What would you say are the greatest original musicals of the last 20 years?

I hate musicals.

Then why are you on this thread, r1?

R1 I don't hate them, but as a costume designer, I could go the rest of my life without designing one. I much prefer straight plays.

WICKED

have any of these musicals had a song that crossed over to the broader culture? of these, i've only seen "avenue q", but i cannot remember any song from that getting any massive radio or streaming play.

[quote] have any of these musicals had a song that crossed over to the broader culture?

I'd say so...

John Bolton sang a song from one of the musicals?

Did I ever say that he had? You asked if it had crossed over into the wider culture, and the title certainly did.

The Light in the Piazza

Everyone knows Wicked, R5.

If you're talking originality, OP, I'd say there are only two. Hamilton and Frozen - by which I mean the original animation, which is "an original musical". Hamilton speaks for itself, but I nominate Frozen not because of the score but because of the twist, wherein [spoiler] the crucial act of true love turns out to be sisterly and not romantic. Huge breakthrough, especially for Disney, and not there in The Snow Queen story. Wicked has to get some credit as the forerunner of that by foregrounding the Galinda/Elphaba relationship over all the others (but in that case it did come from the novel).

The original thing in Frozen is far more likely to lead to brilliant successors than Hamilton, which is probably going to be more like A Chorus Line in doing something new that can't be repeated.

Funhouse

Wicked is overrated.

Hairspray is actually one of the strongest. Melodic score, clever, some great performances, funny, and with a positive message.

Hamilton the most overrated.

Next to Normal was very effective.

Light in the Piazza had some lovely music.

Spamalot was more clever and funnier than Book of Mormon, which is really an elevated Harvard Hasty Pudding college musical.

r10, i don't know any songs from wicked, but it's possible that there were some that were huge hits on the radio/streaming. were there?

OP is a corny, tasteless, basic motherfucker.

The best was HEDWIG, of course.

I really loved Rocket Man.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels -- funny, some great songs and performances -- like one of the wonderful funny 50s/60s musicals folks listen to on their OCRs

[quote]have any of these musicals had a song that crossed over to the broader culture?

Radio doesn't play a wide variety of genres on pop stations anymore. The top 40 used to be hits from country, rock, r&b, pop etc. on all the pop stations. Along with that the occasional show tune from a musical would sometimes be heard.

There just isn't the avenue for songs from Broadway to make it to the mainstream ear anymore. Exception "Let It Go", but that was a Disney musical and Disney has the power to make a way for it's product to get to the mainstream.

Something that could help is if shows like The Voice, Idol (is that still on?), Dancing With The Stars, invite some of the Broadway stars to perform on the show. That would be a great way to get musicals back into the mainstream ears and consciousness.

Moulin Rouge

thank you, r18.

r6/r8: burn in hell (or a hotter level of the hell you are likely already in)

[quote]Funhouse

Oh, dear.

Legally Blonde was a lot of fun.

[quote]OP is a corny, tasteless, basic motherfucker. The best was HEDWIG, of course.

But at least I'm not stupid.

HEDWIG was written and first performed more than twenty years ago.

I would remove from your list "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" (I have no idea what anyone saw in that one) and replace it with "Grey Gardens."

Most overrated musical of all time: "Hamilton"

Considerably underrated: "Wicked"

[quote] I really loved Rocket Man.

That would be a jukebox musical, and so it is disqualifed.

[quote] Moulin Rouge

is also a jukebox musical.

Blows my mind that anyone would say Hamilton is overrated but okay.

I really loved Waitress. I've seen boots with Jessie Mueller and Katherine McPhee. Have to say I like them both, personally I'd say Jessie is overrated. She's talented, no question but the way many people go on about her. . . I just don't agree. Kate McPhee, who I don't care for, I ended up liking her portrayal of Jenna. She brought a vulnerability to the role that Jessie just didn't have. But Jessie brought the sexuality to the role Kate couldn't. Jessie's scenes with Dr. Pomatter had a believable passion that Kate's didn't. Sara Bareilles wrote some really fun songs and a really heartbreaking 11 o clock number.

I'm not saying it's the greatest, but it's a top ten imo.

Imagine "Hamilton" with a Caucasian-American cast. Not so hot without the gimmick. Very over-rated. A few nice songs.

What did people think of Something Rotten! ?

It's a joke that goes on too long, and then keeps going and going and going. . .

Which, after I passed through completely irritated, I started to laugh at again.

I greatly enjoyed "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder."

r28 you have a problem.

I have to say I was really entertained by Something Rotten. It’s not a masterpiece, but I got my money’s worth.

I thought it was really clever and a lot of fun.

I was astounded at how they just went for running that joke into the ground.

“Something Rotten” was like an overlong “Forbidden Broadway” sketch written by not-very-talented straight people

Some of us just want to be entertained.

Have a laugh.

Is that so wrong?

"Something that could help is if shows like The Voice, Idol (is that still on?), Dancing With The Stars, invite some of the Broadway stars to perform on the show. That would be a great way to get musicals back into the mainstream ears and consciousness."

I completely agree with your first 5, OP.

Wicked. Hamilton and Evan Hansen don't even belong on the list for consideration.

You Hamilton haters are amusing.

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder

Hands down it has to be Hairspray...it is practically embedded into our culture...of all the Musicals listed, none are as widely known as Hairspray. You also have a successful film of the musical. Its also the only one ripe for revivals.

Past 20 years: Hamilton and Next to Normal

Of all time: Les Miserables

"Hamilton" is shoved down our throats at every turn, but I've heard nothing from it that approaches the greatness of "A Musical" from "Something Rotten".

But for people who like "Hamilton", that is the sort of thing that they like.

Why must people be like this?

It is possible to like Hamilton AND Something Rotten AND Sondheim.

I do.