25. The Bridges of Madison County "Why it’s essential: The fact that The Bridges of Madison County didn’t earn a Tony nomination for Best Musical is a travesty, made all the more tragic because the show was forced to close early. It’s a beautiful, haunting show, with a rich score by Jason Robert Brown, and stunning performances by Kelli O’Hara and Steven Pasquale."
They included If/Then (at number 34), but not Matilda, Gentleman's Guide or Kinky Boots. Next to Normal is number one so maybe they have a thing for Kitt/Yorkey musicals.
What is Memphis doing on this list? They did include some genuinely great musicals, though. Also I giggled at them talking about LaChiusa's Wild Party being superior but the picture in the article is from Lippa's Wild Party.
"Looks like a group of 15-year-olds came up with this list."
I agree to some extent, but I wouldn't expect a stereotypical teenage Broadway fangirl/fanboy to include shows like Grey Gardens, The Scottsoboro Boys or Natasha, Pierre etc.
For the most part though, this list is super inconsistent. Some great musicals are mentioned, but should be placed higher. Then there are shows like Fela!, which I think REALLY should not be on this list. Plus they missed some really great musicals.
I don't care how silly some of the choices are, or the omissions of better shows. What the list does point out is that the business is still dynamic, and against all our protestations, there is an ongoing output of significant new work that will become part of the permanent repertoire of musical theater.
Whoever is in charge of putting the pictures with the shows needs to pay a little closer attention. My two favorites are 1 and 2 so I'm pretty happy with the list although BONNIE & CLYDE should have been on there.
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
As long as there were more than 43 musicals since 2000, it's only logical that 43 of them were better and if listed in order they would be the Top 43 or the 43 Best. I'm surprised this didn't occur to such an erudite man.
Oh, and just to be preemptive, dismissing this as absurd doesn't mean I'm wrong and you're right.
An important distinction is Buzzfeed lists are not made by a "they" they are made by individual posters who get paid on how many hits their posts get. So this is just as valid, or not as valid, as anyone on here (or anyone anywhere) making a similar list--hardly a poll, or anything.