1.

AnnieGetYourGun

MusicandLyrics:IrvingBerlin
Book:DorothyandHerbertFields
Director:JoshuaLogan
Choreographer:HelenTamiris

Otherworks:
CallMeMadam
HolidayInn
WhiteChristmas
WatchYourStep
Stop!Look!Listen!
TheCenturyGirl
Yip!Yip!Yaphank
ZiegfeldFolliesof1919
TheCocoanuts
FacetheMusic
AsThousandsCheer
LouisianaPurchase
ThisistheArmy
MissLiberty
Mr.President

Sourceofstory:
ThelifeofAnnieOakley

Yearopened:1946
Where:ImperialTheatreinNYC

Roles:
AnnieOakleyEthelMerman&BernadettePeters
FrankMiddletonRayMiddleton&TomWopat
DollyTateLeaPenman&ValerieWright
TommyKeelerKennethBowers&AndrewPalermo
WinnieTateBettyAnneNyman&NikkiSnelson

RepertoireSongs:
IGotLostInHisArms
GottheSunintheMorning
YouCantGetaManwithaGun

Thoughts:
(Ilistenedtothe1999revival)Ihavelistenedtothetypicalsongsfromthismusical,No
BusinessandAnythingYouCanDobutthisisthefirsttimeIlistenedtoallofthesongs.I
mustsaythatthismusicalhasalotofgreatmusicinit.MorethanIexpected.Theorchestration
isbeautiful,especiallyinMyDefensesAreDownItdoesalottohelptheactoractthesong
withallthemusicalitygoingoninbetweenphrases.

2.FinniansRainbow

Composer:BurtonLane
Lyricist:E.Y.Harburg
Book:E.Y.HarburgandFredSaidy
Director:BretaigneWindust
Choreographer:MichaelKidd

OtherWorks:
BurtonLane
EarlCarrollsVanities
SinginTheBlues
HoldOntoYourHats
LaffingRoomOnly
OnaClearDayYouCanSeeForever
Carmelina
E.Y.Harburg
HoorayforWhat
HoldOntoYourHats
BloomerGirl
Flahooley
Jamaica
TheHappiestGirlintheWorld
DarlingoftheDay

Source:
OriginalStory

YearOpened:1947
Where:46thStreetTheatre,NYC

Roles:
SusanMahoneyAnitaAlvarez
SharonMcLonerganEllaLogan

WoodyMahoneyDonaldRichards

RepertoireSongs:
HowAreThingsinGloccaMora

Thoughts:
Thiswasaninterestingmusical.Themixofmusicstylesmadeitcaptivatingtolistento.
ThemixbetweentheclassicirishstyleandR&BandGospelmadeitunique.Iwouldlovetosee
thismusicalinproductions,especiallythepartwheretheSenatoristurnedintoaBlackman.
Thereareveryfewsongsinthismusical,only13.

3.KissMeKate

ComposerandLyricist:ColePorter
Book:SamuelandBellaSpewack
Director:JohnC.Wilson
Choreographer:HanyaHolm

OtherWorks:
ColePorter
AnythingGoes
HighSociety
CanCan
HappyNewYear
SilkStockings
MexicanHayride
SomethingfortheBoys
LetsFaceIt!
PanamaHattie
LeaveittoMe
YouNeverKnow

Source:
Shakespeares
TamingoftheShrew

YearOpened:1948
Where:NewCenturyTheatre

Roles:
LoisLaneLisaKirk

BillCalhounHaroldLang

RepertoireSongs:
IHateMen
WhyCantYouBehave
SoInLove

Thoughts:
Thishastobeoneofmyfavoritemusicals.Ilovethemusicinitbecauseoftheswitch
betweenintheplayandoutoftheplay.Itisbeautifullyorchestratedandtheorchestrationpairs
sowellwiththelyrics.Ithelpsliftthemeaningofthewordsandreallydoesagreatjobof
transportingyouintotheworldofthemusical.

4.PalJoey

Composer:RichardRodgers
Lyricist:LorenzHart
Book:JohnOHara
Director:GeorgeAbbott
Choreographer:RobertAlton

OtherWorks:
RichardRodgers:
TheBoysFromSyracuse
TooManyGirls
ByJupiter
Oklahoma!
Carousel
StateFair
Allegro
SouthPacific
TheKingandI
TheSoundofMusic
LorenzHart:
BabesInArms
TheBoysFromSyracuse
OnYourToes
"
AShipWithoutaSail
"
"
Bewitched,Bothered,andBewildered
"
"
BlueMoon
"
"
BlueRoom
"

"
DancingontheCeiling
"
"
FallinginLovewithLove
"
"
GladtoBeUnhappy
"
"
HaveYouMetMissJones?
"
"
HeWasTooGoodtoMe
"

Source:
ThismusicalwasbasedoffacharacterandsituationsthatOHaracreatedinshort
storiesthatwerepublishedinTheNewYorker.

