What was the first Broadway musical you saw live on stage?

@JohnRoberts (109865)
Los Angeles, California
July 3, 2018 12:22pm CST
I already know several of you are theater enthusiasts having seen many shows. Many of you have not seen any since touring shows do not reach everywhere. I should preface my definition in this case as a musical seen on Broadway in New York City or a national touring company. For example, seeing “Wicked” on Broadway or touring company playing large venues. Right now, people are anxiously awaiting the road companies for “Hamilton.” I am discounting local, school and community theater. The first Broadway musical I saw was 1969’s “Coco” by Andre Previn and Alan Jay Lerner which was inspired by the life of fashion designer Coco Chanel. I saw the show at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at LA’s Music Center. The big attraction: the star was the legendary Katharine Hepburn in her only musical. “Coco” was a critical failure but commercial success as long as Hepburn was on stage. To be honest, I really do not remember it as I was young being dragged along a family outing. I do not recall my second musical “Applause” starring Lauren Bacall either. The only production I ever saw in an actual Broadway theater was the dramatic play “Equus” starring Anthony Perkins. So how about you? Some of you must have seen some good ones the first time out.
11 people like this
12 responses
@TheHorse (203755)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Jul 18
My best guess is Hair. My parents took me when I was a kid.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (203755)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Jul 18
@JohnRoberts "Oh say can you see...my eyes..."
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jul 18
@TheHorse If only to return to the age of Aquarius.
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jul 18
"Long long beautiful hair"
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111956)
• United States
3 Jul 18
My first one Chorus Line in 1975 following more after that.Dream Girl etc in that period We see a lot here in Road company.Not sure if Hamilton will play ere.But in Boston . I saw the road company of Equis . Did not know that Andrea Previn on Coco.Did not see this one @GreatMartin have seen many of the shows inNY and FL I am sure you know him.He is an excellent writer on t his. Thank you John I love this sort of thing.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jul 18
I am sure "Hamilton" will play Boston and you can have an adventure going to it. "Coco" only lasted as long as Katharine Hepburn was in it. Not a show to be revived.
@amadeo (111956)
• United States
3 Jul 18
@JohnRoberts I see thank you.
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27427)
• India
3 Jul 18
I have seen Kalyanji Anandji's Live show who are famous music directors of Hindi Film Industry in India! but can it be termed as a Broadway show?
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27427)
• India
3 Jul 18
@JohnRoberts , Yes I had my doubt ! Thanks for clarifying!
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jul 18
No, I am afraid not. It's an Indian thing.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48855)
• United States
3 Jul 18
I saw "Fiddler on the Rooftop".
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jul 18
That's a classic music.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48855)
• United States
3 Jul 18
@JohnRoberts it was many moons ago and I absolutely loved it.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
3 Jul 18
Great show! Oh, my. I've seen so many that I can't remember my first Broadway show, John! Whatever it was, I do remember seeing Soupy Sales waving to me out of window near the theater. Lol!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
3 Jul 18
@JohnRoberts Yeah! Remember him?
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jul 18
OMG, Soupy Sales!
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Jul 18
@DianneN Of course I do.
@Daelii (5619)
• United States
3 Jul 18
I've never seen a live Broadway in person.... I loved the musical passion of Christ that was in TV the other year! Does that count?
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jul 18
Sorry, it does not count.
• Preston, England
5 Jul 18
not actually on Broadway but I did see a live production of Annie which I quite enjoyed but the Dr Evil rap version of the show's Hard Knock life is better
This scene was straight up Gangsta.... Directed by: Jay Roach Produced by: Toby Emmerich Richard Brener John S. Lyons Eric McLeod Demi Moore Mike Myers Jenni...
1 person likes this
@mawdest (1588)
• Canada
3 Jul 18
I saw Book of Mormon last summer in NYC and it was amazing! Though, I'm pretty sure I had actually seen one 10 or 12 years before that (as my first musical live..) it might had been Hairspray or something like that
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (61328)
• United States
4 Jul 18
I've only seen one Broadway production: Cats. I've seen it twice: once in L.A., and once here in Louisville. In L.A. I went with a gay friend and we loved it. Here, I took my mom and she was confused. Moral of the story: take a gay guy as your date to a musical.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Jul 18
My first Broadway musical was My Fair Lady with Richard Chamberlain. It was awesome
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jul 18
I remember when he toured in that.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67002)
• United States
3 Jul 18
I've only seen Wicked, in RI. A few years ago with my boyfriends mom. She got tickets and her friend couldn't go so I said I would go with her, although I wouldn't like it. And it turned out, that I mostly enjoyed it. LOL
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (115620)
• United States
3 Jul 18
The first one I saw was The King and I with Yul Brenner. I don't remember it, though, as I was a child. I've seen Phantom of the Opera at least twice. I've seen Chicago twice. And I just saw Escape to Margaritaville which just closed on Sunday. All of those were on Broadway. I don't think I've seen anything else.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jul 18
I remember when Yul Bryner toured in The King and I. It turned out he was dying of cancer at the time and passed soon after.
1 person likes this