What Makes a Musical Truly Great
No matter how you look at it, art is subjective. Not every successful musical is great. Likewise, not all great musicals will become successful. When thinking about the greatest musicals of all time, art critics, historians and their audiences have a few shared criteria that they unconsciously agree on.
- The score has to be taken into consideration. All the most memorable musicals have music that serves both the characters and the story. The music isn't meant to exist merely as decoration. The music should be inseparable from the narrative and performance. This means that you shouldn’t be able to think about the narrative without thinking about the music.
- It goes without saying that storytelling and structure play a major role in determining the greatness of a musical. The most memorable musicals use songs to advance the plot or reveal emotional truths. The music serves as a way of telling the story from an emotional viewpoint. Some of the most highly regarded musicals are praised for both the narrative and the music.
- Critical acclaim and awards are an important benchmark that contribute towards a musical’s reputation. We all know that awards are not perfect, but consistent recognition from reputable awards institutions is a sign of high artistic achievement. One of the most respected institutions is the Tony Awards. It gives a level of validation and honor that is impossible to ignore.
- The cultural impact and longevity of a great musical separates it from merely good or mediocre ones. Shows that inspire and influence other artists tend to remain relevant long after the original ends. A musical that remains in the public's consciousness for a long time is undoubtedly a great one.
The Greatest Award-Winning Musicals That Define Excellence
We've already stated that one of the best ways to define excellence in musical theatre is through awards from respected artistic institutions like the Tony Awards. Not all Tony winners are instant classics, however, it's not a coincidence that some of the most evocative and respected musicals of all time have strong award pedigrees.
- The Producers is a shining example of a musical that has experienced awards dominance. It holds the record for the most Tony wins ever by a musical. It attained its success not just because of comedy or star power. It attained success because of its sharply defined structure & parody, alongside a relevant score.
- Hamilton is one of the most talked-about musicals of the past decade. It features a blend of different musical genres, offering a type of Broadway composition that has never been seen before. It won both Tony Awards and Pulitzer prizes, cementing itself as a culturally relevant production.
Musicals like The Producers and Hamilton are relevant not just because of their awards, but because they brought new life to the definition of a musical theatre production and what such performances can do.
Notable Award Recognitions
Outside Broadway, there are other relevant awards that could contribute towards a musical's cultural recognition. The WhatsOnStage Awards are an example of how other theatrical cultures think about musical productions.
Operation Mincemeat and Guys and Dolls are notable productions which prove that musical excellence cuts across different traditions and geographical locations.
Classic Musicals that Stand the Test of Time
There are many older musicals that are often cited as the “best” from earlier times. Despite their age, many of these musicals continue to inspire artists today.
- West Side Story is one of those musicals that you can't help but mention when talking about the greatest musicals ever made. It perfectly integrated music and dance with social commentary in a manner that is still groundbreaking today. Its score is emotionally relevant and structurally powerful. West Side Story is still influencing both choreography and storytelling in contemporary musical productions.
- My Fair Lady is another relevant musical theatre production that exemplifies lyrical excellence and character-driven narration. The music does not serve to merely embellish the story, rather, it tells a story relevant to the emotional arcs and class dynamics portrayed in the production. The musical composition of My Fair Lady communicates an emotional story in a way that spoken dialogue simply cannot achieve.
- Cabaret is another outstanding musical production with a strong use of framing devices and tonal contrast. It excels at the difficult task of placing performance within performance and challenges audiences to reflect on strong themes such as complicity, denial and political apathy.
Comparing Classic and Contemporary Musicals
As time passes, it is to be expected that there will be differences between classic and contemporary musicals. These changes can range from differences in style and music genre.
Musicals of the Golden Age tended to focus more on melodic clarity and normality. There were always clear cut lines between songs and dialogue. Contemporary theatre, on the other hand, is more likely to blur the lines and create hybrids.
Despite the differences in style, the ultimate goals of the musical theatre remain unchanged. Both contemporary and classic musicals are focused on prioritizing coherence and honesty. The goal is to use music that deepens the character and narrative as a whole. The most successful modern theatre productions still draw from classic principles, showing that evolution in theatre doesn't shy too far away from the classics.
Award shows also maintain this balance. Even though there are always new musicals being recognized, there are still revivals of classic shows that are recognized yearly.
The best musicals never truly leave our collective consciousness. They will always invite recordings, revivals and even academic appraisal. The greatest musicals provoke continued engagement, and each revisit peals back a new layer, parallels and nuances that may not have been noticed at first. These discoveries further highlight the relevance of the production.
This is why some musicals are always revisited. They do not lose their meaning or become boring when revisited. Rather, they resonate through the years, even as art evolves.
Quality Always Shines
The focus of critique when it comes to musicals should always be based on thoughtful interaction and comparison. For a musical to be great, it doesn't have to be the loudest or the newest. It needs to perfectly balance music and story with performance. This is the formula that makes great musicals earn the respect and cultural recognition that keeps them relevant for decades.
By looking at the entire picture together, it becomes more possible to understand why some musicals stand the test of time and others fade into obscurity. This way, we can better celebrate musicals not just as entertainment but as an art form that deserves all the attention and recognition it gets.
Romeo and Juliet, by Frank Dicksee (1884) pic.twitter.com/4UN9JRvkKP
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