I do agree the full affect can't be gained, but I do feel that it can help you get an idea of the book and music without being blinded by sets and costumes. Again, I do understand that all of that affects the overall experience, but, for me, it does give an idea of what the bones of the show are like.
wicked- 5
addams family- 2
jersey boys- 10
billy eliot- 10
promises- 8
memphis- 7
mamma mia- 0
phantom- 5
a little night music- 8
west side story- 6
american idiot- 5
in the heights- 10
la cage- 1
chicago- 1
rock of ages- 9
fela- 8
million dollar q- 1
next to normal- 6
Understudy Joined: 3/19/09
wicked- 9
lion king- 4
addams family- 4
jersey boys- 7
billy eliot- 9
promises- 8
memphis- 6
mamma mia- 4
mary poppins- 4
phantom- 3
a little night music- 8
west side story- 6
american idiot- 10
in the heights- 10
la cage- 7
chicago- 4
rock of ages- 6
fela- 2
million dollar q- hsi
next to normal- 10
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/10
wicked- 7
lion king- 7
addams family- hsi
jersey boys- hsi
billy eliot- 4
promises- hsi
memphis- 5
mamma mia- hsi
mary poppins- 4
phantom- 5
a little night music- 1st cast: 7, 2nd cast: 9
west side story- 6
american idiot- 4
in the heights- 6
la cage- 9
chicago- 3
rock of ages- hsi
fela- 7
million dollar q- hsi
next to normal- 9
wicked- 7
lion king- 4
addams family- hsi
jersey boys- hsi
billy eliot- seeing it soon!
promises- 6
memphis- 2
mamma mia- hsi
mary poppins- 8
phantom- 7
a little night music- seeing it soon!
west side story- 6
american idiot- 9
in the heights- 7
la cage- 7
chicago- 4
rock of ages- seeing it soon!
fela- hsi
million dollar q- hsi
next to normal- 8
Wicked-10 (Sorry but I love it)
Lion King-7
Jersey Boys-8
Mamma Mia-8
Marry Poppins-9
Phantom-9
In The Heights-6
Chicago-9
(all that I have seen)
A Little Night Music - 4
American Idiot - 7
Billy Elliot - 9
In the Heights - 8
Jersey Boys - 5
La Cage Aux Folles - 10
Mary Poppins - 7
Memphis - 6
Million Dollar Quartet - 6
Next to Normal - 8
Promises, Promises - 5
Rock of Ages - 7
The Addams Family - 7
The Lion King - 7
The Phantom of the Opera - 4
West Side Story - 6
Wicked - 9
wicked- 4
lion king- 8
addams family- the only show playing on broadway i just can't bring myself to see
jersey boys- 7
billy elliot- 5
promises- 6
memphis- 3
mamma mia- 4
mary poppins- 3
phantom- 6
a little night music- 7
west side story- 6
american idiot- 6
in the heights- 7
la cage- 8
chicago- 10 (with the original revival cast. haven't seen it in years, but the first time remains one of my favorite experiences at the theater)
rock of ages- 6
fela- 8
million dollar q- 2 (not the worst thing i've seen on broadway, but certainly the worst show still on the boards--unless addams is even more dreadful)
next to normal- 8
I did a quick average consisting of the 10 first people who replied to the thread...
Here are the TOP 10 musicals currently on Broadway
1 Next to Normal
2 Billy Elliot
3 A Little Night Music
4 In the Heights
5 Wicked
6 Mary Poppins
7 American Idiot
8 Chicago
9 Promises
10 Jersey Boys
Wicked - 9
The Lion King - 4
The Addams Family - 6
Jersey Boys - 5
Billy Elliot - 9
Promises Promises- 9
Memphis - (Not seen)
Mamma Mia - 1
Mary Poppins - 4
Phantom Of The Opera - 4
A Little Night Music - 8
West Side Story - (Not seen this producion)
American Idiot - 9
In The Heights - 8
La Cage Aux Folles - (Not yet seen this producion)
Chicago - 8
Rock Of Ages - (Not seen)
Fela - (Not seen)
Million Dollar Quartet - (Not seen)
Next To Normal - 10
Chorus Member Joined: 8/31/10
Wicked - 9
The Lion King - 8
The Addams Family - 6
Jersey Boys - hsi
Billy Elliot - hsi
Promises Promises- 7
Memphis - hsi
Mamma Mia - hsi and have no interest
Mary Poppins - 6
Phantom Of The Opera - 9
A Little Night Music - hsi
West Side Story - 9
American Idiot - hsi
In The Heights - hsi
La Cage Aux Folles - 9
Chicago - 1
Rock Of Ages -hsi
Next To Normal - hsi and really want to!!
Some of the ratings on this thread seem like a mix of reactionary bitchiness ("American Idiot 0") and fangirl gushing ("Wicked 11, WSS 6 worst show I've seen") more than honest appraisals of a show's "quality." Anyway...
