Best Musicals Of The Last Ten Years (West End Version)

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 8/30/14 at 5:28am

I've been thinking about the best new musicals of the last ten years in the West End? What do you think?

For my money (I struggled to find a lot & I'm sure I've missed a few!):

The Producers
Mary Poppins
Avenue Q
Hairspray
Jersey Boys
London Road
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Ghost
Betty Blue Eyes
Stephen Ward
Urinetown


Honorary mention: American Idiot & In The Heights (haven't got to the West End...yet)

Updated On: 8/30/14 at 05:28 AM

[bob8rich]

Posted: 8/30/14 at 5:54am

Many of the best new musicals in London in the last 10 years have been at Fringe venues:
THE LAST FIVE YEARS
DOGFIGHT
IN THE HEIGHTS
DESSA ROSE
BARE

IMO the best new musicals in the West End in that period are:
SPRING AWAKENING
PARADE
ONCE
BILLY ELLIOT
WICKED
AVENUE Q

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 8/30/14 at 9:10am

"Many of the best new musicals in London in the last 10 years have been at Fringe venues"

Definitely agree with that, Bob!

[Mark_E]

Posted: 8/30/14 at 10:45am

Surprised to see Stephen Ward on your list, I thought it was terrible.

One obvious omission is Matilda!

I agree with the others,

Other shows I've enjoyed:
Love Never Dies
From Here to Eternity
Love story
Lend me a tenor
Loservile

Transfers from elsewhere
The Drowsy Chaperone (west end cast were brilliant!)
Legally Blonde (again, a brilliant west end cast)
Priscilla queen of the desert

Agree with bob though, so many great shows on the fringe.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 8/30/14 at 11:02am

Mark, interesting to read your list - I happen to think Matilda is one of the most overrated musicals of the last ten years. From Here to Eternity just wasn't good enough and whilst I enjoyed Loserville I don't think it's quite one of the best of the last ten years.

Whereas Stephen Ward, however, was a real theatrical triumph for all involved in my opinion. The serious, adult musical that London was crying out for.

Interesting, as always, how opinions differ!

Updated On: 8/30/14 at 11:02 AM

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 8/30/14 at 11:06am

Clear all the lists so far for Book of Mormon.

[rockyhorrorfan]

Posted: 8/30/14 at 11:52am

Legally Blonde
Priscilla
Hairspray
Billy Elliot
Matilda
Book Of Mormon
Parade
The Last 5 Years (which I saw in the West End)
Road Show (I know it didn't actually make it into the West End)
Betty Blue Eyes

Worst (that I was unfortunate enough to see)
Wicked
Love Never Dies

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 8/30/14 at 12:50pm

Being a better sport this time:

West End

Billy Elliot
Hairspray
The Book of Mormon
Matilda
Marguerite
Avenue Q
Love Srory
Legally Blonde
Spring Awakening
Ghost The Musical
Sister Act
The Producers
Mary Poppins
Urinetown
The Woman in White
Taboo
London Road
Loserville
From Here To Eternity
The Lord of the Rings
From Here To Eternity
Stephen Ward
Once
Betty Blue Eyes
Shrek The Musical
Monty Python's Spamalot
Love Never Dies
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Fringe

Parade
The Beautiful Game
Merrily We Roll Along
Aspects of Love
Marguerite
Titanic
Rent
Chess
Ragtime
Finans Rainbow
In The Heights
Pipe Dreams
Mack and Mabel

Revivals

La Cage Aux Folles
Miss Saigon
Into The Woods
Merrily We Roll Along
The Sound of Music
A Little Night Music
Sunset Boulevard
A Chorus Line
Sweeney Todd
Singing In The Rain
South Pacific
West Side Story
Oliver
Evita
Kiss Me Kate
Passion
Sweet Charity
The Wizard of Oz










Updated On: 8/30/14 at 12:50 PM

[DeNada]

Posted: 8/30/14 at 7:20pm

Stripping out all the Broadway imports, I would say:

LONDON ROAD - it was a fascinating show and even had some good tunes in it
BETTY BLUE EYES - yes it was silly and it had no audience, but it made me laugh a lot - although having seen it since I fully appreciate the power of a good production to make a show work, as the last version I saw (not the pro tour) was unfunny and tedious...
MATILDA - maybe it doesn't live up to the hype as a whole, but Tim Minchin's work on it is extraordinary

I also liked LIGHT PRINCESS but it wasn't exactly brilliant so I wouldn't put it up there.

Never seen BILLY ELLIOT (I know!) but all the other new shows were either a bit ropey or an import. We had some great revivals, though.

[luke-h***]

Posted: 8/31/14 at 8:23pm

Phantom you know that Marguerite did play the West End right? You could technically include it in your West End list.

I'd go for the following:
The Producers
The Woman in White
Hairspray
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Ghost
Betty Blue Eyes
Jersey Boys
Mary Poppins
Urinetown
Rock of Ages

If I could include Fringe or Off-West End I would have to to include American Psycho, American Idiot, In The Heights and The Light in the Piazza (having only seen the Lincoln Center filmed version however, it's an excellent musical.)

I really do feel that in the last ten years we have seen a lot more truly great plays in the West End. I had to stop and think a little for musicals that I would consider outstanding, West End wise, but so many plays come straight to mind.