Movie Musical: Probably "Sound of Music." I rented the video [back when VHS were the only] several times. Also, when the Disney musicals came out, I fell in love with all of them.
Broadway: The first complete recording I listened to and liked: "Miss Saigon." I also enjoyed songs from other shows, but nothing like the obsession that I have now.
What brought on the mania I have now [I now rarely listen to a song that ISN'T a cast recording]: Wicked (cheesy, I know). I watched the Tony's that year, and fell in love with it. But it's a good story now. I have several OCRs and now maintain a subscription just to hear other OCRs.
It's hard to say. I sort of grew up going to see a lot of good musicals on tour up here..."Annie," "Brigadoon," "Camelot" with Richard Harris. Plus I went to a lot of musicals done by summer theatre companies.
But the two things that hooked me for life...the OLCR of "The Phantom of the Opera," followed a few months later by the first national tour of "Les Miserables."
I can't remember ever NOT being hooked, but looking back, I realize I can pinpoint the second it happened. I was 4 and my parents woke me up to see Peter Pan with Mary Martin on TV. When she first burst in, flying through the Nursery window, that was it. I knew exactly what direction my life would take. That was the pinnacle, ahHAH moment. Thank you Mary and thank you Peter for that. :)
Mary Martin as Peter Pan. My parents got me that Goodtimes Video even before we got the Disney film on VHS. I'll never forget that awesome Raisenettes commercial before the Mary Martin show started. Then it happened. The Darling children danced. It all was so heightened. Then those strings! Those violen strings underscoring the moment that was to come. Enter some piano music. The windows open! SHE FLIES IN!!!!!
HOOKed. For life.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
ANNIE, when I was about eight. My parents had seen it in London and brought home the OBC. They soon regretted doing that. I think I got a record player that Christmas simply so they wouldn't have to listen to ANNIE anymore!
I was practically raised on movie musicals. The Wizard of Oz, Disney, My Fair Lady (still one of my favories), The King and I, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. The first musical I saw onstage was a touring company performing "The Sound of Music."
The first show I saw was Crazy for You on Broadway when I was in 2nd grade.
Then I saw Les Mis three times on Broadway
But I really think it was WICKED...I know, I know.. but my senior class went to see it and I was not looking forward to it at all even though I love musicals. But by the end of ACT I I was hooked. and never wanted to leave the theater.
Then I really wanted to see RENT so my parents got me tickets for my birthday, and this was on a college trip and we were going to see a show which also happened to be RENT and I was so happy that after I saw the matinee that I only had to wait a little bit longer before I could see it again and that was absolutely amazing.
"There are times when were dirt broke, and hungry and freezing and I ask myself why the hell am I still living here?...And then they call!" ~ Mark Cohen RENT movie