TOP TEN MUSICALS OF THE 21st CENTURY... SO FAR.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 8:51pm

This being December 1, 2009, I suppose now is as good a time as any to compile a list of the greatest musicals of the 21st century... so far. I believe all new musicals opening on Broadway this decade have opened by now.

Please list your top ten favorite shows that premiered between 1/1/00 and 12/1/09 and, if you'd like, please also share any thoughts, memories and initial reactions you had to the shows you choose. Your list may also include off-Broadway, regional and out-of-town tryouts (mine does).

And, for fun, it might be nice to mention how you think future generations will look at the show.

I feel Michael John LaChiusa's THE WILD PARTY is the best musical since Sondheim's FOLLIES and I feel that it, like that show, will never work on stage like it did in the original production but future generations will wonder what the critics were smoking when they wrote those wretched, cruel reviews. I have never had a more cathartic theatre experience, from anger to chills to laughter, and, yes, tears. I would be doing a disservice to the experience to try to put it into words, but just know it was one of those moments in the theatre I will never forget.

For purposes of this poll, I think it might be interesting to note that TWP was one of the first, if not the very first, new musical to open on Broadway in the 20th century. Look at what we've gotten on Broadway, and elsewhere, since.

MY TOP TEN of the 00s, in order:
THE WILD PARTY
SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE
DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES
SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS
THE LAST FIVE YEARS
BERNARDA ALBA
HAIRSPRAY
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
SISTER ACT
THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK

A Good Nightmare Comes So Rarely,
P

P.S. THE FIRST WIVES CLUB is not included on this list because the Broadway production opening this spring at the Mark Hellinger Theater will undoubtedly win Best Musical 2010 (Tony and DD) and I do not want to confuse anyone who may look back on this thread in the future. Updated On: 12/1/09 at 08:51 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 8:55pm

Technically the century didn't begin until 2001.

I think a lot of people are going to say "OMG, GREY GARDENS!"

Perhaps Caroline or Change.

Piazza.

I wouldn't say any of them I just mentioned, but this thread has made me realize I can't think of a single musical in the past ten years that I would say is a BEST, except The First Wives Club. Maybe Avenue Q, cause that was funny as hell.


Updated On: 12/1/09 at 08:55 PM

[Pgenre]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 8:57pm

Yes, but, technicalities aside, what are YOUR top 10 musicals from 1/1/00-12/1/09, PRS? I'd love to know, as I'm sure others would as well.

P

[AC126748]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 8:57pm

In alphabetical order:

Bernarda Alba
Caroline, or Change
Grey Gardens
The Light in the Piazza
Little Fish
Passing Strange
See What I Wanna See
Spring Awakening
Urinetown
The Wild Party (Lachiusa)

P, your taste is certainly interesting and eclectic.

Updated On: 12/1/09 at 08:57 PM

[BwayTday]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 8:58pm

I would do this if I hadn't gotten into Broadway a little over year ago. My list would be very uninformed. So I will spare everyone the pain of having to read it. Yet I am interested in everybody elses choices.

Pgenre, was the First Wives Club not RED-DAY for this list?
Updated On: 12/1/09 at 08:58 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 8:59pm

Passing Strange
Grey Gardens
The Producers
Avenue Q
Hairspray
Zorro
Next to Normal


Updated On: 12/1/09 at 08:59 PM

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:04pm

(in no particular order)
URINETOWN
THE PRODUCERS
HAIRSPRAY
IN THE HEIGHTS
NEXT TO NORMAL
ASSASSINS (does this count?)
SHREK (I don't kid)
AVENUE Q
THE WILD PARTY
CAROLINE, OR CHANGE

what can I say, I'm a mainstream guy.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:07pm

Trying to pin down a favorite anything of mine aggravates my anxiety disorder, but I'll try my best. I'm only listing ones I've seen, so it's mainly just the ten new musicals I've most enjoyed over the past decade.

Avenue Q
The Light in the Piazza
Hairspray
Xanadu
I'm on the fence about Grey Gardens, because I thought the material was kind of slight and that that show lived by its stars.

[myshikobit]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:10pm

LaChuisa's Wild Party

The Producers

Wicked (Merely because it influenced an entire generation of future Broadway-goers and -doers and the show's score, like it or not, is becoming immortal)

See What I Wanna See

Bernarda Alba

[title of show]

Rebecca

Spring Awakening

Adding Machine

Next To Normal

[James885]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:12pm

The Light In The Piazza
Hairspray
Avenue Q
Urinetown
Caroline, Or Change
Grey Gardens
The Color Purple

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:13pm

Oh, and the First Wives Club. How could I forget that.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:19pm

In alphabetical order:

Aida
The Color Purple
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Grey Gardens
Hairspray
Next to Normal
The Producers
Spring Awakening
Urinetown
Wicked

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:27pm

I forgot about Aida. That would go on my list, too.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:28pm

Hairspray
Spring Awakening
Urinetown
Catch Me If You Can (What a score - please bring this in soon)
A Class Act (I know it has more or less been forgotten, but I loved that show!)

Beyond those, the only way I could come up with a list of 10 from this miserable century would be to put Grey Gardens down 5 times.

Updated On: 12/1/09 at 09:28 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:30pm

Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Amour
Brooklyn
Glory Days
The Green Bird
High Fidelity
Hot Feet
The Pirate Queen
Thou Shalt Not
Urban Cowboy

[Dantes]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:31pm

1 Next To Normal
2.The Wild Party
3.Passing Strange
4.In The Heights
5.Hairspray
6.The Producers
7,Grey Gardens
8.Avenue Q
9.Bad Girls
10.Evil Dead

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:38pm

In no particular order:

BILLY ELLIOT
NEXT TO NORMAL
HAIRSPRAY
THE PRODUCERS
CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
SPRING AWAKENING
URINETOWN
A CATERED AFFAIR
THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS

[singtopher]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:48pm

For me personally: (In no particular order)

Next To Normal
Urinetown
The Drowsy Chaperone
The Light in the Piazza
Hairspray
The Last 5 Years
Reefer Madness
Avenue Q
Billy Elliott
Xanadu

There are many shows that I have heard wonderful things about that I feel I would love. But, having never seen them, I'll wait to pass judgement.

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:59pm

Wild Party (LaChiusa)
Spring Awakening
The Light in the Piazza
Caroline or Change
Passing Strange
The Glorious Ones
Grey Gardens
Legally Blonde
Curtains
Little FIsh

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:59pm

The Light in the Piazza
Aida
Urinetown
Sarah, Plain and Tall
See What I Wanna See
Avenue Q
The Wild Party (Lippa)
Jersey Boys (not original music, but the show is well built)
Hairspray
Caroline, Or Change

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 9:59pm

I only see two "Wicked"s on here. That is honestly SO refreshing and makes me quite happy..

[AC126748]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 10:03pm

I actually LOVE the score to Amour, Smaxie.
In an intimate Off-Broadway setting, it could've been spectacular.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 10:09pm

In no special order:

The Color Purple
Billy Elliot
next to normal
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Caroline, Or Change
Grey Gardens
Spring Awakening
Legally Blonde
Passing Strange
Xanadu

And special mention to one of the best productions of the last decade (even though it was a revival): Company

[Jim Cook, Jr.]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 10:37pm

no one has mentioned "BARE: a pop opera" yet.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 10:49pm

Another good one!