I love watching musicals and there is nothing like seeing a musical performed live with music, dancing and singing. Here is a list of the very best musicals you can see. Musicals not only provide great entertainment, but many musicals cover historical topics from a first person point of view.
10. Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls performed on Broadway in 1950. It was directed by George S. Kaufman. The initial run of Guys and Dolls had 1,201 performances and it won five Tony awards in 1951.
This musical is about a gambling man who makes a bet that he can court a “doll”. In the end, it turns out that this task proves to be more difficult than he imagined it to would be.
9. Hello Dolly!
Hello Dolly! was produced on Broadway by David Merrick in 1964. Hello Dolly! won the Tony Award for best musicals and nine other Tonys. After this musical came out on Broadway, it received rave reviews.
Hello Dolly! is about a lady who is a matchmaker. Hello Dolly! is well-known for the hit tune by the same name.
8. Mary Poppins
This wonderful musical is loved by children everywhere. Julie Andrews stars in the musical movie of Mary Poppins and this movie musicals enchants children and adults everywhere. The tunes “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” are incredibly popular. As a child, I would watch Mary Poppins over and over again. I wore out a VHS tape and my parents had to replace it.
This stage musical came out on Broadway in 2006.
7. Les Miserables
Les Miserables is based upon the book Les Miserables written by Victor Hugo. Les Miserables is not for the faint of heart. It takes a sincere dedication to understanding Les Miserables. Les Miserables is one of the longer musicals in length. It is about Jean Valjean who is an ex-convict that desires to redeem himself. He was put in prison for stealing a loaf of bread.
This classic musical is very detailed and accounts a lot of French history. The best way to learn about Les Miserables is simply to watch the musical or read the book. Reading a review on Les Miserables without ever seeing the musical, would give away the plot.
6. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
This is the humorous story of seven brothers who are unfamiliar with the propriety of society. Each brother decides that it is high time that he had himself a wife. The brothers decide to go into town and kidnap a woman with whom they will make their wife. Having done this, the brothers find out that kidnapping several women is more than they had bargained for.
This Broadway musical went on tour in the United States in 1982. It quickly flopped. However, a very successful “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” musical was performed in London following the US tour. Since this time, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers has quickly become a popular musical in the United States and abroad.
5. The Sound of Music
This musical is about a nun who becomes a nanny for many children. She eventually falls in love with the children’s father and leaves her role as a Catholic nun to marry him. This musical is based upon the memoir of Maria von Trapp.
4. Gigi
Gigi is based upon a novel by Collette of the same name.
This is a musical that shows the life of a lady who becomes a prostitute. She rebels against the life she has been given and insists that the man who loves her marry her. This musical touches an adult topic in a gentle manner. It grasps the heart of Gigi who is a girl who needs to be loved and decides to stand up for herself and her future.
Gigi is a 1951 Broadway stage play that is still a classic musical today. The musical was created as a movie which is directed by Vincente Minnelli and the lead roles performed by Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, and Maurice Chevalier. Unlike other musicals made into movies, this movie musical is well worth watching or adding to your personal collection.
3. Rags
Rags is a touching musical shows what it was like for “greenhorns” entering the United States through Ellis Island. You will experience the tragedies and triumphs of new settlers as they make their way into the United States.
Rags includes great songs filled with hope, happiness, triumph and tragedy. Some great tunes are: “I Remember”, “Greenhorns”, “Penny a Tune”, “Nothing Will Hurt Us Again” and “Three Sunny Rooms”. Although this musical has not gained a large popularity, it is a wonderful music which reminds us of our countries heritage and the sacrifices made by our ancestors who bravely settled here.
2. My Fair Lady
This musical is based upon George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion and the book and lyrics are by Alan Jay Lerner with the music by Frederic Loewe. My Fair Lady captures the emotion of a street girl attempting to join high society. The music is terrific, the lyrics are catchy and the humor is terrific. The story line is touching and there are few musicals that capture the essence of humanity as well as My Fair Lady.
1. Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat
There is nothing like the lights, music and acting in this terrific Broadway musical. This is the second musical written by Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice. With Donny Osmond in the star role, this Broadway musical was at the top of the charts.
You will love the music in Joseph and the Techicolor Dreamcoat. You will also love the lights, acting, humor and the camel. If you haven’t had a chance to see this musical, today it the day to do it!
