Broadway combines the excitement of live music with the compelling storytelling and drama of a film or TV show, and when both are executed with incredible care and sensitivity, the combination can result in something transformative. Which is the best musical of all time? Here are the results.
“West Side Story”
The passion and rebellion of “West Side Story” still resonate today. The musical, an interpretation of “Romeo & Juliet” from the perspective of feuding teenage gangs, debuted on Broadway in 1957 and continues to feel fresh with each revival and tour.
The innovative show changed the way musicals were staged, breaking rules of choreography and storytelling. One of their most exciting contributions, however, are the lyrics of Stephen Sondheim, who broke through with the show’s success and went on to write some of the theater’s most sophisticated, moving and iconic works.
“Jesus Christ Superstar”
Originally released as a concept album, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s rock opera retold the story of the last week of Jesus’ life in the most seventies way possible. The controversial musical, which debuted in 1970, highlighted the tension between Jesus and Judas in a modern way, as loud and provocative as the chart-topping rock music and the youth culture that was then ushering in a new decade.
“Les Miserables”
Based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo, the musical “Les Miz” has become a frequently performed Broadway classic that retells the story of the French Revolution.
The stories of characters such as Javert, Fantine and Éponine are told with sensitivity and accompanied by some of theatre’s most epic, explosive ballads and numbers, reflecting the immediacy of movement and class struggle in 19th-century France.
“Tommy”
The 1969 Broadway adaptation of The Who’s epic rock opera “Tommy” gave new life to the story of a deaf, mute and blind boy who turns out to be a pinball wizard. It tied up the loose ends of the more ambiguous album and brought the classic sixties rock opera into the nineties. At the Tony Awards, Pete Townshend finally won a trophy for Best Original Music.
“Cabaret”
Set in the seedy Kit Kat Klub during the rise of Nazi power in Berlin, Kander and Ebb’s “Cabaret” focused on the story of Sally Bowles and Cliff Bradshaw, an English artist and an American writer who meet at the club. Growing unrest threatens their relationship as the lively, flamboyant performances led by the emcee further the escapist feelings of those associated with the nightclub.
The show originally came to Broadway in 1966, but its 1998 revival, created and directed by Sam Mendes, became the most iconic incarnation, brightening the stars of Natasha Richardson and Alan Cumming, and becoming the third longest-running Broadway revival of all time.
“Rent”
“Rent” ushered in a new kind of theatrical experience, reflecting the health and financial crises of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Based on the opera La Bohème and set in New York City’s East Village, it told the story of a diverse group of friends and artists struggling with inspiration, HIV/AIDS, and paying the rent.
Jonathan Larson’s imaginative book, music and lyrics set a new standard for what musical theater could sound like, creating a pop-rock musical that was radio-friendly and appealed to new generations of potential fans.
“The Rocky Horror Show”
The film adaptation of “Rocky Horror” has become one of the most famous versions of the story of the sweet transvestite Dr. Frank N. Furter and his eerie house that captivates the good couple Brad and Janet, but in the same year that the film flopped at the box office, the stage version had a short life in New York City.
Before 1975, The Rocky Horror Show had been a hit in London and Los Angeles, so it seemed New York audiences were ready for the extravagantly bizarre sci-fi adventure. Like the film adaptation, the stage version took some time to become a cult favorite, returning to Broadway in 2000 and featuring a number of celebrities in the classic roles, including Joan Jett, Sebastian Bach, Luke Perry, Dick Cavett and more.
“Hamilton”
It’s rare for a Broadway show to achieve the kind of global reach that “Hamilton” has since its 2015 premiere, but the powerful retelling of a lesser-known founding father of the United States from the perspective of an immigrant story with a predominantly non-white cast was unprecedented.
Lin-Manuel Miranda seamlessly followed up his successful debut musical In the Heights with an even bigger story, eventually winning a Pulitzer Prize and numerous awards including Grammys and Tonys, while the soundtrack was also a chart success – another rarity in the theater.
“Guys and Dolls”
Set in a harsh gambling underworld, Guys and Dolls carries a remarkable sense of humor and charm. It originally premiered on Broadway in 1950 and has returned in nearly every decade since, with cast members ranging from Vivian Blaine in the original production to Nathan Lane and Peter Gallagher in the 1992 revival to Oliver Platt and Lauren Graham in the 2009 revival.
“A Chorus Line”
“A Chorus Line” is the meta-Broadway hit of the 1970s that highlights the stories of dancers as they prepare for an audition and explore their personal backgrounds.
In 1976, the show was a near sweep at the Tony Awards, winning Best Musical, Best Choreography, and acting categories. She also received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Its original run became one of the longest in Broadway history, surpassed only by “Cats.”
