Musicals are a divisive subject, some people adore them and listen to almost exclusively showtunes, other people despise them to a borderline concerning level. Personally, I’ve always adored them. And there are so so many, but I’ve managed to collect a list of some musicals that everyone should listen to once in their life. Musicals that are beloved.
First on our list is Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. As a horror lover, this is my favorite musical of all time. It is an absolute CLASSIC. The most recent recording with Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford is absolutely incredible, and the film adaptation by Tim Burton is also amazing. It follows a vengeful barber who was wrongfully convicted and sent away by a corrupt judge who was obsessed with his wife, he comes back a decade later to get his vengeance under the pseudonym “Sweeney Todd”. With his partner in crime Mrs. Lovett, the morally gray pie baker. Gore and amazing tunes ensue.
Next up we have Falsettos. Following the freshly divorced Marvin, who left his wife and son to run away with his boyfriend, Whizzer. It’s a sung through musical, and touches wonderfully on subjects like being queer, divorce, and has an almost all jewish cast of characters. It’s a very catchy, upbeat, unique musical. A show that can touch on very very hard hitting subjects with clever lyricism and instrumentals that will stay stuck in your head for weeks.
And finally, we have Chicago. I’ve discussed the film in other articles, specifically my first ever monthly movies one. So I won’t go as in depth with the plot like usual, but it’s a jazz based crime musical, set in the roaring 20s. We follow Roxie Hart as she tries to get out of jail for the murder of the man she had an affair with. Another show where the tunes will be stuck in your head for weeks, and while Roxie isn’t the most loveable protag, the show manages to make you empathize with her. Which is always surprising and a good sign in a story.
Even if you are one of the people who hate musicals, I would suggest giving these lovely shows once chance. If you like horror, Sweeney Todd is for you. Crime? Chicago! Hard hitting dramas? Give Falsettos a chance! You never know when you’ll be endeared by one, and who knows? One might just make it onto your playlist!
