1.
The Phantom of the Opera
The longest running show in broadway history continues to sell out every night. It's nearly impossible to imagine Broadway without Phantom.
35 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
2.
Les Miserables
Epic in every sense of the word. The majority of great songs from the decade (On My Own, Bring Him Home, I Dreamed a Dream, Master of the House, Stars, Empty Chairs, and Do You Hear The People Sing?) all come from this modern masterpiece.
33 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
3.
Cats
This nearly ran forever, burning itself into our "memory"...
30 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
4.
Evita
22 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
5.
Into the Woods
Sondheim lends his talents to some twisted fairy tales...
11 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
6.
La Cages Aux Folles
Hilarious, heartbreaking, and groundbreaking (in more ways than one)
10 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
7.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Andrew Lloyd Webber rulled this decade. Written in '78, this didn't reach Bway until 1982.
9 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
8.
Chess
Cold War and ABBA. One of the best of the 80s? Say it again. This show could make the list just based on "Anthem" alone, not to mention One Night in Bangkok...
9 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
9.
Nine
Ignore the movie.
8 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
10.
Sunday in the Park With George
Sondheim might be at the top of his game in this incredibly innovative piece about making art, both in 1880 and 1980
5 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
11.
Big River
Tony Award for Best Musical of 1985.
4 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
12.
42nd Street
A huge, huge hit in its day.
3 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
13.
Sophisticated Ladies
Music by Duke Ellington. You're welcome.
2 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
14.
Rags
Maybe too ambitious for it's time, the creative force behind this musical (Joseph Stein, Charles Strouse, and Stephen Schwartz) is more than impressive. Time for Rags to get another chance?
2 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
15.
Dreamgirls
"And I'm telling you...."
1 point - added 13 years ago by plink -
16.
Drood
1 point - added 13 years ago by plink -
17.
Song and Dance
Andrew Lloyd Webber without Tim Rice is not as good as with Tim Rice--something we learned from Song and Dance. However, this musical still gives us "Take That Look Off Your Face" and "Tell Me on a Sunday," justifying Song and Dance's inclusion on this list.
1 point - added 13 years ago by plink -
18.
Jerome Robbins Broadway
Jason Alexander won a Tony for this, proving that he'd likely be a gigantic broadway start today if it weren't for some little show called Seinfeld...
0 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
19.
Pump Boys and Dinettes
-1 point - added 13 years ago by plink -
20.
Starlight Express
Is there a show more quintessentially 80s than Starlight Express? Crazy costumes, rollerskating, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. When are they going to bring this guilty pleasure gem back?
-3 points - added 13 years ago by plink -
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