When Was the Last

[GlindatheGood22]

It seems to me every year I read some post saying how it's been such a lackluster season. So how long's it been since we had one that wasn't disappointing?

I'd say 2009. Thoughts?

[mc1227]

I thought 2005 was an outstanding year.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

The 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 seasons were really good, I thought.

[Jordan Catalano]

2007-2008

[aasjb4ever]

2007-2008.

[carolineorchange21]

i loved the 2006-2007 season

[After Eight]

1964-65

[broadwaydevil]

The 2004 season was phenomenal.
2005 was very good.
2007 was decent.

[GlindatheGood22]

Count me among the 2007 fans as well.

And 1998:
Ragtime
Cabaret revival
Side Show

[aaronb]

I liked this season: DEATH OF A SALESMAN, VIRGINIA WOOLF, and GLENGARRY. Three solid revivals.

[Ed_Mottershead]

1955-1956
Diary of Anne Frank
Waiting for Godot
My Fair Lady
Most Happy Fella
The Great Sebastions
Tamburlaine the Great
Mr. Wonderful (Sammy Davis)


1956-1957
Long Day's Journey Into Night
Major Barbara
Bells are Ringing
New Girl in Town (Gwen Verdon at her very best)
Happy Hunting (return of Ethel Merman to Broadway, not the show)
Auntie Mame
Old Vic

Not to menton holdovers from previous seasons: The Pajama Game; Damn Yankees; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; The Desperate Hours

If you were in New York say, in January 1957, there were a lot a fine pickings, I'd say.

[chewy5000]

1975-1976

[ratherbewhaling]

I'd agree with 2009 even as someone who was disappointed with what won best musical that year, although I could understand people saying 2008 or 2007

[redmustang]

Agree with After Eight. GREAT season.

[chewy5000]

Also, 1980-1981

[EricMontreal22]

I almost hate to agree with After8, but 64-65 was what this thread topic immediately made me think of. Even some of the flops were pretty great, in hindsight.

[After Eight]

^
Why "almost?" Go the whole nine yards. Don't be so wishy washy

Besides, aren't you the one who keeps telling us that the true golden age was the seventies?

[newintown]

Define "good."

In the 2010-2011 season, I enjoyed
The Pitmen Painters
The Scottsboro Boys
The Pee-wee Herman Show
The Book of Mormon
War Horse
Sister Act and
Jerusalem - and that was just on Broadway.

Off Broadway, The Divine Sister was divine, Lost In The Stars at Encores was beautiful, and The Other Place at the Lortel was terrific.

Was it a "Golden Age?" No. But getting 10 enjoyable experiences a year isn't bad.

In the 2011-2012 season, I can only applaud
Other Desert Cities
Once
One Man, Two Guvnors on Broadway and
The Submission and Judith of Bethulia Off Broadway.

But 5 a year isn't tragic, I suppose...

[GlindatheGood22]

I really hated the 2010 season - in fact, the worst in recent memory for me. I liked the Ragtime revival and nothing else.

[newintown]

Chacun à son goût.

[Emmaloucbway]

I liked the 2010-2011 season.

[JoeKv99]

So After Eight I have to ask: Were you a habitue of Broadway 50 years ago? How may shows did you see in that glorious 64-65 season? Ben Franklin in Paris? Golden Boy? I was Dancing? Zizi? Bajour? The Family Way? Kelly? Half a Sixpence? I won't go on.

I just finished reading Season In, Season Out which a good friend gifted to me. Jack Gaver, the drama critic for UPI watched and observed every show of the 65-66 season and he pretty much hated everything. In fact, he said Broadway had reached it's nadir and probably would not survive to see the improvements implemented after the "total disasters" of recent years: More accurate accounting, better ticketing and of course, more bars in theater lobbys.

Two facts: No one EVER likes the season at hand- there's simply too high a crap-to-gems ratio. And of course, time lends enchantment. Everyone loves "Do I Hear a Waltz?" NOW but it's only because they didn't have to sit through it.

[EricMontreal22]

"Besides, aren't you the one who keeps telling us that the true golden age was the seventies?"

No, I said that few would agree with me, but for me, musicals wise, the 70s would be my golden age. I would love to be able to time travel to 1971 Broadway.

[Scarywarhol]

2006-2007, 2007-2008, and 2010-2011 were fairly good seasons, I thought. Dry years in between, and this one has been lousy. It will bounce back like always, I'm sure...but what a terrible season.

[broadwaydevil]

No one EVER likes the season at hand- there's simply too high a crap-to-gems ratio.

Thank you for pointing that out. Truer words have never been spoken. Even in the "best" years all of us have been citing, there was tons of crap but it's quickly forgotten as years pass and we remember only the highlights. The more that I think about, 2011 wasn't such a bad season. (The Book of Mormon, The Scottsboro Boys, The Normal Heart, Anything Goes, War Horse, Jerusalem.)

[After Eight]

"So After Eight I have to ask: Were you a habitue of Broadway 50 years ago?"

Yes.

"Two facts:"

Two misstatements.

"No one EVER likes the season at hand-"

Nonsense. Utterly absurd. Personally, I was in heaven in many seasons. Look at the yearbooks in the 50's-- critics spoke very highly of the seasons they had seen. Even here, people have been raving about recent seasons.

"And of course, time lends enchantment."

More nonsense. If I lived another 50 years, Mother/Hat or Once would seem every bit as horrible as they did when I saw them.

"Everyone loves "Do I Hear a Waltz?" NOW but it's only because they didn't
have to sit through it. "

More drivel. Not everyone loves it now, and plenty of people sat though it then and liked it, myself among them.

And what's your problem, anyway? Every season has its good and bad shows, even the greatest in history. The question was what do you think was the last good season? People gave different answers. I gave mine. I can't even begin to imagine why that bothers you so.