TOD:
"The Wizard of Oz" and "Peter Pan", both on television.
Saw loads of Fox and MGM musicals from the 1930s and 40s on Sunday afternoon TV.
Saw my first "movie" musical in Asheville NC while visiting my Aunt Belle -- she took me to see "The Music Man". Loved, loved, loved it!
After that, I went to see every movie musical I could (except the Beach Blanket whatever variety). When I was in high school, I saw some incredible productions of "Stop the World...", "Brigadoon" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", all at the Greenville (SC) Little Theater.
My first theatrical musical experience as an actor was as a towns person, train conductor and dancer in "The Music Man" in my freshman year in college. My next was as Matt in "The Fantasticks" in the fall (part of homecoming festivities) of my junior year.
I was the older Patrick in a rather dismal production of "Mame" in Vicenza, Italy, where I was stationed in 1973. I also played Albert in a rather decent and fun production of "Bye Bye Birdie" in the summer of 1974, also in Vicenza. I directed "1776" for the Naples Little Theater in spring 1976. I produced "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" that summer for dinner theater and free performances for the military community at a variety of locations.
Since that time, my musical experience has been restricted to viewing. I have seen a "few" plays in live theatrical surroundings, including "La Boheme" (Baz Luhrmann's), "Wicked" (twice pre-Broadway), "L'Estat", "Annie", "White Christmas", "South Pacific" and "A Chorus Line" (also pre-Broadway revival).
