Best and favorite

[Brooks0214]

Im curious to know everyones opinions on their favorite show and the best show theyve seen. Because Ive seen some shows that have become my favorite but I know theyre not the best musicals ever. For example Mean Girls. But the best shows Ive seen are usually my favorite too but theyre truly good musicals like Wicked, Once on this island, etc. Wondering what everyone else thinks !

[Valentina3]

The best shows according to me also happen to be my favorite shows (Hello, Dolly!, Hairspray, Fun Home, Into The Woods, among others)

But there are shows I found profoundly bad, where the score of the show (or at least the OBCR) has remained a true guilty pleasure - Mamma Mia!, Phantom of the Opera (no offense to the fans of the show), and Legally Blonde.

[carolinaguy]

I adore the score for Chess, but the show itself has never worked in any iteration. Some were better than others, but all failed to make the characters' motivations clear and believable.

[astorian_ofthe_heart]

Well my favorite show is Phantom of the Opera (lol) and I fully acknowledge it is not the "best show". I also count Jekyll and Hyde and The Prom as my guilty pleasures. But I'm the same in that I do think some of my favorites are the best shows. Like A Chorus Line, Company, Hamilton, and Come From Away. Hadestown is also one of the best IMO.

[Brooks0214]

Legally blonde is a favorite of mine too! It was such so well done show. Some of the best I’ve seen though are Dear Evan Hansen, Hadestown, Waitress.
I also had a great expiernce at Frozen and the Prom. I saw Phantom for the first time two weeks ago and loved it. The cast wasn’t the strongest but I loved the show itself, very beautiful. The music is a little repetitive but I still loved it!

[Jarethan]

My favorite musical is Mame (of course, I am referring to the 1966 and 1981 productions, which benefited from a great Mame and terrific Vera's and Gooch's).

The best musical I have ever seen falls into two categories: great but flawed; and just great.  In the former, I would name Follies; in the latter, probably Sweeney Todd.

Re plays, I would say that my favorite play / production ever was A Moon for The Misbegotten, with Dewhurst and Robards; but that I think the best I have ever seen is probably A Streetcar Named Desire; I have seen multiple productions, but the best starred Cate Blanchette.

[After Eight]

I can't really choose  a favorite among Mary, Mary, Any Wednesday and Forty Carats, as I loved them all. My favorite musical is Dear World.

[GavestonPS]

I usually say the original production of FOLLIES is "the best 2 hours I ever spent in a theater", because I can't exactly say it is the best show overall. The best show would either be GYPSY (with Angela Lansbury) or SWEENEY TODD (original Broadway cast).

[Someone in a Tree2]

Best and favorite show remains OBC of A LITTLE NIIGHT MUSIC. But I have gotten ridiculous enjoyment from Pearl Bailey and Carol Channing’s respective revivals of HELLO DOLLY in the 70’s and GUYS AND DOLLS revival from ‘92. Recent favorites include BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and GROUNDHOG DAY, though they are both pieces too flawed to be considered bests.

[AlexxGee]

Best and favorite: Hadestown. Absolute perfection.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Best: Hello, Dolly. I find it to be the epitome of musical theatre and an absolute work of genius. Especially the recent revival.

Favorite: I’d be hard pressed to nail down one that I like more than any other, but among my favorites are Rent, Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, Urinetown, Cabaret, and Caroline, or Change. All amazing shows in their own right, yet still flawed.

[stoptheworld38]

Come From Away and Come From Away.

[Mister Matt]

Best and Favorite: Les Miserables

Though I have other favorites that I wouldn't consider "best" in terms of artistic proficiency, I would acknowledge them as "bests" in terms of entertainment for the pure joy they bring to me, which I consider a highly valuable trait in any musical:

Six
Legally Blonde
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Mamma Mia

[inception]

For myself, a favorite show is not dependent on one specific production. My favorite shows are shows that always work no matter the production and who is performing.
CABARET is one such show. About 15 years ago the highschool down the street from me did it, and though I questioned how appropriate it was for barely dressed 14 & 15 year old girls to be doing some of the dance scenes, in the end the show worked. Again I saw a college production last winter, with a female Emcee and young people playing the roles of the older couple. The show worked and had me in tears again, even though I know it well. The songs are great, the story is moving.

[mamaleh]

Best: original production of FOLLIES.
Favorite: a tie between that FOLLIES and THE BOY FROM OZ

[AADA81]

Best and Favorite are the same: Sweeney Todd (original Broadway production)

Others in that category: West Side Story, Gypsy, Mame, Nine, Titanic, Ragtime, Caroline or Change

Flawed Favorites would be: Follies, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, A Catered Affair -- I think these shows have great scores but definitely book problems.