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. Fiddler on the Roof
5. Guys and Dolls
6. Oklahoma!
7. Cabaret
8. West Side Story
9. The Music Man
10. A Chorus Line
11. Chicago
12. The Fantasticks
13. Carousel
14. Company
15. Show Boat
16. The King and I
17. Little Shop of Horrors
18. Sunday in the Park With George
19. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
20. A Little Night Music
21. She Loves Me
22. Nine
23. Follies
24. Falsettos
25. Ragtime
26. Kiss Me, Kate
27. 1776
28. Into the Woods
29. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
30. Urinetown
31. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
32. Wicked
33. Hair
34. Evita
35. Hello, Dolly!
36. La Cage aux Folles
37. 110 in the Shade
38. The Producers
39. Lady in the Dark
40. City of Angels
41. Dreamgirls
42. Avenue Q
43. The Book of Mormon
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. On the Town
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. Grey Gardens
63. Assassins
64. Mame
65. Man of La Mancha
66. A Man of No Importance
67. You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
68. Sweet Charity
69. Camelot
70. Anything Goes
71. Wonderful Town
72. The Light in the Piazza
73. The Drowsy Chaperone
74. The Full Monty
75. Romance/Romance
76. Godspell
77. Of Thee I Sing
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