Top 50 Musicals: By the Numbers

[Johnny Unusual]

18.

103 Points, 5 Lists, Highest Vote: #6 @Violentvixen ​

Originators: Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse
Time: Just before World War II
Place: Salzburg

Maria Rainer is a free-spirited young postulant hoping to be a nun but the Mother Abbess questions whether monastic life is right for her. So she gives her a mission; to act as governess to the children of the strict Captain Georg von Trapp. Maira is put off by the Captain’s militaristic approach to raising his children and instead teaches them about the joy of music. The children take to it well and slowly the Captain starts to fall for Maria, a feeling that becomes mutual. But the times are dangerous and soon the family realizes they need to leave Austria.

Boy, I couldn’t think of a more different “Nazism on the rise” musical than Cabaret and this. Cabaret is a tragedy while this is an absolutely fluffy and joyful movie. I think it certainly takes the evils on the horizon seriously, in its way, but it is really a film about the freeing power of music on the soul. And I’ll also admit… I find it pretty hokey. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s a very watchable and fun movie but for me, it’s all about the actor’s charisma and the songs. Do-re-mi is a song I learned in preschool by heart and almost every one is a hit. It’s no wonder it’s an annual holiday tradition for many people.

Showstopper

Next show (based on the title): James’ sauciest movie

 

[FelixSH]

In my second semester in choir (should be ten years ago now), we sang most songs from this. Most people in Austria haven't watched it, it seems like people think it's too cheesy.

I like it. Has a lot of nice songs.

 

[Violentvixen]

Yeah, huge part of school, family, musical culture, etc.

I've also always liked this little clip of Maria Von Trapp and Julie Andrews yodeling.

Also weird bit of trivia, some of the Von Trapp family is now in Vermont and has a brewery. They showed up in a variety pack I got so I looked them up and yep, same family. Good beers too.

 

[Issun]

I said West Side Story was my ideal of the musical, but Sound of Music is pretty much the universal template.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

17.

105 Points, 4 Lists, Highest Vote: #5 @Kirin & @Lokii ​

Originators: Stephen Sondheim, James Lapine
Time: Once Upon a Time
Place: The Woods

A Baker and His Wife discover a witch’s curse has left the couple infertile but it can be lifted if he finds 4 items in the woods. The Baker goes to look but soon it is clear he isn’t alone. Jack needs to sell his family cow. Red Ridinghood is out to bring treats to her grandmother. Cinderella is planning to go to the ball. Soon, these lives will intersect in surprising ways but all get a happily ever after. Well, they would if they stopped at act one. But that’s the thing about life; it’s endings are rarely happy and to keep living means new trials. Like the beanstalk growing in the woods…

Another Sondheim classic, this takes classic fairy tales and weaves them into a much more complex narrative about how parents can fail their children and how life doesn’t always fit into simple lessons like fables do. At the time, people had interpreted the danger of the second act as an AIDS metaphor but that’s not what Sondheim says he intended and I agree. In life, there’s always tragedies, manmade and otherwise, that stomp over the good and bad in humanity and often we need each other in those moments.

"It's fairy tales, yes, but it's also about parents, children, and metaphors that defy easy one-to-one mappings. The ""junior"" version of this musical ends at the end of Act I in the full musical, leaving out all the parts where reality comes in and gets hard.

• @Bulgakov

Showstopper

Next show (based on the title): This is what I call my lower half.

 

[Kirin]

Ah, a pair from my list today.

Gonna be honest, I haven't actually watched Sound of Music since I was a child and I have no idea exactly how well I'd like it today, but I still remember a whole bunch of the songs from way back then and that's saying something.

Into the Woods, on the other hand, is a thing a whole bunch of people were into when I was in college. More great songs, and a fun take on the interface between fairy tale logic and real-world problems.

Rooting through my rutabegas, raiding my arugulas!

 

[Violentvixen]

I need to give Into the Woods another shot. When it was in high school there was a dual production of it between my high school and another one. The rehearsals frequently overlapped with my science lab time and made it really hard to concentrate. I was sick of the songs before they even started the production but have mainly heard them muffled through a high school floor so that's probably unfair of me.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

16.

109 Points, 4 Lists, Highest Vote: #5 @Torzelbaum ​

Originators: Mel Stuart, Roald Dahl, Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley
Time: 1971, maybe
Place: The Chocolate Factory

Many years ago, chocolatier and confectioner Willy Wonka became a recluse and closed the doors to his factory… yet the factory still produces chocolate years after. Charlie is a poor boy who miraculously wins the greatest of prizes; the opportunity to see inside the factory along with four other children, to see what no man has ever scene. It turns out the factory is even more wondrous than anyone imagined… but also more dangerous, as the greed and strongheadedness of the children wind them into real trouble. What will happen to Charlie by the end of the tour?

I grew up a fan of Roald Dahl, a writer who was often darkly comedic (I loved his reimagining of children’s books, wherein Red Riding Hood mows down the wolf with a machine gun to make a new coat) but also often felt genuinely funny, sweet and exhilarating. The film really does capture that wonder as well as the darkness (holy shit, the boat ride) and is buoyed by the incredible Gene Wilder that, despite Dahl’s lament (he wanted Spike Milligan in the role), is both filled with child-like wonder and spite thinly veiled with a smile for most of the other kids and their parents.

