TONY AWARD/BEST MUSICAL OF ALL TIME — Page 2

I just wanna say that "Death of a Salesman", while a good play, is not anywhere NEAR being the best play of all time, or even of the 20th century. Why the heck did Hugh say that??

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Updated On: 9/1/04 at 05:06 PM

There was a vote on the official Tony Awards website, like this thread is emulating (but with musicals).
-d.b.j-

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nuggie,

quick question...do you think you're michael moore? stop editing to suit your purposes. the actual merriam-webster online definition for the word 'bigot' is:

a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices

and some other definitions of bigot? here ya go:

'One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.'

'A hypocrite; esp., a superstitious hypocrite.'

'A person who regards his own faith and views in matters of religion as unquestionably right, and any belief or opinion opposed to or differing from them as unreasonable or wicked. In an extended sense, a person who is intolerant of opinions which conflict with his own, as in politics or morals; one obstinately and blindly devoted to his own church, party, belief, or opinion.'

seeing as i'm neither obstinate in my views nor intolerant of yours, i am not a bigot.

i am simply arguing that to choose the 'best' musical, one should pick a show that melds all of the elements of a musical (score, book and the movement of bodies through space in real time) seamlessly.

you say that dancing is not necessary to a musical. well...for some, sure...but not all. and that's an interesting argument to have.

however, your following remark stating that choreography is a 'typically showy one' is actually quite flippant (Merriam-Webster definition: lacking proper respect or seriousness). It precludes that choreography cannot be as integral to a musical as the book and score.

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Updated On: 9/1/04 at 05:30 PM

i agree with robbie wholeheartedly.
the BEST musical of all-time has to implement all tools of musical theatre - choreography being a very important one. if someone doesn't consider choreography important at all, he/she is the bigot.

best musical of all-time IMHO:
West Side Story
- which implements ALL of the bases of musical theatre.
Amazing music, amazing lyrics, amazing choreo, amazing book, amazing themes...i can go on for days.

Runners-up:
Gypsy
Carousel

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Updated On: 9/1/04 at 05:38 PM

OOOh, I thought you were saying that musicals with no choreography are/were inferior to those with. Which is what you are saying, no?

And okay, I am kind of seeing what you mean...
But I still think that a "best" musical (which, that in itself, is impossible to measure) can have minimal or no choreography.
-d.b.j-

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okay, robbie shoot me down.
here's what i'm saying - if it matters:
A best musical of a year for instance does not need to have amazing choreography to win, nor do I think it's a requirement. But when you are talking about the Best of all-time, staging and choreography go together quite importantly. I personally tend to like shows with less choreography but in selecting a best of all-time musical I believe it is eminent to choose one with carefully constructed musical staging - in addition to other factors.

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I would never shoot down my leo.

Though I might edge out WSS for GYPSY. But it's a VERY difficult decision.

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Well, I agree with GYPSY. Definetly one of the top few.
-d.b.j-

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The Ultimate musical is SWEENEY TODD.
The most entertaining musical is SWEENEY TODD.
The best written and composed musical is SWEENEY TODD.
The most enlightening musical is SWEENEY TODD.

But, because I belive choreography IS essential for a musical to be called the 'definitive musical' I would say GYPSY and WEST SIDE STORY are the definitive musicals.

But SWEENEY TODD is the best.

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Woah Priest! I wasn't saying it was undeserving (in fact, I said just the opposite), just that it would never win, especially if it was done with a poll like the best play contest.

I'm thinking that it may come down to "My Fair Lady", "Cabaret" and "Gypsy" (whether or not it won, it really SHOULD be on the list)- although yes, Sweeney is in most ways superior to all three.

Updated On: 9/1/04 at 07:20 PM

I know that this is solely based on opinion, but still, anyone who puts Hairspray for the best musical of all time, is obviously VERY biased. Hairspray, compared to other real musicals, is crap. It's music is beyond bad, for one. It's catchy, so what? No substance, no nothing. The script is cliched and so is the moral. Even Rent is better then the crap they call Hairspray.

I want my money back.

it all depends on how you consider "best", which is what the choreography boys were arguing.

Definitive like Gypsy or West Side? Quality of material like Sweeney Todd? Pure energy and joy like Hairspray? Cause lord knows i'd rather see a great Hairspray than an awful Sweeney Todd...
and THIS thread is based on the tony winners

so we have La cage instead of Sunday in the Park
Phantom instead of Into the Woods, Lion King instead of Ragtime, etc...so our options ARE limited