The Greatest/Most Classic Broadway Musicals of All Time?

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)?

Sweeney. It's a masterpiece.

Gypsy
Anything Goes
West Side Story
The King and I

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.

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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.

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

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.

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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

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

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

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)

I was thinking the same thing morosco.

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Maybe Porgy & Bess should be up there...

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