Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines music, spoken dialogue, and dance. It is one of the oldest forms of theatre and has been performed for centuries around the world. Over time, musical theatre has evolved to include a variety of different styles, from classic Broadway shows to modern jukebox musicals.
One of the most famous musicals of all time is The Phantom of the Opera. This classic show was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and first opened in London in 1986.
It tells the story of a mysterious masked figure who haunts an old opera house and falls in love with a young soprano. The show has become one of the longest-running Broadway shows in history, with over 12,000 performances since its opening night.
Another popular musical is Les Misérables. This epic tale was adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil and first opened on Broadway in 1987.
The show follows the struggles of Jean Valjean as he tries to escape his past while being pursued by the relentless Inspector Javert. Les Misérables has been seen by over 70 million people across 44 countries and has won numerous awards, including 8 Tony Awards.
Wicked, another popular musical, tells the untold story of the witches from The Wizard Of Oz. Written by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, Wicked opened on Broadway in 2003 and has gone on to be performed all over the world. The show follows Elphaba (the Wicked Witch) from her college days at Shiz University to her eventual transformation into her iconic green-skinned persona.
Finally, Hamilton, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is another incredibly popular musical that has taken the world by storm since its opening night in 2015 on Broadway. Hamilton tells the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton through rap music and hip hop beats. It won 11 Tony Awards as well as a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Musical theatre is an ever-evolving art form that continues to grow in popularity around the world. With so many incredible shows to choose from it can be difficult to pick just one as “the most famous” but all four mentioned above—The Phantom Of The Opera, Les Misérables, Wicked, and Hamilton—are some of the most beloved musicals today.
Conclusion:
The Phantom Of The Opera, Les Misérables, Wicked, and Hamilton, are arguably some of the most famous musical theatres currently celebrated around the world today.