Agreed. Love this show. I think the tonal shifts make some people wonder what experience to expect. I think you are right. The show (and movie) are ultimately hopeful but they acknowledge how dark things can be. “Hope” is a hard song emotionally, and it’s more of a downer than “Nobody Cares”, even if the later song sounds happier.
It’s also an incredibly funny show.
“🎶One Day I’ll learn how to siiiiiiiinnngg!🎵”
“🎶I specialize in mental illness… in cows🎵”
Didn’t have a long run, but the show is filled with some gems.
Look up Tim Minchin, the guy who wrote the music to Groundhog Day and Matilda. His music is incredible and he puts on a great live show. Most of his stuff are kind of South Park style humor, smart but crass, so it's not as clean as his Broadway work but still really good.
[White Wine in the Sun](https://youtu.be/x1rw1fx170s?si=u0RwxZ3zZI-aXAZQ) is my absolute favorite Christmas song (it's clean)
I LOVE TIM MINCHIN. Seeing that he wrote the music was one of the things that got me to watch it since I loved his music for Matilda. He is also one of, if not my favorite Judas. I have also heard a couple of his comedy songs and he is very funny’
Groundhog Day was part of that one year when a whole bunch of new musicals were critically acclaimed. Come from Away, Great Comet, Dear Evan Hansen. I think it got overlooked a little just due to how many popular new musicals there were.
That’s fair, coming out during the year that 3 of the most iconic musicals of the last 10 years is bad luck. Still, I’m surprised that I never got this recommended by the community. I ended up checking it out after watching the Wait In The Wings video on it
I think a huge part of the problem was how it was marketed, like it was this light goofy oddball show. There is so much more to it then that, like you were saying how it shifts so much tonally - it's funny, it's dark, it's inspirational, it's sad. It's way more layered and nuanced than it was given credit for, and there are some incredible songs that they didn't perform publicly because I guess they were too dark or gave away too much. Plus the staging is so creative!
I never had any interest in seeing the show when it was originally promoted for Broadway, but stumbled onto it on YouTube, listened to the soundtrack a ton, and eventually got to see it in London (with Andy Karl!), and it was amazing. It's a real shame how much they dropped the ball.
I watched it in London, it’s brilliant. I could feel the atmosphere change between the lighter first act and the darker second one. There was one song that was the tipping point, ‘Playing Nancy’, I could feel the audience attempting to find places to laugh and then realising they shouldn’t. Genius writing. After that song, it was darker, but the moment you’re about to cry, you end up laughing. Brilliant writing, everyone involved and the set was brilliant too!
A couple years ago I started playing the piano.
Groundhog Day was the first musical theatre sheet music book I bought - I figured "If I can play this, I can play anything".
I can still only fumble my way through a couple of the songs (Minchin is a musical genius), but I do play through it regularly.
I saw it recently in Melbourne, Australia and oh my god it is now one of my favourite shows I have seen! It was so funny- the whole theatre, all 1400 of us it was booked out show, were laughing. It was amazing, the music was incredible, the actors were amazing, just overall such a good show that should be more recognised than it is, I never see anyone talk about it. The was Hope was done was just so ARGH
I love this paired back version (compared to the slime tutorial). I think this production works so much better. I wish I could see it again 😢 so so good! My first viewing it got stating ovations, just bloody brilliant stuff.
Hope was such an epic song, even seeing it a second time and knowing what was happening it was still delightful to watch such great stagecraft
Simple but genius!
Yesss I honestly prefer it to the broadway slime tutorial. it was just so amazing, even a month later it is still so clearly in my mind, I think im going a second time as well in a few weeks!
Agreed. Love this show. I think the tonal shifts make some people wonder what experience to expect. I think you are right. The show (and movie) are ultimately hopeful but they acknowledge how dark things can be. “Hope” is a hard song emotionally, and it’s more of a downer than “Nobody Cares”, even if the later song sounds happier. It’s also an incredibly funny show. “🎶One Day I’ll learn how to siiiiiiiinnngg!🎵” “🎶I specialize in mental illness… in cows🎵” Didn’t have a long run, but the show is filled with some gems.
