- Fiddler on the Roof By Joseph Stein (1971 movie)
Favorite song: “Miracle of Miracles”
Tevya is a simple farmer trying to get his daughters married while supporting his family. He has to deal with his daughters fighting expectations and defying the odds of stereotypes for women back then. This musical is amazing because the music is fun and a pick me up, never failing to make me smile or cry (in a good way).
- Hairspray. By Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan (Movie in 2007)
Favorite song: “Good Morning Baltimore”
Tracy Turnblad tries to make it big in Baltimore, Maryland. Being a plus size girl, she has to overcome all the hurdles people throw at her while trying to get the man of her dreams, Link Larkin, and fight segregation in the 60’s. I love this musical because I love of the music and how relatable it is for teens nowadays facing body issues.
- Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber (25th anniversary Royal Albert Hall)
Favorite song: “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again”
Christine Daae is an opera singer on the rise being trained by the phantom. Over the course of the musical, the phantom brings terror to the opera while falling in love with Christine, who loves Raoul. It ends with the Phantom disappearing after killing numerous people throughout the show, he also kidnaps Christine but eventually releases her then slips away. I think Andrew Lloyd Webber is an absolute genius and this show has a beautiful score and the music itself tells a story without needing the singers.
- Les Mis. (10th anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall)
Favorite Song: “Turning”
Jean Valjean was a prisoner for over 19 years, when Javert releases him on parole.Then he stole silver breaking his parole and then used that to start a new life. He became mayor and a factory owner. He meets Javert but he doesnt recognize him and later becomes adoptive father to Cosette. Cosette later meets Marius who was a part of the French Revolution, which results in a lot of people dying. This is just a classic musical that’s an emotional journey no matter what part or song you listen to, it has so many signature songs that everyone loves and its overall one of the best.
- Something Rotten (Original BroadWay cast)
Favorite Song: “God, I hate Shakespeare”
Something Rotten is a very unique musical, it’s set in the 1590’s and follows the lives of brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, writers who are trying to make it big. One loves Shakespeare and the other hates him. Nick goes to a soothsayer (fortune teller) and asks him for Shakespeare’s greatest hit. THe soothsayer gives him false information and Shakespeare secretly becomes Nick’s assistant to try and steal his already done play, while Nigel keeps telling him that he shouldn’t write what would be good, but write what he wants to write. I’m not one for the modern musical but this one makes my list because the story is very original
- 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Original Broadway Cast)
Favorite Song: “The I Love You Song”
Sleepers compete and sing songs about their hardships and the pressure of being a 12 year old. I love this musical because it’s not like other musicals whatsoever and has a plot that no other musical has. By that I mean it just shows the backstories of spellers and their sort of intact family lives. The cast uses members of the audience during the show, so the performance is very interactive.
- Into the Woods (Original Broadway Cast)
Favorite Song: “Ever After”
A baker, a baker’s wife, a witch, a boy named jack, Red Riding Hood, a wolf, rapunzel, two princes, Cinderella and some more fairy tales, clash together in a musical. Despite the long length of the musical, each song is captivating and crucial to the story.
- West side story (Original Broadway cast)
Favorite Song: “Maria”
A story of star-crossed lovers, Tony and Maria, entertain this spin off of Romeo and Juliet. Tony is from the Jets, they were born on the street they are competing over and don’t want the sharks to be there. Maria is from the Sharks, the Puerto Ricans who came to America to have a better life for themselves and their family. They first see each other at the dance of the gym. And kiss, which causes even more fights between the two gangs. The story of two gangs is what caught my attention to this musical. The story of Tony and Maria is, personally, one of the best musicals ever made. The sappy love story
- Love Never Dies by Andrew Lloyd Webber (Original London Cast)
Favorite Song: “Dear Old Friend”
Christine Daae returns 10 years later, in the only good sequel ever made, married to Raoul and has a son who is 10 years old. They come to America for Show Cristine is in to repay Raoul’s gambling debts but falls in the Phantoms trap. Instead of singing for Hammerstein she sing for the phantom, now Mr. Y, who is the father of her child which is later revealed after he sees how much Gustave is like him. Meg Giry also makes a return as the phantoms secret admirer and the person who gave him the opportunity to make Coney Island. It ends with Meg sadly shooting Cristine leaving Gustave to Raoul, the pretend father, and Mr. Y the real baby daddy. This musical is so good on all levels, as all musicals it tells a story of love and hate and revenge.
- Hello Dolly. 1969 movie (Directed by Gene Kelly)
Favorite Song: “So Long Dearie”
Hello Dolly is a classic musical which tells the tale of Dolly Levi a matchmaker who goes and tries to get Horace Vandergelder, a well known, successful man. Horace tells his workers, Barnaby Tucker and Cornelius Hackl, to stay and take care of the shop, but instead they go to New York and meet two lovely ladies, Irene Malloy and Ambrose Kemper.