30. “Annie”
The musical that started America’s love affair with orphans, there’s no denying the timeless appeal of this musical, which will be all but erased when the Quvenzhané Wallis and Jamie Foxx version comes out this winter. If you haven’t seen trailers, just don’t. It looks fucking awful.
29. “Sweeney Todd”
I’m not sure what it is about a musical that features a dude slitting peoples’ throats and then baking them into pies that’s so appealing to people, but there are some serious die-hard fans of “Sweeney Todd.” They even liked the godawful movie for some reason.
28. “Dream Girls”
This is easily the fiercest musical of all time, made even more epic with the inclusion of the one and only savior of all mankind, Beyoncé, in the film adaptation. I don’t really think I need to say much more than that, do I? I’m unabashedly using a clip from the movie, even though the stage musical itself is fantastic. It’s just–it’s Yoncé. I have to. Jennifer Hudson doesn’t hurt either.
27. “Beauty And The Beast”
This is actually a Disney production where I love the movie and the musical equally, and I think that the stage version gets a bad rap. Yes, the stage version is pretty much a true movie-to-stage adaptation, with the stage show version at Walt Disney World park acting as a sort of “preview/workshop” for the stage musical (plus the addition of a few extra songs) but in a sense, the movie was MADE to be a stage show. Also, I saw Anneliese van der Pol as Belle right before the show closed. Yes, Chelsea from “That’s So Raven.” It was her Broadway debut. Epic. This original song for the show, starring the original Beast, Terrence Mann, is an amazing ballad.
26. “The Producers”
“The Producers” is a perfect example of how having all the proper ingredients can actually result in a home run every now and again. It was a stage musical, written by Mel Brooks, adapted by Mel Brooks, from a film written by Mel Brooks, with music and lyrics written by Mel Brooks. For a cast, how about veterans of stage and screen Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane? Grand fucking slam. Even the movie, which shoehorned in Uma Thurman, wasn’t half bad.
25. “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
This is one of the most unique and quirky musicals of the last decade because of the amount of audience participation. They actually call four (or more) audience members on stage and actually have them participate in the spelling bee that takes place in the show. The cast interacts with them, ad-libs with them, and a surprising amount of the show is improvised. It’s no wonder such a small, quirky, indie show turned into a critically acclaimed, award-winning success.
24. “Zanna, Don’t!”
This off-Broadway musical, starring Jai Rodriguez from “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy,” took a lighthearted look at a world where gay was the norm, and anyone who was straight was completely ostracized. It takes a comedic look at a world reversed from our own and highlights current social issues, such as marriage equality, from an opposite perspective.
23. “Fame”
The stage musical of “Fame” has, surprisingly, never been on Broadway, but who cares? When I think of musicals, I think of “Fame,” the story of a bunch of kids at the world-famous LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts in New York City, and whether that be on the original movie, the TV show, or the awful 2009 film remake, isn’t that what musicals are all about? A bunch of crazy kids chasing a dream of fame? Maybe. But it’s definitely an excuse to put the song on this list.
22. “Jersey Boys”
God only knows why this jukebox musical won so many Tonys–including Best Musical–and has been running on Broadway continuously since 2005, spawning multiple national tours and other productions, but this Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons musical is clearly here to stay.
21. “Spring Awakening”
This musical is another one of those smash hits, despite the incredibly controversial subject matter it portrays. Nobody really cares, though, thanks to a tremendous score from Duncan Sheik and breakout performances from young stars who would become household names, including Lea Michele, Jonathan Groff, John Gallagher, Jr., and Skylar Astin.
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Stefon
New York's Hottest Club is wherever I am. Haters to the front, hunky Sailors to the back. Bow down betches. Follow this bitch on Twitter @StefonTSM [email protected]
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