{"id":50103,"date":"2024-11-25T21:50:36","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T20:50:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/c07b3245-b6eb-4a3e-a040-a1e1048b9c6e"},"modified":"2024-11-25T22:09:22","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T21:09:22","slug":"best-stage-musicals-14-of-the-most-beloved-all-singing-all-dancing-stage-shows-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/best-stage-musicals-14-of-the-most-beloved-all-singing-all-dancing-stage-shows-of-all-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Best stage musicals: 14 of the most beloved all-singing, all-dancing stage shows of all time"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By <\/p>

Published: Monday, 25 November 2024 at 20:50 PM<\/p>

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You\u2019re sitting in your seat, programme in hand, the lights go down and the throng of the excited audience hushes. The unseen conductor<\/a><\/strong> strikes up the equally invisible orchestra<\/a><\/strong> for the overture<\/a><\/strong>\u2026 I always love 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? What are the best stage musicals of all time?<\/p>

What is the difference between a musical and an opera?<\/a><\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <\/div> <\/div>
Whittling it down to just 14 (for now) was no easy task. We hope you\u2019ll delight in telling us what we should have included in our list of the best stage musicals ever written.<\/p>
Best stage musicals of all time<\/h2>
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>

<\/div> <\/figure> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-oklahoma-1943-by-richard-rodgers-amp-oscar-hammerstein\">Oklahoma! (1943) by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein<\/h3> <p>The idea of ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’ was born with this, the pair’s first Broadway show. It’s based on a 1931 play called <em>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.<\/p> <p>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! What a fine way to kick off our list of best stage musicals of all time.<\/p> <p><strong>The recording of <em>Oklahoma!<\/em> by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/who-is-john-wilson\">John Wilson<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/john-wilson-and-the-sinfonia-of-london\">Sinfonia of London<\/a> and others took home the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/awards\/2024-awards\/opera-award-2024\">Opera Award<\/a> at the 2024 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/awards\/2024-awards\/bbc-music-magazine-awards-2024-winners-announced\">BBC Music Magazine Awards<\/a> <\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"\/> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-my-fair-lady-1956-by-alan-jay-lerner-amp-frederick-loewe\">My Fair Lady (1956) by Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe<\/h3> <p>Based on George Bernard Shaw\u2019s <em>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> <figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"> <div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Cast of My Fair Lady perform at The 2018 Tony Awards\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A-k-pbxlwEQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/> <\/div> <\/figure> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-west-side-story-1957-by-leonard-bernstein-amp-stephen-sondheim\">West Side Story (1957) by Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim<\/h3> <p>A modern take on <em>Romeo & Juliet<\/em>, <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/west-side-story-2\">West Side Story<\/a><\/strong><\/em> might well be the greatest musical of all time. A shoo-in, then, for our list of best stage musicals.<\/p> <p>It\u2019s got it all: thrilling choreography, a scintillating score, memorable songs and a heartbreaking story. It was years in development with composer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/leonard-bernstein\/\"><strong>Leonard Bernstein<\/strong><\/a>, choreographer Jerome Robbins and writer Arthur Laurent. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/stephen-sondheim\">Stephen Sondheim<\/a><\/strong> was yet to make his name as a composer, and was brought in to write the lyrics.<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/the-best-musicals-by-leonard-bernstein\">Bernstein’s best musicals<\/a><\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <p>It\u2019s full of great songs\u2026 \u2018Tonight\u2019, \u2018Maria\u2019, \u2018America\u2019 and \u2018Somewhere\u2019, to name but a few. The 1961 film musical won a number of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/all-the-oscar-winners-and-nominees-for-best-original-score\">Oscars<\/a>.<\/strong> A long-awaited new film version of the musical from director Steven Spielberg was released in 2021.<\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"> <div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Broadway Sound: West Side Story (Balcony Scene) - BBC Proms 2012\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/j3d1wrj4riQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/> <\/div> <\/figure> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/guide-2021-remake-west-side-story\"><em>West Side Story<\/em>: A guide to Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of Bernstein’s iconic musical<\/a><\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-sound-of-music-1959-by-richard-rodgers-amp-oscar-hammerstein\">The Sound of Music (1959) by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein<\/h3> <p>Based on the true story of Austria\u2019s Trapp Family Singers, <em>The Sound of Music<\/em> might give <em>West Side Story<\/em> a run for a \u2018greatest\u2019 musical top spot. Set as Austria finds itself in the grip of Nazi Germany there\u2019s 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.