Show of the Decade

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:30pm

I'm going to form a list of what I feel are either the most important, most influential, or most remarkable musicals from each decade - obviously not every musical from every year, but the ones that stand out to me. Then I want each of you (that are interested) to choose only one show from each decade, and just list the shows, one from each decade. At the end, from the list of 7 shows you have picked (40's-00's,) pick one. I want that one show not to represent your favorite show or how much you love Idina Menzel, but to be one solid choice that you think has greatly influenced musical theatre and made a huge impact. In a week, I will tally the answers and post the most common or popular answers. I don't want you to base your answers on just what show you enjoy the most, but what show has the best writing and most influenced the future of musical theatre. Think of it as just the show - not any specific production or cast members, just the raw writing. I think it's interesting to see what people think. If you think it's stupid, don't do it, but please take the time to do it - I'm quite curious. Thanks. I'll go first, in case my explanation was hard to follow:

*1940's*

Finian’s Rainbow
Kiss Me, Kate
Brigadoon
Oklahoma
Carousel

*1950's*

South Pacific
Guys and Dolls
The King and I
My Fair Lady
The Music Man
West Side Story

*1960's*

The Sound of Music
Gypsy
Bye Bye, Birdie
Oliver
Hello, Dolly
Funny Girl
Fiddler on the Roof
Man of La Mancha
Cabaret
Hair

*1970's*

Company
Follies
A Little Night Music
A Chorus Line
Chicago
Pacific Overtures
Annie
Sweeney Todd
Jesus Christ Superstar
Pippin
The Wiz
On the Twentieth Century

*1980's*

Evita
42nd Street
Nine
Dreamgirls
Cats
Sunday in the Park with George
La Cage aux Folles
Big River
Les Miserables
The Phantom of the Opera
Into the Woods

*1990's*

City of Angels
Miss Saigon
Tommy
Passion
Parade
Ragtime
The Lion King
Smokey Joe’s Café
Rent
Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk
Titanic

*2000's*

Contact
The Producers
The Full Monty
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Mamma Mia!
Urinetown
Hairspray
Movin’ Out
Avenue Q
Wicked
________________________________________________________________

My choices:

1940's: OKLAHOMA
1950's: THE MUSIC MAN
1960's: HAIR
1970's: SWEENEY TODD
1980's: LES MISERABLES
1990's: RENT
2000's: HAIRSPRAY

One show: OKLAHOMA

Updated On: 2/8/05 at 10:30 PM

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:33pm

I would take out Big River, Titanic and Passion and Full Monty

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:34pm

What are you saying, that's not what I'm asking...

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:34pm

1940's: Carousel
1050's: Guys and Dolls
1960's: Fiddler on the Roof
1970's: Sweeney Todd
1980's: SITPWG (Evita is a CLOSE second)
1990's: Ragtime
2000's: Urinetown

One show: Sweeney Todd

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:35pm

Well, I guess your list is pretty good...

I'd have to say for my own show Les Mis - it got me into theatre and a lot of my friends found their way into theatre beacuse of Les Mis.

I know a lot of people think it ruined theatre, but it also caused a lot fo people to be interested in theatre.

As far as theatre goes, I'd say three important shows, or meaningfull shows, are Oklahoma, The Wiz, and Rent.

Oklahaoma was pretty much America's BIG successful attempt at joining in the world of theatre - and of course, one of the first musicals.

The Wiz because it "opened" the theatre up to minortities, challenging the idea of the "Great White Way."

Rent, same thing, but people with AIDS. It finally said it right out, "We have AIDS, We're Gay, We're Dying."

I know other shows did these three things, but these shows are pretty much the most successful and popular.


I know this isn't EXACTLY what you are asking.... Updated On: 2/8/05 at 10:35 PM

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:37pm

1940's: Oklahoma
1950's: West Side Story
1960's: Hair
1970's: Sweeney Todd
1980's: Sunday
1990's: Ragtime
2000's: Urinetown

One: Hate to be redundant, but Sweeney. Updated On: 2/8/05 at 10:37 PM

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:38pm

*1940's*
Kiss Me, Kate

*1950's*
West Side Story
&
Guys & Dolls

*1960's*
Cabaret

*1970's*
A Chorus Line

*1980's*
Les Miserables

*1990's*
The Lion King

*2000's*
The Producers

LES MISERBALES (sorry, hehe) Updated On: 2/8/05 at 10:38 PM

[Justice]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:39pm

40'S: Carousel
50'S: West Side Story
60:s: Hair
70's: A Chorus Line
80's: Les Miz
90's: Rent
00's: Wicked

One Show: Rent


P.S. Didn't Evita come out in the late 70's?

