Underrated and Overrated Broadway, West End, and/or Off-Broadway Musicals

Overrated: Billy Elliott, Hadestown, City of Angels, Fun Home, Into the Woods, The Lion King, Two Gentlemen From Verona, A Chorus Line, Raisin, The Wiz, Avenue Q.

(Note 1: I liked some of these shows, hated some.  Just thought the ones I liked, e.g., A Chorus Line, were overrated.  Chicago, IMO a better musical by far, got lost in the aura that was A Chorus Line, which was absurd.  At least time corrected that one).  (Note 2: I left out CATS, which I hate, because it didn't get great reviews when it opened).  (Note 2: I would have said Oklahoma until I saw last year's production).

Underrated or Underappreciated:  MAME (IMO it is much better than Hello, Dolly), Ragtime, Sunset Blvd (has issues, but IMO it is ALW's best score and has a great role for a leading lady; Bandstand, Purlie, It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman; Hallelujah, Baby, Cyrano (Christopher Plummer version), Something Rotten, Over Here, Shuffle Along

A specific duo: Ragtime is extremely overrated, and Seussical is extremely underrated.

RippedMan said: "I loathe Ragtime. I hate third person narration in a musical. I know it's how the book is written, but it has a distancing quality in a live show. Same with something like Catch Me If You Can.

Underrated: My Life With Albertine. Some gorgeous music."

Have to admit that I have never heard of it...is there a cast recording??

Overrated: Hadestown, Wicked, Ain't Too Proud

Underrated: Aladdin, Bandstand, Anastasia

Updated On: 5/10/20 at 12:34 PM

Underrated: Amour

Overrated: The Producers

Overrated: The Producers, The Book of Mormon, RENT, The Music Man, A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum, The Wiz, Evita, La Cage aux Folles, Wicked, The Lion King

Underrated: Caroline or Change, A Catered Affair, Titanic, Funny Girl, Mame, The Most Happy Fella, Merrily We Roll Along, Cinderella (R&H), Two By Two, Goldilocks, Sweet Smell of Success