Top Ten Musicals Since Showboat That Changed Broadway — Page 2

**I am going on what I have read, so forgive me if I am wrong** But, at the time of RENT, the main things that were on broadway were shows that have been running a while (Phantom, CATS, etc.) and musicals made from movies (B&B, Lion King, Victor/Victoria) and Revivals. Also, wasn't it the first musical (Outside of Disney) to get National Attention, from the TIMES, etc in a long time? Also, while rock musicals were still around, RENT made it popular again.

Ok, Margo. I am ready for the beatdown. Give it to me gently.

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Updated On: 10/29/04 at 02:08 PM

I think I would have to say the show that changed broadway greatly, in my opinion, is HAIR. Hair was really teh first show to take what was going on in the world and bring it to the public. The world was in chaos and broadway musicals did not represent that at all. Hair also was the first successful musical to have a fully rock score. Besides that, it was an important vehicle for freedom of speech laws(boston and other cities trying to close it down)

La Cage made it "ok" to be gay in theatre and be accepted

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RENT has spawned LOTS of imitators. Most of them just end up failing. That's why MAMMA MIA has had such an impact. Who cares if any of these upcoming shows succeed? It's because of MAMMA MIA that they are even trying.

Also, RENT started the whole concept of the lottery. RENT created a WHOLE NEW AUDIENCE of young theatergoers for Broadway, who then went to ROCKY HORROR, TABOO, WICKED, etc.

I don't think Rent changed Broadway because it was a rock musical, but because of all its elements. The first rock musical to win the Pulitzer, Tonys and critical acclaim as well as creating an instant cult phenomenon spawning the lottery and sidewalk sleepers (Rentheads). It was a little Off-Broadway show that truly did bring in a whole new audience to Broadway.

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I have a soft spot for "Promises, Promises" myself. Then again I'm a big Bacharach fan period.

I can't believe no one has mentioned WICKED or BKLYN!!!!

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Changed in what way?

I wrote a paper on how theatre has become more liberal over time and has made society more aware of the themes it can encounter in modern america. So, in that kind of light, I'd say "Hair" changed broadway. The fact that "Hair" would display public nudity ended up in a case w/ the supreme court.

And, for groundbreaking plays, "The Goat or Who Is Sylvia" deals with beastiality, and "Long Day's Journey Into Night" is pretty heavy in the fact that the mother is a morphine addict, the father and sons are alcoholics, and the youngest son has tuberculosis, and the time it's taking place is 1912 or so, AND, it is Eugene O' Neill's autobiographical play. Only, it was written in the 1920s, but not published until the 1950s.

PAL JOEY (1st musical with an anti-hero as the main character)
OKLAHOMA! (1st totally integrated book musical, using script, song & dance to advance the plot)
CAROUSEL (1st musical to attempt weaving dialogue and song together so they become one - witness the genius of the "Park Bench"/"If I Love You" Scene - which is almost universally done today)
SOUTH PACIFIC (1st successful musical to use a "fluid" set - the actual first was ALLEGRO but that was a flop)
WEST SIDE STORY (took the use of dance in the telling of a musical story to a new level and dealt with the serious subject of urban ethnic gang war)
CABARET (the 1st attempt at a "concept" musical with the concept of the Emcee woven into an otherwise standard book musical - a major visionary departure from the norm by the genius of Hal Prince)
A CHORUS LINE (taking dance in musical theater to yet another level and developing the "concept" musical)
COMPANY (firmly establishing the "concept" musical as a major art & entertainment form)
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (both something of a "throwback" to the 19th century in taking musical theatre away from integrated dialogue and song to a through sung operatic form as well as establishing the modern "rock opera" as a major force in musical theater)
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (stretching musical theater as an art form to new heights, leading the way for the contemporary works of William Finn, Jason Robert Brown, Adam Guettel, Michael John La Chiusa, etc.)

Unfortunately, there is an 11th - MAMMA MIA - the first mega hit "tribute" musical that launched the plethora of "tribute" shows that now threaten to destroy all that has gone before.

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I can't believe no one has mentioned AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'. Unless I am mistaken,(which would not be a first) it was the first hit Broadway show to use a completely pre-written score, win Tonys and make a lot of money. It proved that you don't need to spend a lot on sets, costumes or even hire a composer to have a hit. It paved the way for all the juke box extravaganzas that followed.

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