been a while since we have chatted. I knew epic would draw a response so we can have a dialogue vs another dreary list posting
Epic is certainly a subjective opinion, and it will take the advantage of time to see where the class of 2010-2019 stacks up against golden age decades in the 1950s and 1960s or the BIG musical 1980s or 1990s.
my nomination for 2010s as EPIC is based on
1) Hamilton as a true gamechanger in making music in musicals contemporary as well as being in many critics opinion one of the greatest musicals of all time
2) Book of Mormon setting a new standard for musical comedy in terms of number of laughs, pushing boundaries, and having amazingly hooky songs
3) Dear Evan Hanson and Come From Away as two extraordinary musicals dealing with very difficult subjects in amazing deft ways and launching Pasek & Paul as true creators at the top of their craft
4) Kinky Boots, Matilda, The Bands Visit, Waitress, Once and others for bringing the niche movie to musical adaptation to very high standards of execution and entertainment value
5) Beautiful, Aint Too Proud and Rock of Ages for demonstrating "jukebox" can deliver an entertaining story and fun and involved musical experience
five of the musicals from this class are in my top ten all time, so that is pretty EPIC for me personally (Ham, BOM, DEH, CFA, Kinky) and there is something about the contemporary feel that i like more than even watching a great revival of MFL, Fiddler, King & I, Dolly, How To Succeed, or other much loved classics.
So im good with "epic" as a descriptor for this decade. certainly a lot of not very good musicals to get through (spongebob and head over heels come to mind immediately). all in all 20 excellent to brilliant shows in 10 years is a very good output for broadway
Honorable Mention: Hunchback of Notre Dame at Papermill
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
Epic certainly makes more sense when you explain it like that. We differ on our opinions about the quality of the original musicals. I can see how you'd have a more positive view of the decade when you compare your list of great shows to mine.
I'm not just hating on recent shows. I think 2000-2009 Broadway was similar. Meh overall but with some standout original shows.
1. The Prom 2. Hello, Dolly 3. Follies 4. Addams Family 5. All My Sons 6. Glass Menagerie 7. Significant Other 8. On the Twentieth Century 9. War Paint 10. Sunset Boulevard 11. (bc I couldn’t narrow it down) Falsettos
Ah shoot you're right. um. Another musical...hmm....I'll take one of my honorable mentions and promote them. I'm going to go with Hello Dolly! with Bernadette and Victor Garber. Seeing them together onstage after seeing them on screen in various things was very special.
VintageSnarker said: "Has it been an epic decade? It feels like a mediocre decade of theater with some fantastic revivals and a few big original musicals that stand out."
Skip23 said: "VintageSnarker said: "Has it been an epic decade? It feels like a mediocre decade of theater with some fantastic revivals and a few big original musicals that stand out."
“Like”"
I think that truly depends on the individual and is not up for a general consensus. Each show means something to someone else, people connect with shows in different ways. So I don't think you can't make that sort of general statement.