Showstopper

Next show (based on the title): A small sea domestic

 

[Violentvixen]

Oh dangit I didn't think of this at all. Ultimately it may not have made my list anyway as I think more about the story/book than the movie/songs, but it's a great one and I wish I'd had it in rotation.

 

[RT-55J]

...this might have made my list had I thought to even include it.

 

[Issun]

Had this at #6. Glad to see it so high on this list.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

15.

118 Points, 5 Lists, Highest Vote: #5 @Pombar ​

Originators: John Musker, Ron Clements, Alan Menken
Time: 1700s? Just a guess.
Place: Atlantica and also some land kingdom

Ariel is a mermaid princess who wishes to learn about the surface world, against her father’s, King Triton, wishes. The situation becomes more difficult when she becomes infatuated with a surface dweller, Prince Eric. This situation is taken advantage of by Ursula, a sea witch plotting to take the throne from Triton, who gives her an offer; in exchange for her voice, Ursula will turn her human. But if she can’t take a kiss from Eric before the time is up, she will transform her into living seaweed. Ariel soon works to get close to Eric with the help of Sebastian (Triton’ right-hand crab), Flounder (Ariel’s best friend) and Scuttle (a questionable expert on the surface world).

The Little Mermaid is THE ONE for Disney. After years of only sporadic and weird animation projects, it seemed like that despite making their bones on cartoons, their animation glory days were behind them. Oh, there were good films but The Black Cauldron was a misfire for audiences. Oliver and Company and The Great Mouse Detective are good but it wasn’t quite… there for Disney. This was a HUGE hit that kicked off a huge wave of critically and financially successful films and for good reason. Alan Menken goes from the writer of Little Shop of Horrors to Disney’s go-to music guy for much of the next decade with his infection and memorable tunes. It really kicks off the formula, too. There were Disney Princesses but now it is very much about them and while there are elements in some of these films that haven’t aged as well, they have much more agency within their stories.

The fact that I as a 42 year-old straight man can still belt ""Part of Your World"" at the top of my lungs in the show unapologetically says a lot.

@Bulgakov



Showstopper

Next show (based on the title): It felt like the holidays

 

[Issun]

I also had Little Mermaid at #5. It is my favorite Disney flick, after all.

 

[Daikaiju]

Huh. Y'know I've never really sat through The Little Mermaid. Opportunity never presented itself.

 

[nataeryn]

Into the Woods was on my list.
Musicals are kinda unique compared to movies in that there's an intermission half way through and Into the Woods struck me for really taking advantage of being a story in two halves. You start off with this fun little mash up of a bunch of fairy tales before it takes a turn. It stuck out to me.

 

[Violentvixen]

Little Mermaid just didn't quite click for me. I know the songs really well because they're such a cultural touchstone but eh. Leaving your cool interesting underwater world for a really boring guy I didn't find that attractive never made any damn sense.

 

[FelixSH]

Forever ago, someone posted a meme on the forum, about how Arielle could also just be someone obsessed with Japan, and then going there without being able to talk the language. Something like that, forgot the details.

Anyway, I like Arielle, but when rewatching it last year, I realized that I completely forgot the second half, up to the moment Ursula got the trident. That she turned into a human woman and interacted with Eric caught me completely by surprise. I do like Ursula, the antagonists of 90s Disney movies are so fun, and have such great designs.
Also, how was that, she is Neptunes sister? I think someone mentioned that here, forever ago.

 

[nataeryn]

Arielle was my little niece's favorite when she was a toddler. She had little arielle doll she carried everywhere and a mermaid tail.
I tried to keep my number of Disney movie votes to a minimum so I didn't vote for TLM, but it is a good movie.

My least favorite Kingdom Hearts level though.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Arielle

Arielle

I love how eveey9ne is making this found French. The chef who tried to kill Sebastian would approve.

 

[Issun]

Oh, you mean this guy?

 

[Johnny Unusual]

14.

129 Points, 5 Lists, Highest Vote: #2 @Lokii & RT-55J ​

Originators: Brian Henson, Jerry Juhl, Miles Goodman, Paul Williams
Time: 1843
Place: London

Ebenezer Scrooge is a heartless, compassionless miser who does nothing to help his fellow man. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by his old partners, the Marley Brothers, who warn them that he is on his way to an afterlife of damnation but he can change his ways if he pays heed to three ghosts. Sure enough, Scrooge finds himself facing not only the spirits but also his own past, the present of those in his life and a terrifying future if he does not change.

Not long after the passing of Jim Henson, the creator and driving force of the Muppets, it seemed like the future was uncertain. But as the first Muppet feature after his passing, this one is a winner. The story is one of the most adapted and parodied tale and yet despite talking animals and musical, it’s shockingly grounded and true to the tone of the original without becoming dull or dour. Paul Williams returns to deliver even more great songs and, most famously, Michael Caine plays it SO straight that it works perfectly for both the emotion of his redemption (which a lot of versions make feel unearned when done wrong) and as a counterpoint to the wacky, wild Muppets.

