Top 10 Musicals
From The West End to Broadway, many shows have braved the stage. While many shows have been laughed at and torn to shreds by audiences and critics alike, a lucky number has been praised and prolonged in production. Today, I will be offering my opinion on the Top 10 Musicals to ever grace the stage.
10. Little Shop of Horrors (1982)
In this Alan Menken musical, Seymour Krelborn, a dorky florist with a hopeless crush on his co-worker, Audrey, finds a plant he can't quite identify. What he finds out about this plant, affectionately named Audrey II, is that he can talk and lives off of blood. This musical places tenth for me because it has no deeper meaning or underlying purpose. It is simply an entertaining, though slightly unnerving, show.
9. Once on This Island (1990)
With music by Stephen Flaherty, audiences are taken along with Ti Moune, a young island girl, as she journeys to break the norm and be with Daniel, a rich upper-class boy from the civilized half of the island. Through her journey, she has assistance from the three gods Asaka (Mother of the Earth), Agwe (God of Water), and Erzulie (Goddess of Love). She is actively crossed and tested by Papa Ge, the sly demon of death. This show lands its rating of ninth because of the set up of the audience. Done in an arena theater where the stage is surrounded entirely by audience members, the interactive experience and catchy tunes earn this show a place on my list.
8. Assassins (1990)
Featuring music by Stephen Sondheim, the musical takes a creative view on assassinations and assassination attempts on past presidents. Using the concept of a carnival game during the show, a bell is heard when an assassination is made and a buzzer is heard for every failed attempt. This show earns eighth on my list because of this creativity. The fact that Stephen Sondheim, my favorite composer, wrote the music also makes me a little bias to like it.
7. Wicked (2003)
Stephen Schwartz wrote the music for this alternate take on the popular story The Wizard of Oz. In this take on the story, audiences experience things from the perspective of Elphaba, The Wicked Witch of the West. A beloved story retold to understand the antagonist's point of view, Wicked lands seventh with its creative manipulation of lovers of the original.
6. Les Misérables (1980)
From across the waters, all the way from France comes the Claude-Michel Schonberg musical based on the Victor Hugo book of the same name. In the entirely sung musical, Jean Valjean, once a prisoner, now has started a new life as a Mayor after running away from his parole. Unfortunately, his officer from parole, Javert, has recognized his Mayor as a prisoner he once knew. The reason this very popular show lands near the middle of my list is the fact that there is no dialogue in the show. The entire show is varying, yet similar, tunes. I still adore this show, but the fact that there is only songs earns it sixth.
5. Into the Woods (1986)
Another musical with Sondheim music, Into the Woods brings together fairytale characters from stories such as "Jack and the Beanstalk", "Little Red Riding Hood", "Cinderella", and "Rapunzel", as well as a few other characters. This musical has a very bright and happy first act, traditional for most popular and recognized shows. Breaking tradition, the second act is full of chaos and a few deaths. This show is a favorite of mine because of the memorable and vocally challenging songs, thus earning it fifth.
4. The Sound of Music (1959)
Perhaps one of the most well-known musicals to ever be produced, The Sound of Music has music and lyrics by the famous duo Rodgers and Hammerstein. In this show, Maria takes a job as a large family's governess while she battles with the idea of becoming a nun. The story is set in Austria and occurs just before Anschluss. The light-hearted songs and positive nature of the main character give this peppy musical with an underlying sadness land this musical in the top five.
3. Sweeney Todd (1979)
Placing third on my list is another show with music by Stephen Sondheim. In this musical, we learn the story of the barber Benjamin Barker, now called Sweeney Todd, on his quest for vengeance. When he still went by Benjamin Barker, he was a barber with a lovely wife and beautiful daughter. Judge Turpin was jealous and tried to seduce Mrs. Barker. When she avoided his attempts, Judge Turpin exiled Benjamin Barker on the charge of foolishness. Now, he has returned as Sweeney Todd and plans to kill Judge Turpin. This musical is one of my favorites because it doesn't follow suit with the happy and flashy nature of shows. It is darker and more maliciously centered, earning a high rank in my list.
2. Sunday in the Park with George (1984)
Yet another Sondheim musical, Sunday in the Park with George lands second for a few reasons. This musical is based on the painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte by George Seurat, the same name as our main character of this show. The first act takes place in 1884 and takes us through the creation and process of the painting. In the 1984 set Act II, George, the great-grandson of Seurat, is also an artist and presents his creation of a painting light machine. This show teaches many lessons to everyone who sees it upon every viewing if they're willing to look for it. Because of this, it earns a second-place rank.
1. Company (1970)
Topping my list is another musical by the incredible Stephen Sondheim. This show, over the past few months, has become my new found favorite. This show centers around the single man Robert on his thirtieth birthday. His friends are all married and try valiantly to set up their Bobby, Robert's nickname from them. In the first act, Bobby protests that marriage is horrible and he wants no part in it. By Act II, Bobby discovers that marriage is nothing he had assumed and is exactly what he wanted. This show earns my first-place slot because of its incredibly ground-breaking background. Traditionally, audiences came to the theater to escape their lives. When Company was released, people found themselves going to the theater and seeing themselves. This musical deals with so many issues that everyone has gone through or knows someone that did. Because of that, this is first on my list.
