if you asked the avarage american for his favorite musicals, what would they be?
most likely something with a movie or something mainstream like Phantom of the Opera or Cats. I know whenever I tell people I like Broadway they always ask me if I've seen the two above. Why do people only ever know ALW? *sighs*
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/07
Currently on Broadway, or all-time favorite?
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
Would the average person even be able to name 10?
I imagine Grease, Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, West Side Story, Phantom, Cats, Les Miz, Oklahoma, Singin In The Rain, A Chorus Line, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aladdin, Little Shop of Horrors, Rocky Horror, Fiddler, My Fair Lady, Rent and Wicked would probably be some of the most common responses.
Phantom of the Opera
Les Miserables
Chicago
West Side Story
The Sound of Music
The Wizard of Oz
Grease
Cabaret
Oklahoma
Wicked
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/07
Chicago
Grease
Hairspray
Les Miserables
Mary Poppins
Moulin Rouge
The Phantom of The Opera
RENT
Wicked
The Wizard of Oz
I agree with most of these except I also think ANNIE would be on the list.
and Miss Saigon
The UK's favourite musical poll (Les Mis won)
suprprised me when FOLLIES was featured on the top list.
i don't think any sondheim piece would be in americans' list, which is very strange, since most his works premiered in NYC and played america, while some did not even cross the atlantic.
--BBC UK POLL RESULTS--
1.
Les Miserables (more than 40% of voters!)
2.
The Phantom of the Opera
3.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
4.
The King and I
5.
Sunset Boulevard
6.
Evita
7.
Chess
8.
The Rocky Horror Show
9.
Follies
10.
Hair
*another thought: It seems america knows and loves the classics more than the british audience. King an I is the only golden age show on the list, most of the others are late 70's on...
Well after the Sweeney movie comes out that might change...
It's sad that more people know ALW then Sondheim. The only thing close would be people that know WSS...
My non Broadway friends didn't even know who Sondheim was until they met me.
From my experience with Non Broadway fans...top musicals would be
Cats
Phantom of the Opera
RENT
Chicago
Hairspray
Les Mis
Annie
Sound of Music
Oklahoma
The Wizard of Oz
sad no-one outside Broadway would list shows like Company or Into the Woods or Sweeney Todd (yet) or Sunday in the Park With George or Follies...i could go on and on.
well, if it is with teens or twenty year olds, Wicked needs to be on top. I seriously didn't know so many people knew this show! And now Hairspray is rising in the ranks 'cause of the movie.
I'd imagine The Producers would be high up there, as well.
3.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
wow, how incongruous. Odd.
I also think people know Joseph and Mamma Mia
From anyone that I asked that wasn't a theatre fan, the usual responses have been the same as above...I would say the top 5 would be:
1. Wicked
2. The Sound of Music
3. Grease
4. Phantom of the Opera
5. rent
or like everyone else said anything that's a movie that was somewhat successful.
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