Our local university is known for it’s historical music program, and they put on a production of the opera Alcina by Handel. It was sublime, and a treat to see a baroque opera performed in a smaller theater.
Do you ever go to see live theater? What was the last thing that you went to? Or, alternatively, what was your favorite?
2025, The Book Of Mormon. I’d actually seen it before, but went with some people who hadn’t. Hit just as good as the first time I saw it.
Same! My girlfriend and I went to see it last year. Occasionally she’ll catch me singing, “Hello! My name is…” so goddamn catchy.
I’ve heard such mixed reviews. People love it or hate it, but no one says why- what’s good or bad about it. I’d like to see it but have been worried about spending the $ on something we wouldn’t enjoy.
It’s fun and funny, but IMO not that funny … probably hits different for people who know lots of Mormons personally (my sister used to live in SLC and she rates it much higher)
…Magots in my Scrotum!..
My wife and I still randomly say ORLANDO to each other.
The book of Mormon was so damn funny. It blow my mind it has been on Broadway for 15 years.
I don’t know if it is still there, but for the longest time the mormon church had a huge store front right beside the theater with signs that said, you have seen the play now hear the truth.
Maybe Chicago. It’s been years: I used to like going once or twice a year and convinced my ex we had to do it for the kids
Edit: or maybe that Billy Joel show
Most Recent: Hamilton.
Favorite: Phantom of the Opera.
Random general love of theatre: Wizard of Oz performed by a group of middle schoolers. They were all really committed to the performance and put on a fun show.
An amateur theater performance can be amazing. Even if a performer is not technically skilled, effort and commitment can often be just as enjoyable.
Very much so!
The first amateur performance I ever saw was a college performance of Assassins 😂
did you hear what happened to last year’s college performance of Assassins?
I saw a local college production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson that resulted in some audience members walking out and was adjusted to act as a critique of right-wing populism and Trump.
Oh, this looks really interesting! I bet that was well worth seeing.
this post made me realise i can’t remember
time to go to the theatre darlings!
About a year ago to go see “An Enemy of the People”. Great acting.
- I saw the turn of the screw at the opera.
What Haunting of Bly manor is technically based on
Pretty boring stuff. Wouldn’t recommend
Not sure if it counts, but I took my daughter to see Shen Yun last week. It’s a pretty show and all, but multiple acts had super heavy handed religious elements, which were pretty off putting. One song was about how you should keep to the traditional values and the worst things in the world are atheists and the theory of evolution. Big applause. Can’t really recommend, despite the nice costumes and dances.
Spamalot. I heard some negative things and wasn’t that excited to see it. However, it was actually quite good and I had a lot of fun.
We saw Wicked for the second time last year. Such a good musical! Went to Keller Auditorium for that one, first viewing was actual Broadway in New York.
Next month we’re seeing Phantom of the Opera!
We saw it on Broadway too when we visited NY a few years ago. I wanted to bring the kids to something I knew they’d enjoy, and they absolutely loved it.
Phantom was the first live musical that I saw, and I’ll always love it. You’re going to have so much fun!
I think Wicked is my favourite, saw it in London a looong time ago. I still listen to the soundtrack sometimes, and still get goosebumps at “Defying Gravity” :-)
Wicked is worth every penny!
About a month ago, I went to a donation-driven community theater improv/Edgar Allen Poe thing.
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
That’s probably the most Lemmy-approved answer I’m ever going to give to a question here.
It’s been a minute. The last showing of Hedwig and the Angry Inch with Neil Patrick Harris as the lead.
Patrick Stewart’s one man performance of A Christmas Carol, in 1994.
A) This is indeed a thing that happened and absolutely was not some kind of hallucination, and B) obviously I don’t go to shows very often, do I?
I mean, if you’re going to go to one show…
I bet that was fantastic … the film version that stars him is my favourite :-)
The last opera I saw was Fellow Travelers by Spears, an 2016 opera based on a novel of the same title about two men who fall in love during the Lavender Scare. It was absolutely heart-rending, just the most tragic love story you could possibly imagine, and the sex scenes were so hot — I don’t think I’d ever seen a fully nude scene at an opera before, even if it was just from behind, and the tenor clearly had spent some time in the gym to prepare. Highly recommend you go see it if you have a chance.
Ah, a fellow Seattleite. Saw that opening night and was blown away. Usually not a fan of modern operas, but those Gregs knew what they were doing.
I wish they’d go back to four full productions each season. The concert as the fourth performance is just not the same.
Agreed! We tried it out this season and it just wasn’t the same. Gonna be renewing just for the full operas this year.
I’ve never heard of this one before; it must be so hard to get a new opera out there! I’m glad people are doing it though. Every production seems like a minor miracle of logistics and ambition.
I see it’s based on a book, I might have to give that a read.
My local opera company does one new opera and two traditional operas every season, so I’ve seen quite a few over the years. The wildest one was definitely The ®evolution of Steve Jobs, a 2017 opera by Bates about the Apple founder.
I kind of want to hate watch that Jobs one!
I appreciate that they’re doing new stuff though! I love historical performance, but I absolutely understand that is a niche interest. If opera is going to survive as an art form (and I think it should), it needs to be a living medium.
The university is putting an a brand new, world premiere opera called That Hellbound Train here in a couple weeks, and I hope to attend.
Ooh, I found a production that a college uploaded to YouTube! I very much prefer to see an opera live, but I’d already accepted that I would never see this production since it’s probably pretty rare.
I’ll definitely give it a watch, thanks for the rec!
Oh that’s awesome! Thanks for sharing the link; I’m gonna rewatch it.
