My top ten musicals

I love a good musical! Heartwarming, sad, joyful, pain all done in a way that only music can describe. Here I have listed my top ten that I think cover a whole range of issues covering ideas of social beliefs and love and despair from different areas of life covering more than fifty years of musical history. Hope that you enjoy these, let me know which you like and add any of your favourites in the comments section. I have decided to list these from the most recent as there is no way that I could pick an absolute favourite.

Starring Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson and Jesse L Martin.

This is the extraordinary story of the lives of eight friends over the course of a year. Based in the 90's it tackles issues such as aids, drugs and sexuality. Through all of this they still have to pay their rent, which had been waived (good for their bohemian lifestyle) and has no been demanded on pain of eviction. It's a touching story covering ups and downs that society faces from an individual perspective. Happy, sad, funny, thought provoking and honest. The music does the story justice and really brings the ideas home. By the end you will find yourself thinking about what a year means to you and how you would measure all 525600 minutes of it. A must see movie!

Starring Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Queen Latifah and Richard Gere.

Set in 1920's Chicago, a fame hungry Roxie Hart (Zellweger) is cheating on her husband with the man who will make her a star. When she finds out this won't happen she kills him and ends up on death row with the jazz singer Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) whom she truly admires. Kelly had killed her husband and sister when she found them in bed together. The two 'merry murderesses' manage to get legal representation from the renowned Billy Flynn (Gere) and with the help of Momma Morton (Latifah) they fight for the fame and glory that will free them from the death penalty. A fantastic movie! The songs are memorable and the characters are played beautifully in this big screen adaptation.

Starring Madonna, Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Pryce.

Starting in 1930's Argentina this musical shows the life of Argentina's most controversial first lady Eva Peron. Fed up with rural life a young Eva (Madonna) convinces a man to take her to the capitol so that she can become a star. Things don't work out and she quickly realizes how bad the city can be. She meets many men on her travels to fame and fortune, eventually she meets Colonel Juan Peron (Pryce) and her views begin to change a little as she realizes that she is now loved and adored by most of the country. But good things don't last forever even if the nation adores you. All of the events of fabulously followed by the cynical narrator (Banderas). A wonderfull adaptation of the stage musical. 

Starring Colm Wilkinson, Philip Quast, Ruthie Henshall, Michael Ball and Judy Kuln.

Based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo, set in early 19th century France. It follows the life of the character Jean Valjean (Colm) who is released from prison after many years for stealing a loaf of bread. His search for redemption and the revolution are the major themes. You see the way poor and rich are treated and the good and bad on both sides. Fights for freedom and love have made this one of the most popular productions of all time and claims the title of the world's longest running musical. It has been translated into 21 languages and played in 42 countries it really is a must see! This version is the concert performance but the voices are so phenomenal that for me this is the best. The video below shows a dramatic song at the end of act 1 as all the characters prepare for a terrifying day ahead.

Starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

Set in 1950's California, a story of teens in love facing peer pressure and growing up. A holiday romance between Sandy (Newton-John) and Danny (Travolta) who believe they will never meet again but when the summer ends they find themselves in the same school when Sandy discovers that Danny is not the sweet innocent boy she thought he was and she is much more naive than she thought. So we follow a struggle through social differences in the hopes of rescuing their romance. Full of adolescent angst and well written music this was a smash hit.

Starring Ron Moody, Shani Willis, Oliver Reed, Harry Secombe, Mark Lester and jack Wild.

Based on the Charles Dicken's classic, set in Victorian London. Orphan Oliver is sold to an undertaker after asking for more food and we follow his journey as he escapes to make his fortune. There he inevitably finds himself in the filthy underbelly of London and takes lodgings with a group of pickpockets who attempt to teach him their ways. The costumes and sets are wonderful and you really get the feel of London during this time, a classic that appeals to all ages but never told so well as with music.

Starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.

Set in 1930's Austria when the Nazi's were beginning to take control of the area. Maria (Andrews) is a failing nun despite her best efforts and is sent to be a governess for the seven difficult children of Captain Von Trapp (Plummer). There she is faced with a family that are desperate for the attention they lost when their mother died leaving the Captain unhappy and lost. Maria finds ways to bring music and love into the home as they face many ups and downs and she realizes that she may be falling for the stern Captain. A musical that will continue to thrive for many years.

Starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison.

Set in Edwardian London we see hoe dialect dictates a persons class and standing within society. Professor Higgins (Harrison) a dialectician accepts a bet from his friend Colonel Pickering that he can transform the wretched flower girl Eliza (Hepburn) into a lady worthy of royalty by teaching her to speak correctly. An enchanting tale of social perceptions and the desire to be appreciated and accepted. Some of the most elaborate costumes of any movie, gorgeous.

Starring Howard Keel and Jane Powell.

Set in the 1850's Adam (Keel) the eldest of seven brothers goes into town determined to get himself a wife on his trip. This can't be any wife either she must be beautiful be able to cook and clean and ready for hard work! Somehow he finds and marries Milly (Powell) that same day and takes her back to his isolated home in the Oregon mountains but has failed to inform her of the six brothers he left in the house. Milly tries to make the best of a bad situation and helps teach his brothers about girls and marriage. Adam decides, in all his wisdom, to help and so takes his brothers into town to steal some woman that they like, Milly and the girls are not happy, to say the least. A funny yet heartwarming story full of innocence and great music.

Starring Doris day and Howard Keel.

Follow the troubles that tomboy heroine Calamity (Day) gets into with Wild Bill Hickock (Keel) as they try and fail to help out the saloon manager. Calamity promises and actress and mistakenly brings the wrong one. The actress stays and becomes a fierce friend and rival to Calamity as she learns what it is to be female and to love. A fast moving upbeat musical with songs that continue to please, Day at her best. The video below is the original trailer though if you haven't seen the movie it does give a bit away.