What are the cornerstones of musical theatre? Where should you begin? Here’s 15 of the best musicals to get started… with more to come!
You’re sitting in your seat, programme in hand, the lights go down and the throng of the excited audience hushes as the unseen conductor strikes up the equally invisible orchestra for the overture…
I don’t know about you but I have missed the thrill of this moment, as a fabulous, splashy musical begins in the theatre. It got us thinking about the very best of Broadway and the West End; just what are the cornerstones and high points of the musical theatre genre?
Whittling it down to just 15 (for now) was no easy task, and there’s no doubt you’ll delight in telling us what we should have included. But there is more to come, so watch this space.
What are the best stage musicals of all time?
Here’s the list, in order of when the show premiered. Each is filled with memorable scenes, classic tunes and made a massive impact when they premiered. What’s your favourite? Which is Phan-tastic, or leaves you Misérables?
Oklahoma! (1943)
Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
The idea of ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’ was born with this, the pair’s first Broadway show – based on a 1931 play called Green Grow the Lilacs. Even after 80 years, this story of blossoming romance in a small farming community in the early 1900s captures audiences hearts. In so many respects this was a thoroughly modern take on what a musical could be, albeit with a (dancing) foot in the past – the lengthy ballet dream sequence. But it has tunes that have stood the test of time, memorable characters and a fine mix of romance, comedy and drama. Yee-haw!
My Fair Lady (1956)
Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe
Based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, Lerner and Loewe’s musical was a record breaker on Broadway, the longest running show of its day. A romantic comedy, its story of a working class girl transformed into a lady thanks to elocution lessons won legions of fans on both sides of the Atlantic. Songs like ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’, ‘Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?’ and ‘Get Me to the Church on Time’ became oh-so familiar and the role of Eliza Dolittle made a star of Julie Andrews.
West Side Story (1957)
Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim
A modern take on Romeo & Juliet, West Side Story might well be the greatest musical of all time. It’s got it all: thrilling choreography, a scintillating score, memorable songs and a heartbreaking story. It was years in development with composer Bernstein, choreographer Jerome Robbins and writer Arthur Laurent. Stephen Sondheim was yet to make his name as a composer, and was brought in to write the lyrics. It’s full of great songs… ‘Tonight’, ‘Maria’, ‘America’ and ‘Somewhere’, to name but a few. The 1961 film musical won a number of Oscars and a long-awaited new film version of the musical from director Steven Spielberg will be released in December.
The Sound of Music (1959)
Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
Based on the true story of Austria’s Trapp Family Singers, The Sound of Music might give West Side Story a run for a ‘greatest’ musical top spot. Set as Austria finds itself in the grip of Nazi Germany there’s drama to chew on as well as family-friendly fluff, as a nun called Maria becomes nanny to a wealthy family and teaches them to sing. Heartstrings are tugged with songs like ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain’ and ‘Eidelweiss’. Though a popular show on Broadway and in the West End, the 1965 film musical starring Julie Andrews is perhaps more familiar. The musical was revived in 2006 in the West End.
Oliver! (1960)
Lionel Bart
A great British musical success story, Lionel Bart’s Oliver! is of course based on Charles Dickens’s classical novel, Oliver Twist. Many audiences will be most familiar with the 1968 film version, but the stage show (which premiered in London in 1960 and on Broadway in ’63) was an instant hit and has enjoyed many revivals over the last 60 years – most recently in a very well-received 2023 off-Broadway production. It’s also a work which has lit up many amateur stages, being a popular choice for school productions – and who can blame them, with classic numbers like ‘Food Glorious Food’ and ‘Consider Yourself’?
Fiddler on the Roof (1964)
Jerry Bock & Sheldon Harnick
Based on Sholem Aleicheim’s stories, this perennially popular show first lit up Broadway and the West End in the 1960s. It centres on life in a small Jewish settlement in the early 1900s, where the local milkman strives to maintain order and tradition in his family while the world rapidly changes around them. Zero Mostel originated the iconic role of Tevye, though it made a worldwide star of Israeli actor/singer Chaim Topol who led the cast in the West End and went on to star in the 1971 feature film version. The stories, words and brilliant musical score are a match made in heaven.
Hair (1967)
Galt MacDermot, James Rado & Gerome Ragni
It’s full title is Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical and it made quite the impression when it emerged off-Broadway in the late 1960s. Colourful, yes, and – at the time – rather controversial! MacDermot, Rado and Ragni tapped into the ‘Hippy’ counterculture and anti-war (Vietnam) rhetoric that was taking hold in the US at the time and responded with one big hit musical. Peace, free love, nudity, racial integration, drugs and rock ‘n roll were all on the table in this show, which was both of and ahead of its time.
