ew's top 50 of broadway since 1983

[Clarinetbiter135]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 9:38am

I didn't see anything about this, so I thought I'd share.... a nice distraction from the 80 legally blonde things....


http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20207076_20207079_20213594,00.html

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 9:48am

No ragtime?? (in the top 25)

Updated On: 7/22/08 at 09:48 AM

[once a month]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:13am

I agree on Ragtime. I was actually surprised that I managed to miss ten of these show!

[Weez]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:22am

Yay!

'Angels In America'.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:34am

I would not have included Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, The Producers or The Coast of Utopia in the top 25. I would replace them with City of Angels, Urinetown, Hairspray and Caroline, or Change.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:49am

It isn't just Broadway, they include HEDWIG and the original production of FRANKIE AND JOHNNY.

DOUBT? COAST OF UTOPIA? No way.

[Jamie Pierce]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:52am

It's a pretty good list, I'd say. Happy to see Grey Gardens.

However, I would not have included Chess or City of Angels.

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:55am

I am pleased that Elaine Stritch: At Liberty was included.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 10:57am

WEll, look at the wide variety, it seems to be the shows that were important in one way or another, either launching someone's carrers, running forever, being just damn good, etc.

I'm not shocked at all that Wicked, and Phantom are on there. Like it or not, Phantom IS the longest running show, and it IS still pretty amazing (It's just become a joke really). Wicked has really brought kids and young adults back to the theatre in a way we hadn't seen since Rent (and Spring Awakening continues the trend).

[Jamie Pierce]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 11:06am

Although I would not consider it my favorite musical nor would I consider it the best representation of a Broadway Musical, I do feel a lot more comfortable knowing that Phantom is the longest running show rather that, say, Cats.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 11:15am

J52-
You could do what I do and qualify it. "Phantom" is the longest running show. "Chorus Line" is the longest running BROADWAY show. It makes it less obnoxious.

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 11:22am

I would take off "Bring in 'da noise" and put in "Ragtime", but, if it were my way, "Rent" would've been number 1, and Hairspray would've been on the list. This was only top 25, by the way.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 11:22am

Did HEDWIG and THREE DAYS OF RAIN (original cast) play Broadway?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 11:26am

MTF3-
If you got to number 1, you had an option of seeing the top 50 (50-26)

Borstal-
Hedwig has yet to play Broadway, and I feel fairly positive that Three Days of Rain didn't. However, I think they were using pictures from the original production, the fact that they have since played Broadway may negate that fact.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 11:27am

Another list put together by interns who know zip about theater.

They obviously started at 1983 to avoid the genius of Little Shop of Horrors and Crimes of the Heart.

Jersey Boys at #5 is absolutely ridiculous.

What about:
Kiss of the Spiderwoman
Parade
Steel Magnolias
Other People's Money
Driving Miss Daisy
Beauty Queen of Lenane
Once On This Island
Nunsense
How can you include Stomp and ignore Blue Man Group?
How can you include Stritch and ignore Defending the Caveman?

Updated On: 7/22/08 at 11:27 AM

[Jamie Pierce]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 2:19pm

Yes, I also agree Jersey Boys' placement on the list is indeed ridiculous. But I understand why it needs to be there.
Damn that show for validating the jukebox musical!
Updated On: 7/22/08 at 02:19 PM

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 2:29pm

That list doesn't make any sense to me...

[Kevinoes]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 3:38pm

Based on the shows picked, it seemed ew is choosing shows on international success as well as shows that sets standards (or trends) in the theatre, though I can only speak for the musicals. But with that being said, "Angels in America" topping the list makes absolute sense.

I considered "Ragtime" being overlooked but upon reflection, the show didn't seem to make as big an impact as some of the shows on the list did. It was more like "that really big new show with big songs and big sets"... Nobody's done a show like it since. Make what you want of that but it wasn't necessarily a show people have tried to copy, nor produce internationally time and time again.

Some of the list is a bit obscure and seemingly biased. Maybe it's because I'm not a William Finn fan but having "Falsettos" makes absolutely no sense to me.

[stageagent13]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 4:14pm

Spring Awakening ranked behind Grey Gardens. Really?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 5:14pm

That list is a joke. Wicked? Jersey Boys? Please.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 5:22pm

"Some of the list is a bit obscure and seemingly biased. Maybe it's because I'm not a William Finn fan but having "Falsettos" makes absolutely no sense to me."

Falsettos was (I think) the first musical to portray an AIDS death so I believe that's why it was on the list. The second act (Falsettoland) had premiered off-Broadway in 1989, a few years before Rent tackled the topic in a musical.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 5:32pm

"I considered "Ragtime" being overlooked but upon reflection, the show didn't seem to make as big an impact as some of the shows on the list did."

What big impact did "Into the Woods" make? Don't get me wrong, it's an excellent show, but if the top 25 are "big impact" shows, then it doesn't belong in the top 25. And there's no "big impact" with Wicked or The Producers.

Jersey Boys doesn't belong in Top 25 because there are other (better) juke box musicals. Perhaps they should have chosen "Jerome Robbins Broadway" "Dancin'" "Ain't Misbehavin" "Fosse" "Swinging on a Star" "Smokey Joe's Cafe" or one of the other 25+ juke box musicals.

I also question Angels in America. There were epic shows before this (Nicholas Nickelby, Kentucky Cycle, Long Day's Journey). There were gay plays before this one. What's the attraction there?

Updated On: 7/22/08 at 05:32 PM