YearOpened:1940
Where:EthelBarrymoreTheatre

Roles:
JoeyEvansGeneKelley
LindaEnglishLeilaErnst
GladysBumbsJuneHavoc
MelbaSnyderJeanCasto

RepertoireSongs:
WhatIsAMan
Bewitched,Bothered,andBewildered
PlantYouNow,DigYouLater
TakeHim

Thoughts:
ThelyricsinthismusicaliseverythingIwouldexpectfromHart.Everythingisvery
symbolic,evokessomuchimagery,andissoromantic.TheFlowerGardenOfMyHeartisa
bigexampleofthis.Thelyricsarepoetrywhichisnotsomethingthatcanbeseeninalotof
contemporarymusic,whichiswhyIenjoyoldermusicalssomuch.Themelodylinesarealsoso
simplealotofthetime,whereastheorchestrationissogrand.

5.TheCradleWillRock

Music,Lyrics,andBook:MarcBlitzstein
Director:OrsonWelles
Choreographer:N/A

OtherWorks:
TheSpanishEarth

AnotherPartoftheForest
Regina
Reuben,Reuben
Juno

Source:
InspiredbyBrechtsstyleoftheatre,itisanallegoryofcorruptionandcorporategreed.
Inspiredbythesocietyinthetimeofwhenitwaswritten.

YearOpened:1937
Where:VeniceTheatre

Roles:
MollOliveStanton
JuniorMisterMaynardHolmes
SisterMisterDulceFox
EllaHammerBlancheCollins
SadiePolockMarianRudley

RepetoireSongs:
NickleUnderTheFoot

Thoughts:
ItverymuchremindedmeofoneofBrechtsplays.Themusicespeciallyremindedmeof
ThreepennyOpera.IenjoyedlisteningtothismusicalthoughIwouldhaveratherseenitin
productionbutthethingsthatwerehappeningbetweenthevocalsandthepianowere
interestingtolistento.Ilovedhowinthegroupnumberstherewasalotofspeakinginrhythm
andthepianowouldjustpoundorgooffonitsownlittlejourney.Ifeellikethemusicinthisplay
didagreatjobofcapturingthethemesinthewritingoftheplay.

6.TakeMeAlong

ComposerandLyricist:BobMerrill
Book:JosephSteinandRobertRussell
Director:PeterGlenville
Choreographer:OnnaWhite

OtherWorks:
NewGirlInTown
Hello,Dolly!
Carnival!

FunnyGirl
BreakfastatTiffanys

Source:
EugeneONeills
Ah,Wilderness
.

YearOpened:1959
Where:ShubertTheatre

Roles:
ArthurMillerJamesCresson
RichardMillerRobertMorse
MurielMacomberSusanLuckey

RepertoireSongs:
None

Thoughts:
TheorchestrationisnotascomplexassomeoftheothermusicalsthatIhavelistenedto
fromthisera.ItalsodoesnotweaveasnicelywiththemelodyasothersbutIlovewhatitdoes
do.Itgivesthemelodysomethingnicetostandonsothatyoucanreallyplayupthelyricsand
themeaningofthesongs(thisisnotforeverysongbutforamajority).Therewerealotof
melodiesthatwereveryfamiliartomebutIhaveneverheardanysongfromthismusicalbefore
soitmustbeusedinalotofpopculture.

7.SomethingRotten

ComposerandLyrics:KareyandWayneKirkpatrick
Book:JohnOFarrellandKareyKirkpatrick
DirectorandChoreographer:CaseyNicholaw

OtherWorks:
Karey:
JamesandtheGiantPeach
ChickenRun
TheHitchhikersGuidetotheGalaxy
OvertheHedge
Wayne:
Hitsongwriterfor:
LittleBigTime

FaithHill
GarthBrooks

Sources:
ThestoryfollowstheBottomBrothers(fictionalcharacters)whoarecompetingwriters
withShakespeare(nonfictionalcharacter).

YearOpened:2015
Where:St.JamesTheatre

Roles:
NigelBottomJohnCariani
PortiaKateReinders

RepertoireSongs:
RightHandMan

Thoughts:
ThismusicalremindsmeofTheProducersandSpamalot.Itissocheesyandcampy,I
loveit.Ienjoyedhowtheymixedcontemporarymusicwithtraditionalrenaissancesounds.Itis
incrediblewhattheydidmakingShakespeareapompousrockstarbecausethatisalwayshowI
imaginedhiminmymind.Iwasjustcampyandalotoffun.Notalotofsubstance.

8.FunHome

Composer:JeanineTesori
LyricsandBook:LisaKron
Director:SamGold
Choreography:DannyMefford

OtherWorks:
JeanineTesori:
TwelfthNight
Caroline,orChange
ShrektheMusical
ThoroughlyModernMillie
Violet
LisaKron:
2.5MinuteRide
Well
InTheWake

Sources:
AlisonBechdels2006graphicnovelmemoir,
FunHome.

