The 100 Best Musicals of All Time

People often ask me what my favorite musical is. I seldom answer: that would be like Sophie's Choice. But I've been reading through a number of books recently that attempt to list the best plays, novels, and writers of all time. Efforts fraught with peril, but nonetheless fun to read.

As foolhardy an effort as it might seem, I've taken it upon myself to compile my own list of the best musicals of all time. The criteria: mine. Your option if you disagree: create your own frickin' list.

Also, keep in mind that this is a list of stage musicals, not movie musicals, which explains the absence of such classics as "Singing in the Rain," "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," and "The Wizard of Oz." Yes, they've been done on the stage, but never very well. If I ever decide to put together a list of the best movie musicals, rest assured that I will give them full consideration.

1. Gypsy
2. My Fair Lady
3. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
4. Guys and Dolls
5. Fiddler on the Roof
6. Oklahoma!
7. Cabaret
8. West Side Story
9. The Music Man
10. A Chorus Line
11. Chicago
12. The Fantasticks
13. Show Boat
14. Carousel
15. Company
16. Sunday in the Park With George
17. The King and I
18. Little Shop of Horrors
19. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
20. Nine
21. She Loves Me
22. Falsettos
23. Ragtime
24. Kiss Me, Kate
25. A Little Night Music
26. 1776
27. Into the Woods
28. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
29. Urinetown
30. Evita
31. Dreamgirls
32. 110 in the Shade
33. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
34. Hair
35. Hello, Dolly!
36. Follies
37. La Cage aux Folles
38. The Producers
39. Lady in the Dark
40. City of Angels
41. Avenue Q
42. The Book of Mormon
43. Grey Gardens
44. 42nd Street
45. Brigadoon
46. The Cradle Will Rock
47. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
48. Jesus Christ Superstar
49. Once on This Island
50. Adding Machine
51. Wicked
52. Les Miserables
53. Bat Boy
54. Caroline, or Change
55. South Pacific
56. The Pajama Game
57. The Sound of Music
58. Hairspray
59. The Phantom of the Opera
60. Damn Yankees
61. Rent
62. Assassins
63. Mame
64. Man of La Mancha
65. A Man of No Importance
66. You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
67. Sweet Charity
68. Camelot
69. Anything Goes
70. Wonderful Town
71. The Light in the Piazza
72. The Drowsy Chaperone
73. The Full Monty
74. Romance/Romance
75. Godspell
76. Of Thee I Sing
77. On the Town
78. The Secret Garden
79. Pippin
80. Kiss of the Spider Woman
81. Finian's Rainbow
82. Pal Joey
83. Annie Get Your Gun
84. Pacific Overtures
85. Hedwig and the Angry Inch
86. On Your Toes
87. Candide
88. Annie
89. Beauty and the Beast
90. Ain't Misbehavin'
91. Bye Bye Birdie
92. Jelly's Last Jam
93. A New Brain
94. Floyd Collins
95. Grand Hotel
96. Violet
97. A Day in Hollywood, A Night in the Ukraine
98. Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk
99. The Scottsboro Boys
100. Next to Normal