Wicked - 8
The Lion King - 7 (9 for for ingenuity & spectacle though)
The Addams Family - 5
Jersey Boys- 8
Billy Elliot- 9
Promises Promises- 7
Memphis - hsi
Mamma Mia - 6
Mary Poppins - 6
Phantom Of The Opera - 7
A Little Night Music - hsi
West Side Story- haven't seen current production, but the show itself: 9
American Idiot- 8
In The Heights- 7
La Cage Aux Folles- 8
Chicago - 7
Rock Of Ages -hsi
Next To Normal - 9
Only rating shows I've seen...
Wicked - 6
The Lion King - 7
The Addams Family - 7
Jersey Boys - 6
Billy Elliot - 6
Promises Promises- 8
Memphis - 7
Mamma Mia - 2
Phantom Of The Opera - 5
A Little Night Music - 8
In The Heights - 7
La Cage Aux Folles - 7
Chicago - 7
Rock Of Ages - 8
Fela - 9
Million Dollar Quartet - 7
Next To Normal- 8
Wicked - 2
The Lion King - 7
The Addams Family - 9
Jersey Boys- 2
Billy Elliot- 10
Promises Promises- 7
Memphis - 6
Mamma Mia - 8
Mary Poppins - 7
Phantom Of The Opera - 9
A Little Night Music - 8
West Side Story- 7
American Idiot- 7
In The Heights- 7
La Cage Aux Folles- 10 (London)
Chicago - 3 (London)
Rock Of Ages - 2
Next To Normal - 10
Wicked- 9
Lion King- 4
Addams Family- hsi
Jersey Boys- 8
Billy Elliot- 10
Promises, Promises- 5
Memphis- 8
Mamma Mia- 5
Mary Poppins- 8
Phantom- 6
A Little Night Music- 8
West Side Story- hsi
American Idiot- 2 (being nice)
In The Heights- 6
La Cage- 9
Chicago- 5
Rock of Ages- 3 (being nice)
Fela!- hsi
Million Dollar Quartet- hsi
next to normal- 10
addams family 1
anything goes 9
baby, it's you! 4
billy elliot 6
book of mormon 5
chicago 8
how to succeed 5
jersey boys 6
lion king 1
mamma mia! 7
mary poppins 1
memphis 7
million dollar quartet 5
people in the picture 7
phantom of the opera 6
priscilla 5
rock of ages 9
sister act 2
wicked 7
wonderland 3
Addams Family: 5
Anything Goes: 8
Baby, It's You!: 2
Billy Elliot: 8
Book of Mormon: 9
Chicago: 7
How to Succeed in Business: 7 (borderline
Jersey Boys: 6
Lion King: 0 (sorry...I hated it so much)
Mamma Mia: 5
Mary Poppins: 6
Memphis: 3
MDQ: 2
Phantom of the Opera: 1 (only a few songs saved this from 0)
Priscilla: 5 (borderline 6)
Rock of Ages: 7
Sister Act: 7
Wicked: 10 (no apologies...I love this show)
Wonderland:6 (book brings this way down...I think the score is a solid 7 or even 8 for some songs)
*I have not seen all these shows. Some I based off of the Cast Recordings or other...ways...so some may not be so fair.
Addams Family: 3
Anything Goes: n/a
Baby, It's You!: n/a
Billy Elliot: 4
Book of Mormon: 10
Chicago: 7
How to Succeed in Business: n/a
Jersey Boys: 5
Lion King: 8
Mamma Mia: 6
Mary Poppins: 6
Memphis: 3
MDQ: n/a
Phantom of the Opera: 2
Priscilla: n/a
Rock of Ages: 8
Sister Act: n/a
Wicked: 8
Catch Me If You Can: 7
Anything Goes: 10
Billy Elliot: 6
Chicago: 9
Jersey Boys: 6
Memphis: 6
Wicked: 5
The People In the Picture:5
La Cage: 8
Billy Elliot: 9 (The west end show gets a 10.)
Book of Mormon: 4
Chicago: 6 (Original '75 production gets a 9)
Jersey Boys: 4 (based on the road show in Frisco though.)
Lion King: 8 (based on the show back in '98.)
Mamma Mia: 3 (based on the Toronto pre-broadway run. Won't go back.)
Mary Poppins: 3
Memphis: 6 (based on the movie telecast.)
Phantom of the Opera: 8 (last saw the broadway production in '92. Vegas in '08 rated a 2.)
Priscilla: 3 (based on west end show. Won't go back.)
Spider-Man 1.0: 5
Wicked: 6 (based on broadway in '04. The LA company in '09 rated an 8.)
Plus Warhorse, which is halfway towards a musical, rates an 8 (based on west end show.)
Mary Poppins 8
Chicago 9
Jersey Boys 10
Billy Elliot 10
Mamma Mia! 7
Lion King 6
Phantom 10
Wicked 1 (this is generous for me)
Broadway Star Joined: 6/17/09
Anything Goes 9
Billy Elliot 7
Book of Mormon 10
How to Succeed 8
Jersey Boys 7
Lion King 1
Mamma Mia! 1
Mary Poppins 5
Memphis 8
Million Dollar Quartet 9
Phantom of the Opera 1
Rain 7
Rock of Ages 8
Wicked 7
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