YearOpened:2015
Where:CircleintheSquareTheatre

Roles:
MediumAlisonEmilySkeggs
JoanRobertaColindrez

RepertoireSongs:
ChangingMyMajor

Thoughts:
Ilovethatthismusicalreusessongsthroughoutthemusical.Itgivesthecharactersa
chancetoshowtheirgrowthwhentalkingaboutthesamesubject.Ialsolovethedramaofthis
musical.Somanypeopleonlyknowthecampymusicalsandassumethatjustbecauseashow
hasmusicthatitlackssubstanceandthatissimplynottrue.Justasmusicalscanmakeyou
laughandentertainyou,theycanmakeyoucryandfeelsorrowandthink!Thisisoneofthose
musicals.

9.SchoolofRock

Composer:AndrewLloydWebber
Lyricist:GlennSlater
Book:JulianFellowes

OtherWork:
AndrewLloydWebber:
Evita
Cats
PhantomoftheOpera
SunsetBlvd
GlennSlater:
TheLittleMermaid
SisterAct
LoveNeverDies

Sources:
ThemovieTheSchoolofRockstarringJackBlack.

YearOpened:2015
Where:WinterGardenTheatre

Roles:
RosalieMullinsSierraBoggess
PattyMamieParris

RepertoireSongs:
WhereDidtheRockGo?
GiveUpYourDreams

Thoughts:
IhadsuchhighexpectationsforthismusicalbecausethemovieissogoodandIwould
saytheyalmostliveduptothem.ThecharacterMissMullins,Iwasnotveryimpressedwithher
songwhenshehadachangeofheart.Iwouldhavelovedforittohavebeenallanepicrock
songbecauseshehadsucharockerinsideofherinthemovie.ThatistheproblemIthinkwhen
takingmoviesthatdidwellandputtingthemonstage.Theloversofthemovieshavesomany
expectationsthatarehardtoliveupto.IwouldnothaveexpectedAndrewLloydWebbertodo
sucharockmusicaleitherbuttherearelotsofWebberesquemusicalitiesinit.

10.Waitress

ComposerandLyricist:SaraBareilles
Book:JessieNelson
Director:DianePaulus
Choreographer:ChaseBrock

OtherWorks:
LoveSong

Source:
BasedonthemotionpictureWaitresswrittenbyAdrienneShelly

YearOpened:2015
Where:BrooksAtkinsonTheatre

Roles:
JennaJessieMueller

RepertoireSongs:
DoorNumberThree

WhenHeSeesMe
NeverGettingRidOfMe
IDidntPlanIt

Thoughts:
SaraBareillasissuchabeautifulsongwriterbutIdidnotknowwhattoexpectwhenI
heardshewaswritingsongsforamusical.Ishouldhaveknownshewouldwritejust
how
shealwaysdoesbutitmakesabeautifulmusical.Thelyricsallhavesuchdepthin
meaningandeachsongmeanssomethinggrandiosethatwouldlendreallywellto
acting.Iwouldlovetoseethismusicalinproduction.IcanonlyimagineJessieMueller
doesitsomuchjusticesinceshedidanamazingjobinBeautiful.

11.Now.Here.This.

ComposerandLyricist:JeffBowen
Book:HunterBellandSusanBlackwell
DirectorandChoreographer:MichaelBerresse

OtherWorks:
[TitleofShow]

Source:
Originalcollaboration

YearOpened:2012
Where:VineyardTheatre

Roles:
Allfourroles

RepertoireSongs:
GiveMeYourAttention
ThatllNeverBeMe
ThisTime

Thoughts:
ThisismorelikeasongcyclelikeEdgesorSongsforaNewWorld.Itisdifferentfrom
[TitleofShow]butinthebestway.IthinkThisTimeismyfavorite(solo)songinthewhole
showbecausethemusicissobeautifulbutalsobecausethelyricsaresorelatableand

universal.Everyonehashadthesethoughtsonetimeintheirlife.ThismightbewhyIenjoythis
musicalsomuch.Ithasitsfunnycutesysongsbuttherearealwayssongsthatpeoplecan
relatetoonapersonalexperientiallevelthatgivesthismusicalsomuchdepth.

12.Marguerite

Composer:MichelLegrand
Lyricist:AlainBoublilandHerbertKretzmer
Book:AlainBoublil,ClaudeMichelSchonberg,andJonathanKent
Director:JonathanKent
Choreographer:???

OtherWorks:
MichelLegrand:
Amour
AlainBoublil:
LesMis
MissSaigon
MartinGuerre
ThePirateQueen
HerbertKretzmer
LesMis
OurManCrichton

Source:
Basedontheromanticnovel
LaDameauxCamliasbyAlexandreDumas.

YearOpened:2011
Where:TheMillTheatreinGuildford,UK

Roles:
AnnetteAnnaleneBeechey
LucienMattCross
PierrotSimonThomas

RepertoireSongs:

ChinaDoll
TheFaceISee

Thoughts:

IhaveneverbeenafanofthetypesofmusicalslikeLesMisandMissSaigonand
Margueritehasverymuchthesametypeofmusicalstyle.Ienjoyedthemusicalatthe
beginningbutthenbecausethewholeconceptrevolvedaroundParisduringtheGerman
occupation,themusicshifteddramaticallyfrompartytodepressing,whichmadetheeventsgo
byveryslowly.IamsureIwillhaveadifferentopinionifIameverabletoseeaproduction.