The Top Five Broadway Shows of All Time

It is practically impossible to pick the best Broadway shows ever. There are too many classics, too many types, and too many tastes for any real consensus to be achieved. But there are some plays that are essential viewing, particularly if you are new to theater. There are certain Broadway shows that are the epitome of Broadway, shows that will enhance your appreciation of theater, and of musical theater. Now, I have never been one for musicals; they are not my personal cup of tea, but the musicals on this list surpass any pure dramas that I have seen on or off-Broadway, and are definitely the best Broadway shows of all time.

Rent

The Tony Award-wining rock musical about New York City bohemians is inspiring and uplifting, not to mention relevant and refreshing. The basis for the pop song Seasons of Love, the play is an allegory of Pucini's La Bohème, using the AIDS crisis as the backdrop. Check here for Rent show times and locations across the country.

The Phantom of the Opera

This classic of French literature, about a young female singer who becomes haunted by a disfigured musical genius, The Phantom of the Opera is the longest running musical in history, and one of the most successful. Check here for Phantom of the Opera show times and locations across the country.

Les Misérables

The first Broadway show I ever saw, about the Jean Valjean, the 19^th century French convict whose crime and struggle for freedom provides a poignant commentary on the nature of justice. The Tony-award winning musical has been performed on and off Broadway for years, and is one of the most profound, successful, and all around best Broadway shows of all time. Check here for Les Misérables show times and locations across the country.

The Producers

The twelve-time Tony Award-winning revival of The Producers, starring Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane created new interest in theater in 2001. Mel Brooks' classic comedy about two wartime play producers who try benefit from creating a flop and then find themselves in trouble when the play becomes successful, is hilarious, one of the best musical comedies ever produced. Unfortunately, the original Broadway run closed, but check out the film version of the revival starring both Broderick and Lane here at Amazon.

Guys and Dolls

I first saw the film version starring Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando, but it was not until I saw the stage version that I gained a true appreciation for this Tony Award-winning Broadway shows. The romantic comedy about 1940's era gangsters is still staged all over the country. Check here for show times and locations.