Best Musical since 1976?

[Dave13]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 12:02am

What's the best musical since 1976, which includes Chorus Line and Chicago?  This can include shows that didn't win the Tony, but arguably should have won. I.e. Chicago and Wicked.  Always will find it interesting Wicked was not well received by critics, yet may go down in history as one of the most successful musicals. Even Phantom didn't get the best reviews at the time.  

I think the easy choice for many will be Hamilton, but I think it needs to be in context for the time period it opened and its impact on Broadway. 

For me, Phantom was the first musical I saw as an adult that got me interested in musicals. Wicked got me hooked.  Hamilton showed me how great a Broadway musical can become.

So my top 3 choices would be Hamilton, Wicked, Phantom in that order   Honorable mention goes to Lion King. Overall, I think Hamilton's originality and boldness in taking a show where no other show has gone before puts it over the top.  

Unfortunately, I never saw Chorus Line on Broadway to give an honest opinion.  Also, I didn't see Chicago in its prime, so I probably didn't give either show a fair shake.     

 

 

 

 

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 12:05am

So my top 3 choices would be Hamilton, Wicked, Phantom in that order

Yeah, but honestly switch Hamilton for BKLYN and you got it!

Updated On: 3/13/17 at 12:05 AM

[Neusimone]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 12:16am

Why did you pick 1976 ?

random date?

 

But other than an anniversary of the Untied States I wonder why that date.

Updated On: 3/13/17 at 12:16 AM

[Dave13]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 12:18am

Neusimone said: "Why did you pick 1976 ?

random date?

 

But other than an anniversary of the Untied States I wonder why that date.

 

"

I picked 1976 to include Chicago as I know there are many die hard Chicago fans and it is still on Broadway. Also 1976 includes Chorus Line which was huge for its time. 

Updated On: 3/13/17 at 12:18 AM

[Neusimone]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 12:21am

Hamilton and A Chorus Line started at the Public. A Chorus Line is a very well Pulitzer winning piece of theatre. Daring for its time.  

But I actually think Rent

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 12:22am

Sunday in the Park or Into the Woods for me.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 12:25am

didn't Chorus Line and Chicago both open in 1975?

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 12:28am

gypsy101 said: "didn't Chorus Line and Chicago both open in 1975?

 

"

Sure did, but you can't take anything about this thread seriously. So, go with '76.

[Dave13]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 12:33am

gypsy101 said: "didn't Chorus Line and Chicago both open in 1975?

 

"

They were nominated for best musical in 1976. Lol. 

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 12:39am

Les miserables. No question. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 12:41am

Babe_Williams said: "Les miserables. No question. 

 

"

That could be questioned, but oh well

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 1:08am

What an odd thread.  There have been many great musicals since 1976.  Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Passion, Ragtime, La Cage Aux Folles, Rent, Hamilton, Wicked, Fun Home, Spring Awakening, The Light in the Piazza, Nine, Dreamgirls, The Producers, Falsettos, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee are just some of the post-1976 musicals that many would consider "great."   I really don't understand this thread at all.

[Chowd95]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 1:28am

icecreambenjamin said: "What an odd thread.  There have been many great musicals since 1976.  Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Passion, Ragtime, La Cage Aux Folles, Rent, Hamilton, Wicked, Fun Home, Spring Awakening, The Light in the Piazza, Nine, Dreamgirls, The Producers, Falsettos, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee are just some of the post-1976 musicals that many would consider "great."   I really don't understand this thread at all.

^agreed.  Add City of Angels, Next to Normal, The Secret Garden, The Drowsy Chaperone, Tommy, The Life, Sideshow, Book of Mormon, Hairpspray, etc......  I'm all for new discussions but I don't really understand what he's asking.

 

"

 

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 1:40am

I thought it was clear the OP wanted to validate that Wicked, Phantom and Hamilton are the best musicals written since 1976. 

[Chowd95]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 3:40am

Astute observation.  

New poll:  What is the best musical since 1776? I mean, it won that year (1969), but beat out shows like Promises, Promises and Hair!  Discuss.

[CoolDogeGuy]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 5:37am

THERE ARE JUST SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MANY!

