Theatre kids are known for being pretty opinionated people, myself included. However, when you ask them their favorite show, they get as flakey as a high quality croissant. I did manage to track down some relatively decisive theatre nerds to tell me their favorite musical or play so that I could judge them, because, of course, my opinion is the best. (I am also one of two theatre kids in the Journalism class so I get to do this).
Let us start at the very bottom:
2.48/10 for The Phantom of the Opera, the favorite of Allyson Jezyk (junior/actor), Leef Orr (senior/actor), and Alex Lin (sophomore/technician).
The Phantom of the Opera, often called just Phantom, is accredited to my favorite slight mess of a composer: Andrew Lloyd Webber. He has more proper British titles, but it is hard to respect a man who created Cats.
The book of Phantom is what drags this show to the bottom of the list. Based on the novel The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, the plot follows an ugly French man who uses a young girl’s daddy issues to get her to love him. While this is an over simplified version of the story, it just rubs me the wrong way. The show also drags on for an inordinate amount of time. If you thought that this French man had only a couple tricks up his sleeve, you would be wrong.
What this show does have going for it is the music and tech work. Webber did good in the creation of most of these songs. “The Point of No Return”, “The Music of the Night”, and “All I Ask of You” are some top tier songs in the show. The costuming, set, and props are also incredible. Yet, all I can remember of this show is the weird French man. Maybe I have a thing against French people, but this show has my hate.
5/10 for Be More Chill, the favorite of Jonah Martinez (junior/actor).
Book and music by Joe Tracz and Joe Iconis, respectively, Be More Chill, is frankly, a strange show. A stage adaptation of the novel of the same name, by Ned Vizzini, the story follows a high school loser taking a pill which, when activated with Green Mountain Dew, allows a computer to implant in the brain and make him cooler. Like I said, strange. Jonah, you are great, but is this show just you projecting?
Regardless, this show is fun, and does not include strange French men, which gives it the rating of a solid 5.
6.49/10 for In the Heights, the favorite of Isabella Hunter-Quintero (junior/actor).
Music, lyrics, and concept by Lin Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame, as well as book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, tells the story of a community in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in Manhattan. This show is honestly pretty good, and I definitely prefer it to Hamilton. It’s been a long time since I have watched it, but it is a show with solid music, a solid story, solid dancing etc. Nothing that makes it stand out, though.
6.87/10 for Follies, the favorite of Ethan Li (senior/actor).
Follies is the only show in this list that I had to watch for the first time, and I was fully prepared to make fun of it because Ethan doesn’t stop talking about it. Follies, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, with the book by James Goldman, follows the reunion of showgirls at their old theater, followed by ghosts of their younger selves.
While watching Follies, I was severely sleep deprived and about to fall asleep, so my review may not be all the way truthful, but that’s what we get. And yet, in my state of not-complete-consciousness, Follies was still a beautiful show. Stunning costumes and a well written book, this show is only elevated music. I adored the ghosts of the past floating about the crowds of actors, and the lighting design that made it easily clear how these ghosts existed only in memories. However, it is kind of long. Almost two hours long. While the acts performed by minor characters are fun, they do not add much to continue the plot and could be cut to make it shorter. Ethan, if you are reading this please do not kill me.
7.92/10 for Beetlejuice, The Musical. The Musical. The Musical., the favorite of Noella Thu (junior/technician), Alisa Shpolyansky (junior/technician), and Emi Gruender (sophomore/actor).
Often just called Beetlejuice, this show is based on the 1988 film of the same name, although it follows a similar premise with a rather different outcome. Beetlejuice has music and lyrics by Eddie Perfect, and book by both Scott Brown and Anthony King. Note that I have not watched the movie, so I watched this show as an original rather than an adaptation.
Following a dead couple who try to haunt the family who has bought their old house, this show is a great example of current Broadway, adapting popular movies/books into shows, with music that uses so much high belting. I am all for some high belting, but this show might have too much. If I hear “Dead Mom” one more time I might cry.
In spite of some of the music being painful, this is a show I recommend people see. This show has theatre magic embedded in it, along with it being fun to watch. The set, costumes, and lights are truly stunning. I don’t have words for it, to be honest. This show won very few awards, but it won a high ranking on my list, and that’s what really matters.
8.32/10 for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the favorite of Dante Creitz (junior/technician)
I would like to preface this show by stating that I am not condoning J.K. Rowling. This show will be discussed as its own entity and if we would like to get into the issues with J.K. Rowling’s transphobic comments, that would be a different article.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the only play on this list, was written by Jack Thorne, based on the story by J.K. Rowling, Thorne, and John Tiffany. Set 19 years after the final book of the Harry Potter series, the play follows the children of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy and their experience at Hogwarts. Dante and I have both seen the one part revision to the play, which has minor differences from the original production, most noticeably cutting an hour and a half of the show from the original running time.
This show is a technical masterpiece, which is necessary for a show set in a fantastical realm. From floating hats, to glowing wands and so much more, this show is riveting to watch. Set, props, and lighting all work so closely together to make such a magical world on stage. I loved this show so much; my theatre nerd self thrived.
8.84/10 for Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, which is the favorite of Jack de Cesare (senior/technician).
Matilda was the first musical I ever saw as a child, and it is a gem of theatre. A stage adaptation of the novel Matilda by Roald Dahl, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, as well as book by Dennis Kelly. You aren’t getting a synopsis for this, because if you haven’t read Matilda, I need you to leave this article, go to the nearest public library, and read it.
I should probably stop calling shows fun, but I won’t. This show is fun. This show evokes so many emotions, and the story is truly a good one. A moment must be taken for the choreography in this show. Children, in about middle school, are doing synchronized movement on swings. And scooters. Are you kidding me? These kids are more talented than I could ever dream of. This show is amazing. If anyone gets the chance to see it, do not hesitate. This show deserves everything and more.
9.99/10 for Falsettos, the favorite of Kyle Vander Kooi (freshman/actor).
This is a very personally biased ranking, you should have figured that out after Phantom. But this bias will show up even more here, because Falsettos, by William Finn and James Lapine, is also my favorite musical. This sung-through musical follows a man who leaves his family to be with his lover, all while trying to retain the feeling of having a perfect family. Do I love this show because it is gay? Yes. But there is so much to this show that deserves to be acknowledged.
The plot is incredibly well written, and the development of every single character in this show can be easily followed. The music, written by William Finn, who may be a genius, is also stunning. I can’t put into words how incredible this show is. Falsettos will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between. If you want to know more, find me and I would be happy to dissect the entire show for you.
I feel like I ought to write more about this show, but I don’t even know what to say, you have to watch it yourself. There is a filmed version of the 2016 revival of the show, which was robbed of all the Tony Awards it so rightfully deserved, which is easy to find. Watch it. Watch it now. Unless you don’t want to cry, then go watch Phantom, which may be sad, but is incomprehensible. The only reason this show has a 9.99 is because I must acknowledge that my love is fleeting, and may change if I find another show, but I doubt I can find one that rivals the glory of Falsettos.