TONY AWARD/BEST MUSICAL OF ALL TIME

Kiss Me, Kate
South Pacific
Guys and Dolls
The King and I
Wonderful Town
Kismit
The Pajama Game
Damn Yankees
My Fair Lady
The Music Man
Redhead
Fiorello!
Bye Bye Birdie
How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Hello, Dolly
Fiddler On the Roof
Man of La Mancha
Cabaret
Hallelujah, Baby!
1776
Applause
Company
Two Gentlemen of Verona
A Little Night Music
Raisin
The Wiz
A Chorus Line
Annie
Aint Misbehavin'
Sweeney Todd
Evita
42nd Street
Nine
Cats
La Cage Aux Folles
Big River
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Les Miserables
The Phantom of the Opera
Jerome Robbins' Broadway
City of Angels
The Will Rogers Follies
Crazy For You
Kiss of the Spiderwoman
Passion
Sunset Boulevard
Rent
Titanic
The Lion King
Fosse
Contact
The Producers
Thorougly Modern Millie
Hairspray!
Avenue Q

At the 2003 Tony Award Broadcast, Hugh Jackman announced "Death of a Salesman" to be the greatest play of all time. I was hoping this year they'd do the same for Best Musical. Out of the list (Tony Award winners for Best Musical of that year) which would you pick to be the greatest of all time?

Ps- It doesnt have to be one you've seen live on Broadway. It's about the material (Book/Score). It could be from what you've heard/read about, if you've heard the score or read the book....if you've seen a High School perform the show...what is the best?

Yeah, i know its sad. Many shows that didnt win the award are remembered more than the one that did...Gypsy, West Side Story, Sweet Charity...

West Side Story, Gypsy, Follies and Dreamgirls are probably the four best musicals to not win Best Musical, and one could make arguments that Sunday in the Park With George, Once on this Island and Urinetown were all superior to the shows that beat them.

---

Once on This Island was excellent! The whole cast/score was great!

You're gonna have to add CAROLINE to that list, guys.

---

Yes, Matt.
Caroline, or Change.
definetly.
Sweeney Todd is one of the best musicals ever, as well.
-dd.bb.jj-

---

[Insert Blasphemy Here], you neeeeed to see it.
I cannot believe you have never seen it!
-d.b.j-

---

OK...Here's why I wouldn't choose Sweeney Todd as the best. Nor would I put Caroline in the same mix as Follies, Gypsy, WSS or Dreamgirls.

There is a strong element missing from both Sweeney and Caroline and that is choreography. The other four (in their original incarnations, at least) all contain a strong dance component, which I feel is necessary to choose which is the best musical. Sweeney Todd, while brilliant, is missing that one key ingredient that would allow me to call it the 'best'.

---

I don't think dancing is a necessary part of a musical at all.
Just a typically showy one.
-d.b.j-

---

Just my own opinion, but I always felt that Sweeney Todd takes a bit of a misstep in the final sequence and epilogue. While still exciting, the musical material in the final sequence seems to dry up, as the plot needs to be resolved. A musical that is mostly sung suddenly gets book heavy. Then, the finger pointing in the final "Ballad of Sweeney Todd" seems accusatory toward the audience for no clear reason. Oh sure, you can argue that we're all responsible for Sweeney's plight, but I'm not sure I'd agree with it.

---

Obviously you don't know what the word 'bigot' means.

Without choreography, shows like West Side Story, Carousel, Oklahoma, Gypsy, Dreamgirls, Follies, Fiddler on the Roof, A Chorus Line et al would not have made the impact they've made.

Calling something 'showy' when it can actually be integral to the plot of a show and reveal character is flippant.

I'm in no way a bigot.

---

I'd have to go for Cabaret. It's unfortunate Ragtime was robbed, or I'd vote for that.

---

Hairspray and Les Miz