20 fave musicals

I was asked to write a piece on the "Top 20 Musicals of All Time." Having been given the liberty to choose my attack on the matter, I was gorged with the pulsating and mind-boggling task of deciding the boundaries in which I was to narrow down my choices. I’m obviously a Broadway fanatic and the task was going to be extremely difficult. Had I chosen to simplify my undertaking, then I could have accordingly picked the Broadway shows that won "Best Musical" in the Tonys, starting from 2006’s Jersey Boys to 1986’s The Mystery of Edwin Drood. But where’s the fun in that right? And so, after category upon category that underwent my appraisal and consideration, I present to you… Toff’s tops – with the caveat being that almost all musicals, for me, are worth checking out. Hopefully, you’ll be infected with their magic as well. Ready, set, chase.

20) Aspects Of Love

"Seeing is Believing" as all kinds of love are portrayed in this enchanting musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Aspects of Love follows the life of Alex as he reflects on the past 17 years of his life, going back to a time when he first met actress Rose Vibert. The musical features a collection of timeless hits, including Seeing is Believing and Love Changes Everything.

19) Spamalot

The Knights of the Round Table sure have a knack for show in this comical rendition of King Arthur and his quest for the Holy Grail. The Tony Award-winning Spamalot features a riotous array of songs including Knights of the Round Table, and the schizophrenic Find Your Grail.

18) The Fantasticks

Its departure from off-Broadway was a sad moment in the theatre world. However, The Fantasticks, a simple story of a young lad and lass who fall madly in love but are kept apart by their meddling parents, has recently returned to add to its tenure as the longest-running musical of all time. The show features some mellow Stephen Sondheim tunes, including Try to Remember.

17) Annie

Annie follows the life of a fiery young girl who must live in an orphanage run by the tyrannical Mrs. Hannigan. Her stars change when she encounters Oliver Warbucks, a wealthy tycoon, who groes to love the lovable lass when she resides at his gargantuan residence. Tomorrow and N.Y.C. spearhead the musical lineup of this beloved musical.

16) Grease

Anyone who doesn’t know a thing or two about "Greased Lightnin’" must be living under a rock. This smashin’ musical is a love story between Danny Zucko, a tough guy who shares a few "Summer Nights" with nice girl Sandy. Of burger joints, beauty school dropouts, racing and more, the musical packs a wallop with tunes like We Go Together and Born to Hand-Jive.

15) Children Of Eden

Not a lot of people know about this other brainchild of Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz. Based on the events in the Book of Genesis, Children of Eden is a telling story of Adam and Eve, and the generations that spawned from their union after leaving Eden. Schwartz weaves some compelling tunes to the musical, including The Spark of Creation and Lost in the Wilderness.

14) A New Brain

"Fat or thin, the fat will predominate. That is the law of genetics according to Schwinn." These are just morsels of the hundred-plus hilarious lyrics featured in William Finn’s A New Brain. The musical is a hilarious story about a man who goes under the knife to have his brain tumor removed. Other notable songs worth checking out are Heart and Music and Change.

13) Merrily We Roll Along

Stephen Sondheim composes some of his best work in this musical that explores the lives of Frank, Mary and Charley as they journey backwards through time from 1980 to the year 1955 when their youthfulness and idealism lifted them above the perils of growing up. Merrily We Roll Along features such tear-jerking hits as Not A Day Goes By and Like It Was, among many others.

12) Sweet Charity

Fun is an understatement in Bob Fosse’s highly acclaimed masterpiece, Sweet Charity. The musical follows love-struck Charity Hope Valentine, recently played by Christina Applegate, in her quest to find true love in the Big Apple. The musical showcases the sensuous Hey Big Spender, and other danceable tracks like Rhythm of Life and Rich Man’s Frug.

11) Once On This Island

A spin on the classic Little Mermaid fairytale, Once On This Island looks at the life of Ti Moune, a young peasant girl whose strength is tested by the gods to see if, indeed, her love for the wealthy beaux homme Daniel can conquer all. The musical is splashed with enchanting rhythms like Waiting for Life, The Human Heart, and Mama Will Provide.

10) Miss Saigon

"The heat is (definitely) on in Saigon!" The modern adaptation of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly once starred our very own Lea Salonga, a role for which she nabbed the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical. Focusing on the love story of Kim and Chris in post-war Vietnam, the musical features memorable hits such as Sun and Moon, I Still Believe, and The American Dream.

9) The Lion King

Dashed with the music of Sir Elton John and Tim Rice, the Tony Award-winning musical chases after Simba, a young cub who finds himself deserted in the African wilderness after a tussle with his treacherous Uncle Scar. After a long sojourn, he journeys back to the Pride Land to reclaim what is rightfully his. The Lion King features Circle of Life and other such timeless tunes.

8) Hairspray

"You can’t stop the beat" in this hair-raising show about hormones, pop culture, and social discrimination in ’60s Baltimore. Hairspray follows the life of Tracy Turnblad, a plump young thing whose dream is to appear on the Corny Collins Show. In the process, Tracy and the gang deliver a bunch of highly energetic tunes such as Welcome to the ’60s, and Without Love.

7) Avenue Q

Honesty is the best policy in this 2004 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical. The show captures life in the slums of Avenue Q as humans and monsters coexist in an environment where meager conditions are met with humor and a whole lot of heart. The musical features a bunch of sidesplitting tracks like Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist and It Sucks to Be Me.

6) Sweeney Todd

Sondheim triumphs in this bloodcurdling tale about the Demon Barber of Fleet Street and his scheming partner Mrs. Lovett, played by Patti LuPone. With the ingenious concept of John Doyle, the ensemble of the revival cast also provides the accompaniment to Sweeney Todd’s classic tunes Not While I’m Around, By the Sea and Pretty Women.

5) Les Miserables

Based on Victor Hugo’s novel, the hit musical tells the tragic story of 24601, ex-convict Jean Val Jean, in his quest to start a new life after 19 years of imprisonment. Set in 18th-century France, Les Mis also explores the love triangle of Marius, Cosette and Eponine that gives rise to some of the musical’s most prominent songs, On My Own and One Day More.

4) The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

This heart-warming musical peers into the lives of six lovable characters during a spelling bee competition where winning is a job and erections prove very unfortunate. The show features a bunch of catchy melodies like Pandemonium, M.U.E. and my personal favorite, I Speak Six Languages.

3) Wicked

From the genius of Schwartz comes this hit musical about the Witches of Oz way before Dorothy dropped in from Kansas. Wicked features upbeat tunes and poignant ballads such as For Good, and the belt-‘em-like-it’s-hot Defying Gravity. Wicked has most recently flown to West End theatres where Tony-Award winner Idina Menzel opened the show as Elphaba.

2) Rent

Since opening in 1996, Rent has ascended to international acclaim with its powerful array of songs, including Seasons of Love, I’ll Cover You and No Day But Today. Now in its 10th year on Broadway, Rent continues to win audiences with brisk energy, passion and interesting take on the Bohemian life.

1) Phantom Of The Opera

There’s gotta be something about this Webber masterpiece that resonates within the hearts of many. It must be the "Music of the Night" that springs forth from the Phantom’s intoxicating voice. It must be Raoul and Christine’s All I Ask of You with poor Phantom waiting in the shadows. One thing’s for sure, come Wicked or Wickeder or Wickedest, Phantom is here to stay.

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Catch your breath and let me know what you think at chasingtoff@yahoo.com