<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/trouble-karajan\">Herbert von Karajan: godlike conductor, ambitious autocrat and Nazi Party member<\/a><\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <p>Heartstrings are tugged with songs like \u2018Climb Ev\u2019ry Mountain\u2019 and \u2018Edelweiss\u2019. 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.<\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"> <div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Sound of Music Tour 2014 - Montage\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3n0bs1DdBuw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/> <\/div> <\/figure> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-best-stage-musicals-the-1960s-and-1970s\">More best stage musicals – the 1960s and 1970s<\/h2> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-oliver-1960-by-lionel-bart\">Oliver! (1960) by Lionel Bart<\/h3> <p>A great British musical success story, Lionel Bart’s <em>Oliver!<\/em> is of course based on Charles Dickens’s classical novel, <em>Oliver Twist<\/em>. Many audiences will be most familiar with the 1968 film version. However, the stage show was an instant hit and has enjoyed many revivals over the last 60 years. The most recent of these was a very well-received 2023 off-Broadway production.<\/p> <p>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’? Popular with all ages – and a very deserving entry into our list of best stage musicals.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fiddler-on-the-roof-1964-by-jerry-bock-amp-sheldon-harnick\">Fiddler on the Roof (1964) by Jerry Bock & Sheldon Harnick<\/h3> <p>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.<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/jewish-composers-suppressed-by-nazis\">Jewish composers suppressed by the Nazis: seven great voices we’re starting to hear again<\/a><\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <p>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.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-jesus-christ-superstar-1971-by-andrew-lloyd-webber-amp-tim-rice\">Jesus Christ Superstar (1971) by Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice<\/h3> <p>Though not the pair\u2019s first musical, this \u2018Rock Opera\u2019 was the first <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/who-is-andrew-lloyd-webber\">Andrew Lloyd Webber<\/a><\/strong> \/ Tim Rice work to actually make it onto a Broadway\/West End stage. Their take on the familiar \u2018passion\u2019 story was a kick in the gut for musical theatre.<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/the-best-musicals-by-andrew-lloyd-webber\">The best Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals<\/a><\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <p>The production was preceded far in advance by a popular single of the title song. And that was then followed by a concept album. Showstoppers include said title song, the brilliant \u2018Gethsemane\u2019, \u2018King Herod\u2019s Song\u2019 and \u2018I Don\u2019t Know How To Love Him\u2019. A film version swiftly followed in 1973, but is oft-overlooked.<\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"> <div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"'Superstar' Tim Minchin | Jesus Christ Superstar\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xX9fLQjqIZA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/> <\/div> <\/figure> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-chicago-1975-by-john-kander-amp-fred-ebb\">Chicago (1975) by John Kander & Fred Ebb<\/h3> <p>Like <em>West Side Story<\/em>, this mid-\u201970s 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 <em>Cabaret<\/em> in 1966 \u2013 also featuring words and tunes by Kander and Ebb. Much like that show, <em>Chicago<\/em> is only really semi-staged. In fact, the action takes place in the form of a revue, almost like a show within a show. Murder never sounded so good, with hits like \u2018All That Jazz\u2019, \u2018Cell Block Tango\u2019 and \u2018Razzle Dazzle\u2019. It was turned into a movie musical in 2002.<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/tv-and-film-music\/best-movie-musicals\">The best movie musicals of all time<\/a><\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"> <div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Chicago the Musical Australia (2019) - All That Jazz\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AnvsLMvmPgU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/> <\/div> <\/figure> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sweeney-todd-the-demon-barber-of-fleet-street-1979-by-stephen-sondheim\">Sweeney Todd \u2013 The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979) by Stephen Sondheim<\/h3> <p>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 <em>Sweeney Todd<\/em>, about a convict barber returned to London to avenge his false conviction, and the rape and murder of his wife.<\/p> <p>It\u2019s a grand affair set against the backdrop of the stinking and murky Victorian capital. Big numbers like \u2018A Little Priest\u2019 and \u2018Not While I\u2019m Around\u2019 are just some of the juicy bits. Director Tim Burton re-imagined the musical for the big screen in 2007.