From the 1900s (starting from 1976): Chicago, Dancin', On the 20th Century, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Barnum, They're Playing Our Song, Woman of the Year, Pacific Overtures, Side by Side by Sondheim, A Chorus Line, Annie, Ain't Misbehavin', Sweeney Todd, Evita, 42nd Street, Nine, Dreamgirls, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Cats, Sunday in the Park with George, La Cage aux Folles, Big River, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Candide, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Sunset Boulevard, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Rent, Bring in 'da Funk, Bring in 'da Noise, Fosse, Passion, The Who's Tommy, Falsettos, The Will Rogers Follies, Miss Saigon, City of Angels, etc.

From the 2000s to now: Contact, The Wild Party, The Producers, The Full Monty, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Movin' Out, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Mary Poppins, The Secret Garden, Curtains, Spring Awakening, The Color Purple, The Boy from Oz, Wicked, Caroline, or Change, Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, Avenue Q, Newsies, Once, Hamilton, Waitress, School of Rock - The Musical, Aladdin, The Wedding Singer, The Drowsy Chaperone, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Come from Away, Xanadu, Rock of Ages, Billy Elliot, Next to Normal, Shrek the Musical, Bring it On the Musical, Matilda: The Musical, In the Heights, American Idiot, Fela!, Million Dollar Quartet, Memphis, Catch Me if You Can, Sister Act, Fun Home, Something Rotten!, Dear Evan Hansen, etc.

There can't just be ONE BEST musical. I'd (and MANY MANY other people) say ALL musicals are the best.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 6:33am

You seem to be confused over the meaning of BEST. Do you really mean to tell me you couldnt rank many of the shows you listed?

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 7:56am

Sweeney Todd
Les Miserables
The Phantom of the Opera
Miss Saigon
Passion
Rent
The Lion King
Ragtime
Jersey Boys
Spring Awakening
Billy Elliot
Next to Normal
The Book of Mormon
Newsies
Kinky Boots
Matilda
An American in Paris
Fun Home
Hamilton
Dear Evan Hansen

Updated On: 3/13/17 at 07:56 AM

[The Other One]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 8:24am

This is a strange post.  I wish you had asked for the best since 1776.  The lists from people who took you to mean since 1969 would be long enough; the lists from people who took you to mean since 1776 would be quite a bit longer (although there are no musicals of note before the 1920s, are there?).

Since 1976?  Sweeney Todd or Hamilton.

Updated On: 3/13/17 at 08:24 AM

[green waver]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 11:44am

Okay, this is my take on this- once you narrow the list down to the dozen or so usual suspects-Chorus Line, Rent, Sweeny, Les Miz, etc, it becomes totally personal. Arguing Sweeny over Hamilton, or Fun Home over Next to Normal is virtually meaningless.So I'm fine with Top Ten lists, but "the best"? Good luck on an answer to that!

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 1:40pm

I haven't seen HAMILTON, so this one is easy: SWEENEY TODD.

(I doubt that seeing the former would change my mind, but I'm open to the possibility.)

[Addison D.]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 2:21pm

I hate to be pedantic (actually,no--it's my Life's Blood) but I wish people who ask this kind of question--and it's a  perfectly natural question for any theater-lover to ask--just like "Who was the best Mama Rose?" (Imelda Staunton, without a doubt)--would include some guidance as to what they mean by 'best'.

The one you enjoyed most?  The most daring?  The most tuneful? The one that sold the most magnets at the gift shop? 

The most thrilling show I've seen in the specified time frame is, certainly 'Sweeney Todd'.  

The show that I return to again and again and again for entertainment and life lessons and escape and pure pleasure is 'Into the Woods'.   

The night that gave me chills--that still gives me goosebumps to remember--'Dreamgirls'. 

Narrowing down from there isn't an exercise that seems worth doing.

 

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 2:30pm

So, no Wicked?  Because I think the OP wanted Wicked. 

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/13/17 at 11:20pm

Since 1976?

La Cage aux Folles.

[hork]

Posted: 3/14/17 at 11:38am

I don't understand why so many people are having trouble understanding the question. It's not a very interesting or meaningful question, but it seems pretty self-explanatory. Is the word "best" difficult to understand in all areas, or just when applied to musicals?

I'd say Les Miserables if it didn't end with Fantine and Eponine taking Jean Valjean to heaven.

I'd say Rent if the score was a little tighter and it didn't end with the ensemble singing about waking from this nightmare.

I'd say In the Heights if the book didn't have so much lame sitcom-y dialogue.

So, Avenue Q it is. It's pretty much perfect, and maybe the most important musical of the 21st century.