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! <\/p>
You\u2019re sitting in your seat, programme in hand, the lights go down and the throng of the excited audience hushes as the unseen conductor<\/a><\/strong> strikes up the equally invisible orchestra<\/a><\/strong> for the overture<\/a><\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n I don\u2019t 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?<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> Whittling it down to just 15 (for now) was no easy task, and there\u2019s no doubt you\u2019ll delight in telling us what we should have included. But there is more to come, so watch this space.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s 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\u2019s your favourite? Which is Phan-tastic, or leaves you Mis\u00e9rables?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II<\/strong><\/p>\n The idea of \u2018Rodgers & Hammerstein\u2019 was born with this, the pair\u2019s first Broadway show \u2013 based on a 1931 play called Green Grow the Lilacs<\/em>. 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 \u2013 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!<\/p>\n Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe<\/strong><\/p>\n Based on George Bernard Shaw\u2019s Pygmalion<\/em>, Lerner and Loewe\u2019s 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 \u2018I Could Have Danced All Night\u2019, \u2018Wouldn\u2019t It Be Loverly?\u2019 and \u2018Get Me to the Church on Time\u2019 became oh-so familiar and the role of Eliza Dolittle made a star of Julie Andrews.<\/p>\n\n
What are the best stage musicals of all time?<\/h2>\n
Oklahoma!<\/strong> (1943)<\/h3>\n
My Fair Lady<\/strong> (1956)<\/h3>\n