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-stage-musicals-the-1980s-and-1990s\">Best stage musicals: the 1980s and 1990s<\/h2> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-les-miserables-1985-by-claude-michel-schoenberg-amp-alain-boublil\">Les Mis\u00e9rables (1985) by Claude-Michel Schoenberg & Alain Boublil<\/h3> <p>Like <em>Jesus Christ Superstar<\/em>, Boublil and Schoenberg\u2019s universally adored musical began life as a concept album\u2026 albeit in French. The original production, at London\u2019s Barbican, was directed by Trevor Nunn and soon transferred to the West End, where it has had a home ever since.<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/best-french-composers-ever\">The best French composers of all time<\/a><\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <p>The moving and epic tale is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution, with now-legendary songs such as \u2018Bring Him Home\u2019, \u2018Master of the House\u2019, \u2018On My Own\u2019 and \u2018I Dreamed a Dream’. The musical has enjoyed concert versions, anniversary galas and a big-screen outing in 2012.<\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"> <div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\""One Day More" | Alfie Boe, Michael Ball and the all-star West End cast of Les Mis\u00e9rables\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DLKO4kN4Z1k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/> <\/div> <\/figure> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-phantom-of-the-opera-1986-by-andrew-lloyd-webber-charles-hart-amp-richard-stilgoe\">Phantom of the Opera (1986) by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart & Richard Stilgoe<\/h3> <p>A year after \u2018Les Mis\u2019 came this triumphant and romantic spectacle. Based on Gaston Leroux\u2019s novel, it centres on the Paris Opera where a pretty young ing\u00e9nue becomes the focus of a disfigured composer\u2019s obsession. Like \u2018Les Mis\u2019, <em>Phantom<\/em> has never left the West End and is in fact one of the most successful entertainment properties in history, so far making over \u00a36bn worldwide.<\/p> <p>Its most famous songs include the title song, plus \u2018All I Ask of You\u2019, \u2018Think of Me\u2019, \u2018Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again\u2019 and \u2018Past the Point of No Return\u2019. A film version was released in 2004. But it’s the stage version that lingers in the memory, and takes its place in any list of the best stage musicals.<\/p> <p>We named ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, the eponymous song from the musical, as one of the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/hardest-songs-to-sing\">hardest songs to sing<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"> <div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Phantom of the Opera - Sierra Boggess & Ramin Karimloo (Classic BRIT Awards 2012)\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8fKKiaSLLEY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/> <\/div> <\/figure> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-rent-1996-by-jonathan-larson\">Rent (1996) by Jonathan Larson<\/h3> <p><em>Rent<\/em> is one of Broadway\u2019s biggest hits, winning a number of awards and running for 12 years from 1996-2008. It’s set in Manhattan\u2019s bohemian East Village during the AIDS epidemic. And it\u2019s a loose adaptation of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/giacomo-puccini\">Puccini<\/a><\/strong>‘s great opera <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/la-boheme-best-recordings\">La boh\u00e8me<\/a><\/strong><\/em> taking in the lives of a group of young artists living with the disease.<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/six-best-puccini-arias\">Six of the best Puccini arias<\/a><\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <p>Standout songs include \u2018La Vie Boheme\u2019, \u2018Without You\u2019, \u2018Light My Candle\u2019 and \u2018Seasons of Love\u2019. Composer\/lyricist Larson died before it premiered off-Broadway, so never got to see the show\u2019s success. It was made into a film musical in 2005.<\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"> <div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"RENT 1996 Tony Awards\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0vVnzD0itSE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/> <\/div> <\/figure> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-21st-century-stage-musicals\">Best 21st-century stage musicals<\/h2> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-wicked-2003-by-stephen-schwartz\">Wicked (2003) by Stephen Schwartz<\/h3> <p>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 many great themes, so much colourful action – a worthy addition to any best stage musicals list.<\/p> <p>So it’s 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. The first part of a two-part film adaptation is a must-see.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-hamilton-2015-by-lin-manuel-miranda\">Hamilton (2015) by Lin-Manuel Miranda<\/h3> <p>One of the biggest smash hits in recent years, Lin-Manuel Miranda\u2019s <em>Hamilton<\/em> 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 \u2018Alexander Hamilton\u2019, \u2018You\u2019ll Be Back\u2019 and \u2018Tomorrow There\u2019ll Be More Of Us\u2019. Though it is yet to be made into a film, Disney filmed a stage performance which is available to stream on Disney+.<\/p> <p>My Fair Lady pic: FilmPublicityArchive\/United Archives via Getty Images<\/p> <p\/> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Published: Monday, 25 November 2024 at 20:50 PM You\u2019re sitting in your seat, programme in hand, the lights go down and the throng of the excited audience hushes. 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