy it? Yeah but I could just listen to Billy Joel sing the songs himself
• Synopsis: Using 24 of Billy Joel's greatest hits, Movin' Out tells the story of five childhood friends whose lives are changed forever due to the Vietnam War. As teenagers they all are excited about life and love. After the war, their lives are filed with death, drugs and sorrow. In the end, love manages to give them some peace. (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: Uptown Girl
• The Boys from Syracuse
• Have I heard of it before? No
• Did I enjoy it? It was fine but forgettable
• Synopsis: Boy loses twin. Boy seeks twin. Boy finds trouble. When Antipholus of Syracuse leaves his home, with his trusty servant Dromio in tow, and spends seven years searching for his long-lost twin brother, he finds his life in danger upon arriving in the city of Ephesus. With Ephesus and Syracuse at war, the travelers try to tread carefully, and make plans to leave as soon as possible. Their attempts to escape from Ephesus go awry when strange things start to happen: the local merchants and craftsmen demand payment for pre-ordered wares, a high-born lady and her lusty cook claim them for husbands, the local courtesans greet them like old friends, and everyone knows their name... (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: Falling in Love With Love
• A Year with Frog and Toad
• Have I heard of it before? No
• Did I enjoy it? This was truly so awful, I think kids would like it though 
• Synopsis: The musical follows Frog and Toad through four colorful seasons, from hibernation to hibernation. Frog and Toad, along with their playful, quirky friends Snail, Turtle, the Birds, and more, enact many adventures, from rushing down a hill in a runaway sled in the winter, to taking a picnic and a quiet moment in the summer. (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: A Year with Frog and Toad
• Little Shop of Horrors
• Have I heard of it before? This is one of my favorite shows of all time and it's almost time for my annual viewing. This was also one of the last shows I saw before COVID.
• Did I enjoy it? As always
• Synopsis: Seymour Krelborn is a meek and dejected assistant at a floral shop who happens upon a strange plant, which he affectionately names “Audrey II” after his crush at the shop. Little does he know that this strange and unusual plant will develop a soulful R&B voice, a potty mouth, and an unquenchable thirst for HUMAN BLOOD. As Audrey II grows bigger and meaner, the carnivorous plant promises limitless fame and fortune to Seymour, as long as he continues providing a fresh supply of blood. Just when it’s too late, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s extra-terrestrial origins and his true drive for world-domination. (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: Feed Me (Git It)
• Taboo
• Have I heard of it before? No
• Did I enjoy it? It was okay, not my fave
• Synopsis: Taboo is a stage musical with a book by Mark Davies Markham (extensively rewritten for the Broadway production by Charles Busch), lyrics by Boy George, and music by George, John Themis, Richie Stevens and Kevan Frost. Set in an abandoned London warehouse, the partly imagined story of a group of club 'names' set in the location of what was the city's most fashionable nightclub, the now-legendary Taboo (1985–87) of the title, which was the creation of Leigh Bowery. Boy George is featured as one of the club's regulars, but in reality, George rarely attended. The show also focuses on George's life prior to and after achieving fame. (Wikipedia)
• Favorite song: Stranger in this World
• The Boy from Oz
• Have I heard of it before? Yes but only because of Glee...
• Did I enjoy it? Yeah it's got some fun upbeat numbers 
• Synopsis: "The Boy From Oz" tells about the life of the great Australian entertainer, Peter Allen. The show starts with in the 1950s with his humble beginnings growing up in an Australian bush town. He then experiences a meteoric rise to fame as an international star opening for Judy Garland and selling out week-long engagements at Radio City Music Hall. Later, Allen marries her Garland's daughter, Liza Minnelli. Within a few years, Allen and Minnelli split due to Allen's homosexuality. Eventually, Allen dies from AIDS - but before he dies, he is able to give one final concert back in his homeland. (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: Not The Boy Next Door (please watch Hugh Jackman perform this at the Tonys)
• Avenue Q
• Have I heard of it before? Yes, I love this show and think it's so funny
• Did I enjoy it? Always
• Synopsis: Winner of the Tony Triple Crown for Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book, the hilarious Avenue Q tells the timeless story of a recent college graduate trying to find his way in the world. Set in New York City all the way out on Avenue Q (he couldn’t afford anything better), we are introduced to fresh-faced Princeton as he struggles to find his purpose: meeting friends, finding love, losing love, and finding it again, along the way. Inspired by the beloved children’s show Sesame Street, Avenue Q creates a puppet-filled world that is a little more reflective of the difficult, R-rated realities that we face when we learn that real life isn’t as simple as we dreamed it might be – but perhaps, suggests Avenue Q, life is all the more colorful and worthwhile for it. (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: What Do You Do With a B.A. in English
• Wicked
• Have I heard of it before? It would be impossible not to have at this point
• Did I enjoy it? I really do love the music in this show even though I don't think it still needs to be running in New York 
• Synopsis: Before Dorothy was even alive, two young girls met in the Land of Oz, became rivals, and then friends. One was born with emerald green skin, with a brilliant mind and a fiery spirit. The other was classically beautiful, with great ambition and incredible drive. The green-skinned Elphaba was ostracized by her family and by everyone at school. The beautiful Galinda was destined to be forever popular. Over the course of Wicked, we discover how these two young women became rivals and then the closest of friends – and how they ended up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. (Stage Agent)
• Favorite song: Thank Goodness