Jesus Christ Superstar (1971)
Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice
Though not the pair’s first musical, this ‘Rock Opera’ was the first Lloyd Webber and Rice work to actually make it onto a Broadway/West End stage. Their take on the familiar ‘passion’ story was a kick in the gut for musical theatre, the likes of which it had never seen before. The production was preceded far in advance by a popular single of the title song, which was then followed by a concept album. Showstoppers include said title song, the brilliant ‘Gethsemane’, ‘King Herod’s Song’ and ‘I Don’t Know How To Love Him’. A film version swiftly followed in 1973, but is oft-overlooked.
Chicago (1975)
John Kander & Fred Ebb
Like West Side Story, this mid-’70s show is as memorable for its choreography as it is for its music and lyrics. The legendary Bob Fosse was behind the moves, as he was for Cabaret in 1966 – also featuring words and tunes by Kander and Ebb. Much like that show, Chicago is only really semi-staged, with the action taking place in the form of a revue, almost like a show within a show. Murder never sounded so good, with hits like ‘All That Jazz’, ‘Cell Block Tango’ and ‘Razzle Dazzle’. It was turned into a film musical in 2002.
Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979)
Stephen Sondheim
Sondheim moved on from his success as a lyricist and firmly made his mark on Broadway as a composer in his own right. One of his most memorable, lavish and deliciously grizzy productions is Sweeney Todd, about a convict barber returned to London to avenge his false conviction, and the rape and murder of his wife. It’s a grand affair set against the backdrop of the stinking and murky Victorian capital, with big numbers like ‘A Little Priest’ and ‘Not While I’m Around’ just some of the juicy bits. Director Tim Burton re-imagined the musical for the big screen in 2007.
Les Miserables (1985)
Claude-Michel Schoenberg & Alain Boublil
Like Jesus Christ Superstar, Boublil and Schoenberg’s universally adored musical began life as a concept album… albeit in French. The original production, at London’s Barbican, was directed by Trevor Nunn and soon transferred to the West End, where it has had a home ever since. The moving and epic tale is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution, with now-legendary songs such as ‘Bring Him Home’, ‘Master of the House’, ‘On My Own’ and ‘I Dreamed a Dream. The musical has enjoyed concert versions, anniversary galas and a big-screen outing in 2012.
Phantom of the Opera (1986)
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart & Richard Stilgoe
A year after ‘Les Mis’ came this triumphant and romantic spectacle. Based on Gaston Leroux’s novel, it centres on the Paris Opera where a pretty young ingénue becomes the focus of a disfigured composer’s obsession. Like ‘Les Mis’, Phantom has never left the West End and is in fact one of the most successful entertainment properties in history, so far making over £6bn worldwide. Its most famous songs include the title song, plus ‘All I Ask of You’, ‘Think of Me’, ‘Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again’ and ‘Past the Point of No Return’. A film version was released in 2004.
Rent (1996)
Jonathan Larson
Rent is one of Broadway’s biggest hits, winning a number of awards and running for 12 years from 1996-2008. Set in Manhattan’s bohemian East Village during the AIDS epidemic, it’s a loose adaptation of La bohème taking in the lives of a group of young artists living with the disease. Standout songs include ‘La Vie Boheme’, ‘Without You’, ‘Light My Candle’ and ‘Seasons of Love’. Composer/lyricist Larson died before it premiered off-Broadway, so never got to see the show’s success. It was made into a film music in 2005.
Wicked (2003)
Stephen Schwartz
Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel tells the story of how Oz’s fabled witches of the east and west first met and, ultimately, how the Wicked Witch of the West became so full of hate and anger. Schwartz’s blockbuster musical runs with that and in doing so made for a magical show about friendship, love and hate in its many forms. So its an origin story with familiar, indeed iconic, places and characters, not to mention a clutch of awesome set pieces and songs. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda, and ‘Defying Gravity’ remains one of the most thrilling songs to emerge from the stage in years. A two-part film adaptation is currently in production.
Hamilton (2015)
Lin-Manuel Miranda
One of the biggest smash hits in recent years, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton turns American history into a hip-hop/rap extravaganza. The show tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America. It is notable for its casting of non-white artists in historical roles, and features some great songs, including ‘Alexander Hamilton’, ‘You’ll Be Back’ and ‘Tomorrow There’ll Be More Of Us’. Though it is yet to be made into a film, Disney filmed a stage performance which is available to stream on Disney plus.
And what about recordings?
Pretty much all the great shows have original cast albums, either Broadway or London. There are some great collections, too…
The Very Best of Broadway Musicals
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Unmasked (The Platinum Collection)
A Stephen Sondheim Evening
Hey Mr Producer!