The Greatest/Most Classic Broadway Musicals of All Time?

[BroadwayPhan]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:01am

I'm quite excited to see the My Fair Lady Tour in New Jersey on Tuesday night. I have sadly never seen a stage production before of this classic musical.

That got me thinking...what would people consider to be, the let's say, top 5 greatest classic Broadway shows? Not to be confused with your favorite shows, but what shows really epitomize Broadway's past/present?

Basically, if someone who had never seen a Broadway show before asked you, "what 5 shows that TRULY define Broadway are 'must-sees' during one's lifetime," what would you say?

My list (in no particular order):
Oklahoma!
West Side Story
My Fair Lady
Gypsy
Fiddler on the Roof

I realize that my list evidently contains 5 older musicals. Do you think that there are more contemporary musicals that 60+ years from now, we'll look back and say "that was one of the greatest musicals of all time" and revive it (perhaps even multiple times)?

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:07am

Hmmmm.....Phantom? That's pretty classic.

[Mekroth]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:15am

Sweeney. It's a masterpiece.

[Urban]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:26am

BroadwayPhan - I might put 'Kiss Me Kate' on that list but I think you nailed it otherwise.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:30am

Gypsy
Anything Goes
West Side Story
The King and I

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:36am

Phan, your first four are pretty undeniable, but I'm not sure about Fiddler. And none of the other suggestions are striking me. Maybe we'll just have a list of 4.

[glimpseofstocking]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:37am

Gypsy
Anything Goes
West Side Story
Chicago

As a kid 42nd Street was always the show that I felt WAS Broadway. I think it was because of the tap dancing and the songs. A romanticized idea of Broadway, I guess.

[jasonf]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:54am

I'm not by any means a Renthead, but when we look back fifty years from now, I think Rent will have had as much an impact as West Side Story. I would remove Fiddler and put Rent there instead. I can't believe I just posted this. If not Rent, then I'd agree with Sweeney. While Fiddler is great and a classic, I'm not sure it's had the impact of Oklahoma or WSS, nor considered as "perfect" as My Fair Lady or Gypsy...

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 12:05pm

I wouldn't say Phantom nor Sweeney could be considered "Classic" musicals, because I at least consider a classic musical nowadays to be from the Golden Age. However, people from the Golden Age might have considered No, No, Nanette a classic way back when. I think it all depends on what time period you're from, but I think the past two generations could say the 'classics' come from the Golden Age. I personally think the OP's list is almost as classic as it gets.

Updated On: 3/15/08 at 12:05 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 12:10pm

Follies

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 12:24pm

In some reading I was doing, it was said that most Broadway...scholars(?) will agree that the 4 greatest shows are West Side Story, Gypsy, My Fair Lady, and Fiddler, with I guess Sweeney knocking on the door. So good picks, IMO.

Oklahoma! is without a doubt one of the most important and influential shows but I think when you compare the quality with the other 4, you can't really put it up there, IMO.

[greybaby231]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 1:02pm

West Side Story, hands down.
Personally, I don't like Oklahoma, but that stems from a bad high school theatre experience.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 1:11pm

Guys and Dolls
Gypsy
West Side Story
Rent
Fiddler on the Roof
Oklahoma
South Pacific
My Fair Lady
Sweeney Todd
Cabaret
Mamma Mia
The Producers
Beauty and the Beast

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 1:21pm

GYPSY
MY FAIR LADY
WEST SIDE STORY
CAROUSEL
GUYS AND DOLLS

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 2:11pm

Brigadoon
West Side Story
Oaklahoma
Carousel
Kiss Me Kate
The King and I
Sound of Music
South Pacific
Company
Into The Woods
Guys and Dolls
Damn Yankees
Chicago
42nd Street
Fiddler On The Roof
A Chorus Line
Phantom of The Opera
Les Mis
Miss Saigon

Updated On: 3/15/08 at 02:11 PM

[The White Half-Mask]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 4:05pm

Picking just 5 is pretty tough. I'll go with:

Oklahoma!
West Side Story
Company
The Phantom of the Opera
Rent
Wicked

I tried to represent musicals from different time periods, which is why some more contemporary shows are on my list. I think that when people look back on Rent or Wicked, they'll be considered classics as well.

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 4:19pm

If we are talking the "Golden Age" of Broadway, I don't think you could go wrong with these:

Oklahoma!
West Side Story
Gypsy
Carousel
My Fair Lady

Later on:
Cabaret
Sweeney Todd
Chicago
(I think that all of the last 3 are on par with the 5 on my first list)

[morosco]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 4:23pm

Not even 1 mention of Show Boat?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 4:33pm

I was thinking the same thing morosco.

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 4:41pm

I would say it's close to impossible to just mention five. Maybe a composer's masterpiece list would be easier.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 4:42pm

Maybe Porgy & Bess should be up there...

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 4:45pm

And as I stated earlier, 'No, No, Nanette" should be up there too.