10 essential musicals for MT MAjors and MT lovers- Page 2

[Practically Perfect]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 5:58pm

Oklahoma
My Fair Lady
Gypsy
Cabaret
Cats
Les Mis
Phantom
Sunday In The Park With George
The Light In The Piazza
West Side Story


Mary P x

[GClef2]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 6:08pm

Renthead...i am very sorry, and not to be rude, but i strongly dissagree with you. They are HARDLY essential. Some are very good shows, but nothing striking. Just my opinion.

[musicman89]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 8:37pm

There are several threads out there that already deal with this and other similar types of rankings and listings. The search function is your best friend. Just type in "essential," "best," or "top" and you are bound to get hundreds of replies. 10 is a very difficult number due to the vast styles of the genre. A list of 20 or 25 would be more comprehensive and present a broader spectrum of musicals.

[DramaQueen700]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 4:09am

i think everyones list should include sweeney todd and the light in the piazza.

period.

[soapguy17]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:05am

*Throws shoe @ Baritone*

[ggersten]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 2:02pm

There are more than 10 Essentials, especially if you want to discuss shows that made a difference:
1. Oklahoma (cliche, but changed how shows were routinely done - not to mention the marriage of Rogers and Hammerstein)
2. Gypsy (perhaps the most perfect book/musical)
3. West Side Story (the perfect marriage of story, song and dance, and how to update a classic)
4. Cabaret (let's turn storytelling around and inside out)
5. Company (who needs a plot?)
6. Hair (story? who needs a story?)(first true Rock musical)(why didn't it have more of an impact on Broadway? Was it's impact more on US culture)
7. Sweeney Todd (Sondheim/Prince at their strongest)
9. A Chorus Line (who needs a plot? (I know there's an arc of the dancer's life, but it is essentially a frame and not a plot)
10. Aint Misbehavin (got to have a revue show)(how this any different than a jukebox musical like Mamma Mia)
11 Les Miz (compare this "light opera" to Porgy & Bess)
12. Cats (spectacle)
13. Rent (rock + how to update a classic story)

I don't think it's significant for its effect on Broadway, but Kiss Me Kate is so darn entertaining and wonderful and creative.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 2:07pm

Sweeney todd
Kiss of the Spiderwoman
Ragtime
Tick tick Boom
Fiddler on the Roof
Caroline or Change
Sunday in the Park with George
Cabaret
Funny Girl
Les Mis

[jesseeinstein]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 2:12pm

In no particular order- the 5 most important musicals:

West Side Story
Guys and Dolls
Sweeney Todd
Showboat
Oklahoma

[lovelyspotlight]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 2:16pm

I think that Children of Eden and possibly Jesus Christ Superstar should be added to these lists. Now I sound like some religious zealot, which I'm not. But those shows are touching, tell great stories, and have DIFFICULT singing parts.

And I disagree with the comment that RENT is garbage. It's simply different. I agree that it's not a "classic" musical, per se. RENT is innovative (the music, not necessarily the storyline, as I'm sure many would bring up is ripped off of La Boheme) and has captured the hearts of many around the world over the past decade. So it's not quite fair to consider it garbage. At least without backing up your opinion.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 2:21pm

In no order...

Les Miserables
The Last 5 Years
Sweeney Todd
Parade
Ragtime
West Side Story
Gypsy
Cabaret
The Light in the Piazza
Sunday in the Park with George
Kiss Me, Kate

That's 11, but anyway. Granted, some of these I don't like, but I still feel that they are essential.

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 3:05pm

1. Les Miserables
2. West Side Story
3. My Fair Lady
4. Oklahoma
5. South Pacific
6. Sweeney Todd
7. Cabaret
8. The Phantom of the Opera
9. Fiddler on the roof
10. A chorus line

[Flahooley]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 3:32pm

FINIAN'S RAINBOW has got to be on the list.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 6:34pm

My picks in chronological order:

Show Boat
Oklahoma
My Fair Lady
West Side Story
Gypsy
A Chorus Line
Sweeney Todd
Dreamgirls
Rent
The Light in the Piazza