Updated On: 2/9/05 at 10:39 PM

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:41pm

Evita opened in September of 1979.
So, yes.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:44pm

1940's: Oklahoma
1950's: West Side Story
1960's: Hair
1970's: A Chorus Line, Jesus Christ Superstar,
1980's: Evita, Dreamgirls
1990's: Rent and Ragtime
2000's: Hairspray

One show: Jesus Christ Superstar and West Side Story (I know I put two, so sue me....sue me....what can you do me, I love you!!)

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:44pm

I like Sweeney as much as the next person, just why is everyone saying though?

I mean, it is a very good show, don't get me wrong, but I never thought of it as the best or anything....grant it, I only saw the video and was very entertained, but....

[felineofavenueb]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:45pm

1940s: Oklahoma
1950s: West Side Story
1960s: Cabaret (Hair a close second)
1970s: A Chorus Line
1980s: The Phantom of the Opera
1990s: RENT
2000s: Urinetown

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:46pm

Sweeney changed what musical theatre was and set the course for what musical theatre could be.

I realize some might view me as crazy and delusional, but I believe Sweeney was and is more influnetial than Oklahoma

[Derek]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:46pm

i would have to agree with wicked in the 00's. It has broke box office records, is probably the most talked about musical in a long time and also opened up broadway to many new special effects and a new type of "big" musical. I would have to say Carousel in the 40's (now that is true love!), Guys and Dolls /WSS in the 50's (both are perfect)

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:48pm

Justice: EVITA opened in September of 1979, missing the cutoff date for the 1979 Tony Awards, so it was considered for the 1980 Tony Awards, and that's what I went by.

thisbijean: what's your one show?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:48pm

Uh, yeah Priest, I think you are a wack job!!!

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:51pm

Well, I picked mine based on how influential I thought the shows were, not on how sucessful they were. To be influential, I feel it has to be vastly different from anything previous.

Whether or not you like Wicked, it didn't really break any barriers or change what musical theatre is.
Which is why I picked Urinetown. It was just so very different from anything that came before it. AND it was sucessful.

Updated On: 2/8/05 at 10:51 PM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:51pm

Derek, I loved Wicked, blah blah blah, but what new special effects? The flying....? What about Peter Pan? Even Dracula (and no one can argue this) has better special effects that Wicked....

Anyway...

Priest, I think Oklahoma did a lot more than Sweeney - I thing Sweeney improved upon what Oklahoma had started....

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:57pm

Munk - I could not make all of the choices, but such great shows:
Oklahoma
The Music Man
West Side Story
The Sound of Music
Gypsy
Hello, Dolly
Fiddler on the Roof
Man of La Mancha
Company
Sweeney Todd
Jesus Christ Superstar
Pippin
Evita
Sunday in the Park with George
Les Miserables
The Phantom of the Opera
Miss Saigon
Ragtime
Rent
Avenue Q
Wicked

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:58pm

This is kind of getting away from the topic.
But, as much as I respect Oklahoma for the great show, fantastic acheivement and amazing inluence it is, I feel that sooner or later the idea of having the songs pertain to the story would have been done. Whether by Rodgers and Hammerstein or others.
Yes, Oklahoma certainly paved the way for shows like Sweeney. But the structure and elements that make up Sweeney Todd I don't feel would have naturally sprung into the minds of composers and lyricists of the time. It's existence is almost an enigma.
It was/is just so vastly different from anything that could have happened to the musical theatre. It wasn't something that would merely have evolved from the state of theatre at the time of its incarnation. It didn't evolve, it was created in a whole mysterious structure that seemed to defy what came before and that creation influenced, in my opinion, everything that came after.
I feel Oklahoma was just the result of the natural evolution of a theatre, which was inevitable. Of course the brilliants minds of R&H helped it along more quickly and more sucessfully.
Now, I do not know if that makes any sense. It is probably just a senseless ramble that has no coherent purpose. It'd probably do you good to forget it.

Updated On: 2/8/05 at 10:58 PM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:59pm

Why don't you just marry Sondheim already and get it over with. JEEZ!!!!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 11:01pm

haha, spider....

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 11:03pm

haha. I am just playing with the boy. He knows that I respect him and his Sondheim obsession. It is like a drug and there is no clinic to turn to for help. Am I right, Priest?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 11:04pm

40's - Oklahoma!
50's - West Side Story
60's - Cabaret... or maybe Hair?
70's - A Chorus Line
80's - Les Mis
90's - RENT
00's - declining to answer.

One show - Oklahoma!
It changed musical theatre history, in a pretty significant way. Corny? Yes. Kind of dumb? Yes. But important nonetheless.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 11:05pm

Well, I still laughed....

like my obsessions with Andre (<----)

Hence my sig, av (obviously) and my thread of my review of his show....