- Miss Broadway
10. Little Shop of Horrors (1982)
In this Alan Menken musical, Seymour Krelborn, a dorky florist with a hopeless crush on his co-worker, Audrey, finds a plant he can't quite identify. What he finds out about this plant, affectionately named Audrey II, is that he can talk and lives off of blood. This musical places tenth for me because it has no deeper meaning or underlying purpose. It is simply an entertaining, though slightly unnerving, show.
9. Once on This Island (1990)
With music by Stephen Flaherty, audiences are taken along with Ti Moune, a young island girl, as she journeys to break the norm and be with Daniel, a rich upper-class boy from the civilized half of the island. Through her journey, she has assistance from the three gods Asaka (Mother of the Earth), Agwe (God of Water), and Erzulie (Goddess of Love). She is actively crossed and tested by Papa Ge, the sly demon of death. This show lands its rating of ninth because of the set up of the audience. Done in an arena theater where the stage is surrounded entirely by audience members, the interactive experience and catchy tunes earn this show a place on my list.
8. Assassins (1990)
Featuring music by Stephen Sondheim, the musical takes a creative view on assassinations and assassination attempts on past presidents. Using the concept of a carnival game during the show, a bell is heard when an assassination is made and a buzzer is heard for every failed attempt. This show earns eighth on my list because of this creativity. The fact that Stephen Sondheim, my favorite composer, wrote the music also makes me a little bias to like it.
7. Wicked (2003)
Stephen Schwartz wrote the music for this alternate take on the popular story The Wizard of Oz. In this take on the story, audiences experience things from the perspective of Elphaba, The Wicked Witch of the West. A beloved story retold to understand the antagonist's point of view, Wicked lands seventh with its creative manipulation of lovers of the original.
6. Les Misérables (1980)
From across the waters, all the way from France comes the Claude-Michel Schonberg musical based on the Victor Hugo book of the same name. In the entirely sung musical, Jean Valjean, once a prisoner, now has started a new life as a Mayor after running away from his parole. Unfortunately, his officer from parole, Javert, has recognized his Mayor as a prisoner he once knew. The reason this very popular show lands near the middle of my list is the fact that there is no dialogue in the show. The entire show is varying, yet similar, tunes. I still adore this show, but the fact that there is only songs earns it sixth.
5. Into the Woods (1986)
Another musical with Sondheim music, Into the Woods brings together fairytale characters from stories such as "Jack and the Beanstalk", "Little Red Riding Hood", "Cinderella", and "Rapunzel", as well as a few other characters. This musical has a very bright and happy first act, traditional for most popular and recognized shows. Breaking tradition, the second act is full of chaos and a few deaths. This show is a favorite of mine because of the memorable and vocally challenging songs, thus earning it fifth.
4. The Sound of Music (1959)
Perhaps one of the most well-known musicals to ever be produced, The Sound of Music has music and lyrics by the famous duo Rodgers and Hammerstein. In this show, Maria takes a job as a large family's governess while she battles with the idea of becoming a nun. The story is set in Austria and occurs just before Anschluss. The light-hearted songs and positive nature of the main character give this peppy musical with an underlying sadness land this musical in the top five.
3. Sweeney Todd (1979)
Placing third on my list is another show with music by Stephen Sondheim. In this musical, we learn the story of the barber Benjamin Barker, now called Sweeney Todd, on his quest for vengeance. When he still went by Benjamin Barker, he was a barber with a lovely wife and beautiful daughter. Judge Turpin was jealous and tried to seduce Mrs. Barker. When she avoided his attempts, Judge Turpin exiled Benjamin Barker on the charge of foolishness. Now, he has returned as Sweeney Todd and plans to kill Judge Turpin. This musical is one of my favorites because it doesn't follow suit with the happy and flashy nature of shows. It is darker and more maliciously centered, earning a high rank in my list.
2. Sunday in the Park with George (1984)
Yet another Sondheim musical, Sunday in the Park with George lands second for a few reasons. This musical is based on the painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte by George Seurat, the same name as our main character of this show. The first act takes place in 1884 and takes us through the creation and process of the painting. In the 1984 set Act II, George, the great-grandson of Seurat, is also an artist and presents his creation of a painting light machine. This show teaches many lessons to everyone who sees it upon every viewing if they're willing to look for it. Because of this, it earns a second-place rank.
1. Company (1970)
Topping my list is another musical by the incredible Stephen Sondheim. This show, over the past few months, has become my new found favorite. This show centers around the single man Robert on his thirtieth birthday. His friends are all married and try valiantly to set up their Bobby, Robert's nickname from them. In the first act, Bobby protests that marriage is horrible and he wants no part in it. By Act II, Bobby discovers that marriage is nothing he had assumed and is exactly what he wanted. This show earns my first-place slot because of its incredibly ground-breaking background. Traditionally, audiences came to the theater to escape their lives. When Company was released, people found themselves going to the theater and seeing themselves. This musical deals with so many issues that everyone has gone through or knows someone that did. Because of that, this is first on my list.
- Miss Broadway
I am shocked that Phantom of the Opera is not on the list. Have you seen it? How do you feel about it? (I can't figure out how to italicize the title of the play in this comment. Ugh.)
ReplyDeleteI have seen Phantom of the Opera well over 15 times in my life and I will agree that it is a good show. In my personal opinion, it is not one of my top 10 shows because I feel it is overdone and played out. I wish it the most lucrative run as it continues on Broadway but I do not hold it in my top 10.
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