The Shows
Choosing the 118 shows to include was no easy task. Some were no-brainers – works of lasting popularity by major writers. But many others could have gone either way. Among the criteria for inclusion were Broadway revivals, awards, shows that introduced a major writer, director, or star, and those that pushed the boundaries of subject matter or form. To fill the final slots, I polled other Broadway professionals to get their input, and this final list I feel truly represents in a deep way the Broadway musical for the past 90 years. How many have you seen?
New in 2nd Edition!
Ain’t Misbehavin’
Annie
Annie Get Your Gun
Anything Goes
Avenue Q
Beautiful
Beauty and the Beast
Big River
The Book of Mormon
Brigadoon
Bring in ’da Noise, Bring in ’da Funk
Bye Bye Birdie
Cabaret
Camelot
Candide
Caroline, or Change
Carousel
Cats
Chicago
A Chorus Line
City of Angels
The Color Purple
Come From Away
Company
Crazy for you
Damn Yankees
Dear Evan Hansen
Dreamgirls
The Drowsy Chaperone
Evita
Falsettos
Fela!
Fiddler on the Roof
Finian’s Rainbow
Fiorello!
Follies
42nd Street
The Full Monty
Fun Home
Funny Girl
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Godspell
Grease
Grey Gardens
Guys and Dolls
Gypsy
Hadestown
Hair
Hairspray
Hamilton
Hello, Dolly!
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
In the Heights
Into the Woods
Jelly's Last Jam
Jersey Boys
Jesus Christ Superstar
The King and I
Kinky Boots
Kiss Me, Kate
The Kiss of the Spider Woman
La Cage aux Folles
Legally Blonde
Les Misérables
The Light in the Piazza
A Little Night Music
The Lion King
Mame
Mamma Mia!
Man of La Mancha
Merrily We Roll Along
Miss Saigon
The Most Happy Fella
The Music Man
My Fair Lady
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812
Newsies
Next to Normal
Nine
​
Oklahoma!
Oliver!
On the Town
Once
Once on This Island
110 in the Shade
The Pajama Game
Pal Joey
Parade
Peter Pan
The Phantom of the Opera
Pippin
Porgy and Bess
The Producers
Promises, Promises
Ragtime
Raisin
Rent
The Secret Garden
1776
She Loves Me
Showboat
Something Rotten
The Sound of Music
South Pacific
Spamalot
Spring Awakening
Sunday in the Park with George
Sweeney Todd
Sweet Charity
The 25th Annual Putnam Co. Spelling Bee
Urinetown
Waitress
West Side Story
The Who’s Tommy
Wicked
The Wiz
Wonderful Town
Playing Cards
Deck 1
Deck 2
Annie
Anything Goes
Avenue Q
The Book of Mormon
Bye Bye Birdie
Cabaret
Camelot
Cats
Chicago
A Chorus Line
The Color Purple
Come From Away
Company
Dear Evan Hansen
Dreamgirls
Evita
Falsettos
Fiddler on the Roof
Follies
Fun Home
Funny Girl
A Funny Thing Happened...
Guys and Dolls
Gypsy
Hairspray
Hamilton
Hello, Dolly
In the Heights
Into the Woods
Jersey Boys
Jesus Christ Superstar
The King and I
Kiss Me, Kate
La Cage aux Folles
Les Misérables
The Lion King
Mamma Mia!
The Music Man
My Fair Lady
Next to Normal
Nine
Oklahoma!
On the Town
The Phantom of the Opera
Porgy and Bess
The Producers
Ragtime
Rent
She Loves Me
The Sound of Music
Spamalot
Spring Awakening
Sunday in the Park
Sweeney Todd
The 25th Annual... Spelling Bee
West Side Story
Wicked
The Wiz
​
Ain’t Misbehavin’
Annie Get Your Gun
Beauty and the Beast
Beautiful
Big River
Bring in ’da Noise...
Brigadoon
Candide
Caroline, or Change
Carousel
City of Angels
Crazy for you
Damn Yankees
The Drowsy Chaperone
Fela!
Fiorello!
42nd Street
The Full Monty
Godspell
Grease
Grey Gardens
Hadestown
Hair
How to Succeed in Business
Jelly’s Last Jam
Kinky Boots
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Legally Blonde
The Light in the Piazza
A Little Night Music
Mame
Man of La Mancha
Merrily We Roll Along
Miss Saigon
The Most Happy Fella
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Natasha, Pierre...
Newsies
Oliver!
Once
110 in the Shade
Once on this Island
The Pajama Game
Pal Joey
Parade
Peter Pan
Pippin
Promises, Promises
Raisin
The Secret Garden
1776
Show Boat
Something Rotten
South Pacific
Sweet Charity
Urinetown
Waitress
Wonderful Town