What musicals of the last 20 years will be considerred classics fifty years from now?

[jagfkb]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 8:09pm

We all know Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, Gypsy, and plenty of other shows which are now considerred theater classics. My question is what shows of today will be considerred classic fifty years from now? My guesses would have to be Rent, The Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime, Spring Awakening, Hairspray, Wicked, and In the Heights, with Billy Elliot in the running to become the next major classic canidate. i'm sure I'm missing quite a few, but what musicals do you think will be considerred classic?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 8:10pm

Piazza! it will be in theatres and opera houses forever.

[dented146]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 8:20pm

I hate to say this but both Mama Mia and Wicked may be considered classics for the simple reason that they both may still be playing.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 8:22pm

ASSASSINS.

Or at least I hope to God it will be.

P

[dented146]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 8:25pm

Seriously--Rent

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 8:27pm

It's a tough call. I think The Light in the Piazza and Caroline or Change should be considered classics now and especially fifty years from now, but I don't think they'll be performed as often as Wicked or Mamma Mia! once the rights become available and I don't think they'll be performed as often as South Pacific, Gypsy and The Sound of Music are performed today.

[inick122492]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 8:28pm

Hello... Phantom!!!!!!!

[singtopher]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 8:28pm

Hairspray
Beauty and the Beast
The Lion King
Wicked
The Producers

[AlgonquinProd2]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 8:47pm

Technically, "Phantom" is 1988 and so just misses the mark, although it will be considered a classic (and may still be running). Honestly, I think only "Rent" will be in that category. I'm afraid musicals like "Grey Gardens" or "Caroline or Change" will fade from memory unless someone does a brilliant revival of them at some point. I think "Lion King" and "The Producers" will be considered major successes, either for longevity or the amount of awards won, but classics? Not sure. I remember "The Enlish Patient" won nine Academy Awards, but do people now consider it a classic? For something which is intangible, ala the word 'classic', it's hard to say. But my vote goes to "Rent". It was new, different, bold, had something to say, was a product of its time, had a brilliant cast many of whom went on to greater fame...I go with that.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 8:55pm

Caroline, Or Change
Ragtime
Rent

[Iluvlizlemon]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 9:02pm

i agree with jordan.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 9:03pm

I think In the Heights will definitely be considered a classic someday. Color Purple and Spring Awakening could possibly make the list.

[massofmen]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 9:09pm

legally blonde

[Hank]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 9:17pm

I was going to say MAMMA MIA, but I think it will still be running then.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 9:17pm

I can't wait to see bryan's list.

[brad3]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 9:26pm

I hope Mamma Mia is still running then!

[MelFromLI]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 9:45pm

Rent without question will be a classic

Also Phanton of the opera and MAMA MIA and Lion King have my vote

[alightinthedark23]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 9:46pm

In The Heights.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 9:53pm

I don't think Rent will age well.

Who needs it when you have La Boheme with a more realistic ending?

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 9:55pm

Most musicals dont age well, but Rent will be considered a classic because of the impact it had

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:18pm

It already hasn't aged well. I'm sure a lot of the reference in "La Vie Boheme" are lost on the tweens, but they still sing-a-long. I don't think it will matter much.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:50pm

RENT is a given. And it doesn't matter if it "ages well." It's technically a period piece.

I honestly am drawing a blank on anything else that will be a *classic*.

Phantom misses the cutoff, but it is basically already a classic. When a lot of people think Broadway, they think Phantom.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 10:57pm

Rent will be considered a classic because of the impact it had

I wonder exactly what "impact" RENT had on the Broadway landscape. There were rock musical before and after. There were shows about AIDS before and after. When it opened it was thought to perhaps mark teh start of new trend but in the years that followed mots of the award winners and successes followed more or less tradition formulas: THE LION KING, THE PRODUCERS, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, HAIRSPRAY... none of these would be considered in any way ground breaking. With 14 years hindsight RENT seems more of wildcard than a watershed.

Updated On: 7/30/09 at 10:57 PM

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 7/29/09 at 11:04pm

^I completely disagree.

It's groundbreaking in terms of changing an entire generation's perception of Broadway. At a time when Broadway was pretty much crammed full of the British imports (Phantom, Les Miz, etc.) and beginning its Disneyfication, this scruffy little rock opera came through and talked TO young people. To be fair, you could say thing about Hair, but that does not make RENT's impact lesser, so much as it is symmetrical.

Additionally, I feel that RENT can be thanked at least partially for smaller, non-spectacle shows getting a chance again on Broadway. Though very different shows, Avenue Q, Spring Awakening, and [title of show] arguably owe a debt to RENT.

/end rant

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 7/30/09 at 12:34am

Not one.