Between Broadway’s golden age and the modern shows of the 2000s, we have a period in musical theater where a lot of excellent shows premiered. This time period is roughly from 1965 to 1999. There are so many great shows from this time period, some of which even hold Broadway records. Here is my Top 10 musicals from 1965-1999.
Disclaimer: This is just my personal list. It was not put together by someone who is familiar with every single show that came out in this time period.
10. Cabaret
Based in Berlin in 1931 while the Nazis rose to power, Cabaret is about a young writer and relationship with a cabaret performer at the Kit Kat Klub .Cabaret won the 1967 Tony Award for Best Musical.
9. A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line is interesting because it tells the story of actors during an audition for a Broadway musical. It dives into the personal lives of certain performers and explores the events leading up to them choosing this career. A Chorus Line won the 1976 Tony Award for Best Musical as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
8. Titanic
Titanic tells the story of the famous sinking of the ship by the same name. Act 1 focuses on the joy of everyday life on the ship, while Act 2 attempts to capture the panic of that fateful night. Titanic won the 1997 Tony Award for Best Musical.
7. The Lion King
The Lion King is based on the Disney film of the same name. The story is based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The Lion King utilizes both puppets as well as actors in costumes to bring the animal characters to life. The show’s music has an African feel to it and even features many percussion instruments that are not often used on Broadway. The Lion King won the 1998 Tony Award for Best Musical.
6. Into the Woods
Into the Woods takes several characters from fairytales and explores the consequences of their wishes and desires. Their stories are held together by the central tale of a baker and his wife and their journey to have a child and start a family.
5. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sweeney Todd is based on a 1973 play of the same name. Set in London, the story revolves around a barber who is returning home after being unjustly exiled for 15 years. His goal is take revenge on the judge who sent him away with the help of Mrs. Lovett, the local baker who needs some new meat for her pies. Sweeney Todd won the 1979 Tony Award for Best Musical.
4. Chicago
Set in Chicago during the prohibition era, Chicago is based on a play by the same name about actual crimes. The musical is a satire commenting on judicial corruption as well as the “celebrity criminal.” The 1996 revival holds the record for the longest running musical revival as well as the longest running American musical ever on Broadway.
3. Phantom of the Opera
Based on the French novel, Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, The Phantom of the Opera is about a mysterious figure living beneath a French Opera house who becomes obsessed with a young soprano. This show is the longest running show in Broadway history. Phantom of the Opera won the 1988 Tony Award for Best Musical.
2. Les Misérables
Based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same name, Les Misérables is the story of Jean Valjean, a prisoner who breaks parole, and the police inspector, Javert, who tries to hunt him down for breaking parole. Les Misérables won the 1987 Tony Award for Best Musical.
1. Rent
Loosely based on the opera La Boheme, Rent follows the story of a group of young artists living in New York in the height of the Bohemian Alphabet City and the early days of HIV/Aids. Jonathon Larson, the show’s composer, passed away prior to the show’s preview and never got to see his magnum opus performed for an audience. This was a real life example of one of the show’s messages, “No day but today.” Rent won the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical as well the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.Between the awards it received and the legacy it left behind, Rent gets the top spot on this list.