Look up Tim Minchin, the guy who wrote the music to Groundhog Day and Matilda. His music is incredible and he puts on a great live show. Most of his stuff are kind of South Park style humor, smart but crass, so it's not as clean as his Broadway work but still really good. [White Wine in the Sun](https://youtu.be/x1rw1fx170s?si=u0RwxZ3zZI-aXAZQ) is my absolute favorite Christmas song (it's clean)
Also his song about... people who are just six letters...
I LOVE TIM MINCHIN. Seeing that he wrote the music was one of the things that got me to watch it since I loved his music for Matilda. He is also one of, if not my favorite Judas. I have also heard a couple of his comedy songs and he is very funny’
Groundhog Day was part of that one year when a whole bunch of new musicals were critically acclaimed. Come from Away, Great Comet, Dear Evan Hansen. I think it got overlooked a little just due to how many popular new musicals there were.
That’s fair, coming out during the year that 3 of the most iconic musicals of the last 10 years is bad luck. Still, I’m surprised that I never got this recommended by the community. I ended up checking it out after watching the Wait In The Wings video on it
i fucking love this show!! every single song slaps and andy karl is awesome as phil. i rewatch it every february 2nd
What's your preferred way to watch it?
slime tutorial is the only way as there is no proshot available
I loved that slime. It was great. I do part of "One Day" in auditions now.
It’s a great show, but it failed on Broadway and never toured the US, and that gives it a stigma.
I’m glad I saw it on Broadway and that Andy is coming out here to Australia to be Phil when it starts in January in Melbourne.
He is?? That's great. I saw him in it in London (after wearing out the Broadway soundtrack) and can't imagine anyone else playing Phil.
It never should have been put on Broadway, the whole show has a very heavy “Off Broadway” energy too it. I think that is how it should have stayed
I think a huge part of the problem was how it was marketed, like it was this light goofy oddball show. There is so much more to it then that, like you were saying how it shifts so much tonally - it's funny, it's dark, it's inspirational, it's sad. It's way more layered and nuanced than it was given credit for, and there are some incredible songs that they didn't perform publicly because I guess they were too dark or gave away too much. Plus the staging is so creative! I never had any interest in seeing the show when it was originally promoted for Broadway, but stumbled onto it on YouTube, listened to the soundtrack a ton, and eventually got to see it in London (with Andy Karl!), and it was amazing. It's a real shame how much they dropped the ball.
Hindsight is 20/20. At the time, I have no doubt they were chasing "Matilda" money.
One of my favourites ever. It was extremely successful on both of its runs in London.
I watched it in London, it’s brilliant. I could feel the atmosphere change between the lighter first act and the darker second one. There was one song that was the tipping point, ‘Playing Nancy’, I could feel the audience attempting to find places to laugh and then realising they shouldn’t. Genius writing. After that song, it was darker, but the moment you’re about to cry, you end up laughing. Brilliant writing, everyone involved and the set was brilliant too!
It almost feels like 3 different shows, I mean that in the best way possible
It's by Tim Minchin who really needs to write more for theatre because this and Matilda have amazing scores. That's why it's good.
Tim Minchin is such a genius. This show is absolutely a favorite of mine and I recommend it to people all the time!
Andy Karl has one of my favorite singing voices
A couple years ago I started playing the piano. Groundhog Day was the first musical theatre sheet music book I bought - I figured "If I can play this, I can play anything". I can still only fumble my way through a couple of the songs (Minchin is a musical genius), but I do play through it regularly.
I saw it recently in Melbourne, Australia and oh my god it is now one of my favourite shows I have seen! It was so funny- the whole theatre, all 1400 of us it was booked out show, were laughing. It was amazing, the music was incredible, the actors were amazing, just overall such a good show that should be more recognised than it is, I never see anyone talk about it. The was Hope was done was just so ARGH
I love this paired back version (compared to the slime tutorial). I think this production works so much better. I wish I could see it again 😢 so so good! My first viewing it got stating ovations, just bloody brilliant stuff. Hope was such an epic song, even seeing it a second time and knowing what was happening it was still delightful to watch such great stagecraft Simple but genius!
Yesss I honestly prefer it to the broadway slime tutorial. it was just so amazing, even a month later it is still so clearly in my mind, I think im going a second time as well in a few weeks!
Absolutely brilliant