Showstopper

Next show (based on the title): A post you should know the words to.

 

[nataeryn]

Muppet Christmas Carol was on my long list.
I watched a youtube video recently that broke down how faithful this version is to the book. By having Gonzo play Charles Dickens, he can quote directly from the book.
As a musical, I like the songs generally, but they don't quite stick in my mind as much as a different muppet musical movie. Absolutely happy to see it on the list even though i couldn't fit it in to my list.

 

[WildcatJF]

So upset I forgot this

 

[Lokii]

This is probably the best movie.

 

[Daikaiju]

Is a good time.


We have fun here.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

13.

131 Points, 6 Lists, Highest Vote: #8 @Violentvixen ​

Originators: Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, Jed Whedon
Time: 2008
Place: A major metropolis and it’s laundromat

Dr. Horrible is a small-time supervillain with big aspirations to join the Evil League of Evil. He also has become infatuated with Penny, a woman he sees at the local laundromat who wants to help her community and the unhoused in particular. When Horrible is given the opportunity to join the Evil League of Evil, his plan to get a freeze ray up and running goes off without a hitch… save for that he accidentally has introduced his crush with his archnemesis, a smug superhero bully named Captain Hammer. Stage two of Horrible’s plan fails and the Evil League of Evil don’t just want crime, they want a body to show he’s real evil. Horrible dislikes this at first until he realizes he can kill two birds with one stone…

Again, Whedon shows up despite having been revealed to be a creep. This was a mini-series produced during the 2007 writer’s strike as a show that things can be made on our own. It was a real small production but with very notable celebrities like Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day. I remember to listening to this one on repeat quite often and memorized all of the songs. I don’t think I can say that about even the Bugs Bunny shorts (Rabbit of Seville comes very close, though). I also showed this to my English club when I was teaching English in South Korea and they liked it (though were taken aback by the tragic ending).

Showstopper

Next show (based on the title): It’s better than less ana.

 

[Violentvixen]

This was a mini-series produced during the 2007 writer’s strike as a show that things can be made on our own.

That is something that I think gets forgotten about Dr Horrible and part of why I ranked it so high. It was in support of the strike, made without a studio and was a part of the protest against the pay structure at that time. I had a lot of friends who were recent graduates trying to get into the industry and the strike was so important to them. I followed it much more than the one a decade later because it really did affect people I knew.

Dr. Horrible was also made to make the point that streaming could make money (novel at that time), as prior to the strike being paid for digital work was not great or maybe not protected at all, I forget. There's a lot more complexity than I'm communicating here but as much as the film is just good it's also important.

On the less serious side of things, Bad Horse gets stuck in my head a lot. It's great.

 

[FelixSH]

Bad Horse is so great, I love both the first version, and the reprise (is that a reprise? I'm not sure, actually). Brand New Day is another favorite of mine, due to the change of intensity. I know nothing about music, so have no idea if there is a name, but I think if you listen to it, you hear it.

I also love My Eyes. Every time it switches to the refrain is just wonderful, and I love the change between the low and high voices. Plus the duet.

Plus, I love the singing voices of Harris and Day.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

12.

131 Points, 6 Lists, Highest Vote: #4 @Pombar ​

Originators: Jared Bush, Ron Clements, John Musker, Chris Williams, Don Hall, Pamela Ribon, Aaron Kandell, Jordan Kandell, Mark Mancina, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi
Time: Unknown but a long time ago
Place: Polynesian islands

Moana is the daughter of the tribe chieftain on her island. She loves it but also dreams of seeing other places. Upon realizing her people were once explorers and that her island home is being affected by a strange blight, Moana learns she must find the source and unravel the mystery. With the help of the ocean itself, she gains the reluctant help of Maui, a demigod. But Maui needs his magic fishhook to get the job done, leading the two into an adventure into peril.

The directors of the Little Mermaid, the original Disney Renaissance movie, return for the new wave of 2010 hits and some great creatives in tow, including hitmaker Lin-Manuel Miranda as one of the songwriters. It’s interesting to see where things have come because with the Little Mermaid, the lead has more agency but it’s really about trying to impress a dude while here the adventure is about community, regaining connection to heritage and a connection to the Earth itself. The songs are very catchy (as you might imagine, there are two show stoppers people will argue about which takes the top spot) and the set pieces and adventure are all very strong. Even better, perfect mix of action set piece and music with Shiny.

Showstopper

Next show (based on the title): This must be about the recording of Brand New Love Affair Part 1 & 2.

 

[FelixSH]

Moana was great. Didn't expect a Disney movie to blow me away, like that one did. Looks great (well, that's not a surprise), songs are amazing, I love the animal companion (and that it's not the overdesigned, if cute, pig), and I like that they used a mythology that isn't well known here.

There is also something really fascinating, about how in this movie the land gets corrupted, and all that is left is ocean. No place for Moana to get help from other people, visually even more clearly done, than in most other Disney movies. Just ocean, everywhere, and all the creatures antagonistic.