TOP TEN MUSICALS OF THE 21st CENTURY... SO FAR. — Page 2

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

I'm sorry, I believe you are confusing Grey Gardens fans with Next to Normal fans. Because I've never seen a Grey Gardens fan act like that.

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I limited my list to just Broadway productions:

1. JERSEY BOYS - I rail against jukebox musicals but if they were all as good as this there would be hope for the genre.

2. THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA - a beautiful, special show. Never tire of re-watching the PBS telecast

3. AVENUE Q - Funny, clever with some catchy tunes. I haven't caught the off-Broadway edition but I hope it continues to thrive.

4. THE PRODUCERS - a big, old-fashioned, musical comedy (with an emphasis on the latter). It's starting to be done by community groups and even without all the elaborate scenery it's still very funny, and the tunes - although derivative - are enjoyable.

5. GREY GARDENS - another "special" show, but blessed with a beautiful and accessible score. I hope this show has a long healthy post-Broadway life.

6. URINETOWN - Clever, funny, and relevant. Since teh show closed it has become incredibly popular with regional/community groups where it thrives.

7. BILLY ELLLIOT - the book is a bit clumsy at times and the score lacks a single stand-out tune, but the show on teh whoel works beautifully.

8. THE FULL MONTY - a case where the complete package rises above the sum of its parts. The score is for the most part second rate, but the show packs a good deal of entertainment value.

9. WICKED - It depends on the star performances of its leading ladies to catch fire. The best moments in the score reveal Stephen Schwartz at his best. If only the book weren't so lumpy.

10. HAIRSPRAY - In a good decade a 3 1/2 star show like this would never make the top 10 but given the other choices this was the most entertaining of the bunch, thanks to a great score.


It really is bad that there are so few 5-star shows to have opened on Broadway this decade.

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In no particular order:

The Last 5 Years
Grey Gardens
Spring Awakening
The Light In The Piazza
Next to Normal
Passing Strange
Hairspray
The Drowsy Chaperone
Bat Boy
Debbie Does Dallas (I put this on here because even though it's not the greatest show ever, the cast recording makes me laugh from start to finish and Small Town Girl is quickly becoming one of the most played songs on my Zune)

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I had thought mine was gonna be more eclectic and off-broadway and interesting, but I think the shows I ended up with really do reflect the best of all the different types of musicals from this decade. IMO, obviously.

1. CAROLINE OR CHANGE- The best musical of the last 25 years. Period. Since Sunday In The Park With George. The music, lyrics, emotional punch, and excellent performances created a truly stunning piece of fine art.

2. THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA- The gold standard for a Broadway score if measured in sheer beauty. Beautiful performances, design, direction, and a strong book. Lauching pad for Kelli O'Hara's career. That's enough to make this list for me. :)

3. MOVIN' OUT - The most energetic, kinectic, and visually overwhelming show I've seen to date. Just brilliant choreography. I was truly floored. A must for any dance lover.

4. BILLY ELLIOT - The gold standard for staging if measured in sheer beauty. This is one where the parts add up to a magnificent whole. I felt like I had been punched after "Angry Dance". I was that blown away.

5. NEXT TO NORMAL - Thrilling score. Thrilling performances. Truly moving story. And really cool set too.

6. THE LAST 5 YEARS - JRB's best work after Parade. Truly groundbreaking. It's in EVERY young theater kid i know's cd collection. That says something.

7. THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE - Funny, fresh, and original. Great performances. Has some truly stand-out songs, if the score as a whole doesn't quite impress.

8. THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE - A hokey, fun, and FUNNY throwback to the golden age. Right place at the right time, being a love letter to New York. Material lifted by inspired Tony-winning choreography by Rob Ashford, swift direction, and a game cast not to mention some understudy-turned-lead named Sutton Foster. A star was born.

9. LEGALLY BLONDE - MY favorite commercial movie to musical adaptation of the decade. Smart direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell and the most energetic ensemble in recent memory by a mile. Heather Hach deftly deepened Emmett's character and his and Elle's relationship, the the show an emotional core the movie didn't have. Laura Bell Bundy was touching and exuberant when i saw the show and sounded amazing. Most satisfying Act 1 finale on the list.

10. DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS/THE FULL MONTY - Two of the funniest musicals of the decade. Two fun, funky, and unique scores from the talented David Yazbeck. And two shows with some really JUICY comedic roles for actors.

**Notice three shows on my list were best musical nominees in '05 (though the all lost to SPAMALOT, which did not make my list). Definitely the best new musical season of the decade.

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Piazza
Ave. Q
Last 5 Years
Yank!
Grey Gardens
Spelling Bee
See What I Wanna See
Spamalot
Spring Awakening
Hairspray

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opening this spring at the Mark Hellinger

So when is it stopping being a church? Because I haven't heard anything about it being sold back to a theatre organization...

Oh, ok. I wasn't sure.

In alphabetical order

Avenue Q
Contact
The Drowsy Chaperone
Grey Gardens
Movin' Out
Next to Normal
...Spelling Bee
[title of show]
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Urinetown

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Grey Gardens
Caroline, or Change
The Light in the Piazza
The Wild Party (Lippa)
Next To Normal
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Jersey Boys
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Young Frankenstein
The Last 5 Years
Xanadu
The Drowsy Chaperone
The Color Purple

(more than 10, but all stunning in their own right)

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The Producers
Spamalot
Young Frankenstein
Billy Elliot
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
In The Heights
Next to Normal
Hairspray
Wicked

1. NEXT TO NORMAL- The music/lyrics win my heart from the get-go, but throw in a great book and amazing staging as well... definitely steals the top spot for me by a landslide.

2. REBECCA- The score and storyline are so flawless to begin with, I don't need a full-scale Broadway production to say it deserves the second spot. Honestly, as long as it gets a great English translation-- which I'm confident it will-- it will be flawless in the states.

3. THE WILD PARTY (LIPPA)- I think the book had some rough patches... and the staging of the original Off-Broadway production was slightly lacking as well. But, honestly the lyrics, the characters and score are so completely meaningful to me.

4. HAIRSPRAY- One of the few movie-to-musical transitions that actually works... It's a fun show, but it also has some great themes/motifs. Love it all.

5. AMERICAN IDIOT- Yes, really. I'm slightly biased since I've been a Green Day fan for 10+ years, but this is a jukebox musical that I not only tolerate, but absolutely adore.

6. WICKED- It didn't get me into musical theater, but it still has a special place in my heart. I really love the score, lyrics and plot. I can't help it.

7. AIDA- A Disney musical, yes, but it has a lot to it that I can completely rave about. Really the only Elton John thing I like when it comes to Broadway... unless you count one song from LESTAT.

8. MARIE ANTOINETTE- A Vienna musical, but I'm going to cheat once again and include it here.

9. THE COLOR PURPLE- The storyline drives this one more than the music itself, in my opinion at least. But there are some VERY strong/amazing songs as well.

A few things tie for the tenth spot, so I'll just leave that one blank.

In no particular order :

The Producers
The Witches of Eastwick
The Beautiful Game
Hairspray
Avenue Q
Wicked
Next To Normal
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Sister Act
Aida

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Thanks for a hearty laugh, Smaxie!