Judging from the various threads, many of us have strong opinions about which musicals we like (or don't like), and whether the Tony voters get it right. If you controlled the Tony vote, which musicals would you have chosen to win the top prize over the past ten years (since 1997)?
I'll get the ball rolling by listing my picks, with the actual nominees in parentheses (asterisk next to actual winner) just as a reminder of some of the other shows that were around in a given year...
1997:
Titanic
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
Ragtime
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Parade
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
Contact
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Producers
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Urinetown
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Avenue Q
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
The Light in the Piazza
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
Jersey Boys
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Spring Awakening
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
Enjoy the show on Sunday!
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/20/06
1997:
Titanic
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
Ragtime
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Parade
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
The Wild Party
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Full Monty
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Urinetown
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Caroline, or Change
(Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
The Light in the Piazza
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
The Drowsy Chaperone
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Spring Awakening
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
I'm very much going with "favourite" over "best" here, so if anyone fancies bullying someone for their opinions, bully someone else. :3
1997:
Titanic
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
Ragtime
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Parade
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
The Wild Party
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Full Monty
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Urinetown
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Avenue Q
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
The Light in the Piazza
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
The Drowsy Chaperone
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Spring Awakening
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
Wow, when you put it like that, I never realised what a bad year 2006 was for new musicals. Or at least what good years 2004, 2005, and 2007 were/are.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/07
1997:
Titanic
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
The Lion King
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Parade
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
The Wild Party
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Producers
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Urinetown
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Wicked
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
The Drowsy Chaperone
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Mary Poppins
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
1997:
Titanic
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
Ragtime
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Parade
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
Contact (I know, not really a musical, but better quality than the rest of them).
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Full Monty
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Urinetown
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Caroline, or Change
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
The Light in the Piazza
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
Jersey Boys
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Grey Gardens
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
My list would look the same as Boq101's.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/05
The only ones I feel particularly strong about are LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA and CAROLINE, OR CHANGE - both of which I would have voted for.
1997:
Titanic
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
The Lion King
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Fosse
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
Contact
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Producers
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Thoroughly Modern Millie
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Wicked
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
Spamalot
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
The Drowsy Chaperone
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Grey Gardens
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
1997:
Titanic
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
RAGTIME
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Parade
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
The Wild Party
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Producers
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Urinetown
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Avenue Q
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
The Light In The Piazza
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
The Drowsy Chaperone
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Spring Awakening
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
I actually had forgotten that The Lion King beat Ragtime.
Ridiculous.
Fun idea.
1997:
Titanic
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
Ragtime
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Parade
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
The Wild Party
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
A Class Act or The Full Monty or The Producers
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Urinetown
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Caroline or Change
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
Jersey Boys
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Spring Awakening or Curtains
(Spring Awakening, Grey Gardens, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
1997:
Titanic
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
The Lion King
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Parade
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
The Wild Party
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Producers
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Urinetown
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Wicked
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
Jersey Boys
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Grey Gardens
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
I don't know the first few well enough to choose so...
2001:
The Producers
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Urinetown
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Wicked
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
Spelling Bee
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
The Drowsy Chaperone
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Spring Awakening
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
1997:
Titanic
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
Ragtime
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Parade
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
The Wild Party
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Producers
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Thorougly Modern Millie
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Caroline, or Change
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
The Light in the Piazza
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
The Drowsy Chaperone
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Grey Gardens
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
This is fun !
Jaystarr's choice :
1997- Titanic
1998- Side Show
1999- Parade
2000- The Wild Party
2001- The Producers
2002- Urinetown
2003- Hairspray
2004- Avenue Q
2005- The Light in the Piazza
2006- The Drowsy Chaperone
2007- Grey Gardens
J*
I put my vote in for:
RAGTIME instead of LION KING
PARADE instead of FOSSE
JANE EYRE instead of THE PRODUCERS
URINETOWN instead of MILLIE
THE WEDDING SINGER instead of JERSEY BOYS
In terms of revivals, I thought BELLS ARE RINGING and FOLLIES were much more engaging than 42ND STREET, though I think the shows themselves are more enagaging by nature. 42ND STREET is so mindless.
Broadway Blog: Drop That Name!
1997:
The Life
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
Ragtime
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Fosse
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
Swing!
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Full Monty
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Thoroughly Modern Millie
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Wicked
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
The Light in the Piazza
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
The Wedding Singer
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Spring Awakening
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
Understudy Joined: 6/3/07
2004:
Wicked
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
The Light in the Piazza
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
The Drowsy Chaperone
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Grey Gardens
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
1997:
Titanic
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
Ragtime
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Parade
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
The Wild Party
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Producers or The Full Monty
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Urinetown
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Avenue Q
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
The Light in the Piazza (although I am very fond of all of the musicals from this season)
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
The Drowsy Chaperone
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Spring Awakening
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
1997:
Titanic
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
Ragtime
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Parade
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
Contact
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Full Monty
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Urinetown
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Avenue Q
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
The Drowsy Chaperone
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Spring Awakening
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
1997:
Titanic
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
Ragtime
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Parade
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
Contact
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Producers
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Urinetown
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Avenue Q
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
The Light in the Piazza
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
Jersey Boys
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Grey Gardens
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
2001:
The Producers
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Thoroughly Modern Millie
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Wicked
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
The Light in the Piazza
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
The Drowsy Chaperone
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer
1997:
Titanic
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
Ragtime
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Parade
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
The Wild Party
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Producers
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Urinetown
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Avenue Q
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
The Light in the Piazza
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
The Drowsy Chaperone
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Grey Gardens
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
97--Titanic
98--Ragtime
99--Parade
00--The Wild Party
01--The Producers
02--Urinetown
03--Hairspray
04--Caroline, or Change
05--Spamalot
06--The Drowsy Chaperone
07--Spring Awakening
1997:
The Life
(*Titanic, The Life, Steel Pier, Juan Darien)
1998:
Ragtime
(*The Lion King, Ragtime, Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
1999:
Parade
(*Fosse, Parade, The Civil War, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues)
2000:
The Wild Party
(*Contact, The Wild Party, Swing!, James Joyce's The Dead)
2001:
The Producers
(*The Producers, The Full Monty, A Class Act, Jane Eyre)
2002:
Thoroughly Modern Millie
(*Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success)
2003:
Hairspray
(*Hairspray, Amour, Movin' Out, A Year with Toad and Frog)
2004:
Wicked
(*Avenue Q, Wicked, The Boy From Oz, Caroline, or Change)
2005:
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
(*Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
2006:
The Drowsy Chaperone
(*Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Color Purple, The Wedding Singer)
2007:
Mary Poppins
(Spring Awakening, Grey Garden, Mary Poppins, Curtains)
Videos