From Chicago to The Lion King, the '90s saw a number of hit musicals that were popular with theater audiences. While going to the theater has always been (and still is) considered to be pretty high-brow, many 1990s musicals introduced fun, accessible elements like rock music and youthful themes that appealed to a younger generation. Think back– which '90s musicals do you think take the cake for being the best of the decade? This list has been ranked by hundreds of theater fans like you, so don't let them down! Vote for your choices of the best 1990s Broadway musicals.
By the '90s, musical theater began fading away into obscurity. Though Broadway had once reigned supreme, it was now struggling to remain relevant amidst rapidly changing times, combined with rising ticket costs and low attendance. Still, the 1990s saw its fair share of Broadway hits that stuck out among the loyal theater fans. The shows were modernized and often tackled weighty topics such as in the successful show, Rent, a rock musical about a group of young artists in New York dealing with the realities of HIV/AIDS. Though the show started off-Broadway, it eventually found its place and gained critical acclaim, winning a Tony Award for Best Musical. Rent would continue on Broadway for 12 years, until 2008, after more than 5,000 performances.
The '90s was also a time of the "corporate musical," elaborate stage efforts produced with a massive amount of money from corporate sponsorship in order to win over the box office. Such shows included Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. Though the shows were much loved by audiences, the real magic of musical theater through experimentation, emotion, and true talent was lost to impressive, yet sterile, shows.
What are the top Broadway musicals from the 1990s? But what were the most popular Broadway musicals of the '90s? Cast your votes below and see how your fellow theater fans voted!1
636Rent
Jonathan LarsonCharacters: Mimi Marquez, Angel Dumott Schunard, Joanne Jefferson, Maureen Johnson, Tom Collins
Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson loosely based on Giacomo... more2
450Chicago
Bob Fosse , Fred EbbCharacters: Velma Kelly, Billy Flynn, Roxie Hart, Amos Hart, Matron "Mama" Morton
Chicago (Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville) is an American musical with music by John Kander,... more3
475The Lion King
Mark Mancina , Elton JohnCharacters: Scar, Simba, Mufasa, Pumbaa, Nala
The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Walt Disney Animation Studios' animated feature... more4
354Beauty and the Beast
Alan Menken , Linda WoolvertonCharacters: Belle, Gaston, Beast, Babette, Wardrobe
Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim... more5
310Miss Saigon
Richard Maltby, Jr.Characters: Christopher Scott, Kim, John Thomas, Tam, Gigi Van Tranh
Miss Saigon is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, with lyrics by Boublil... more6
206Ragtime
Terrence McNally , Stephen FlahertyCharacters: Mother, Coalhouse Walker, Jr., Younger Brother, Evelyn Nesbit
Ragtime is a musical with a book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and music by... more7
128Falsettos
James Lapine , William FinnCharacters: Marvin, Trina, Whizzer Brown, Mendel, Jason
Falsettos is a musical with a book by James Lapine and William Finn and music and lyrics by... more8
234Grease
Warren Casey , Jim JacobsCharacters: Sandy Olsson, Betty Rizzo, Danny Zuko, Frenchy, Principal McGee
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Named after the 1950s United States... more9
192Victor/Victoria
Blake Edwards , Frank WildhornCharacters: Squash (Mr. Bernstein), Victor, Norma Cassidy, André Cassell, Richard Di Nardo
Victor/Victoria is a musical with a book by Blake Edwards, music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by... more10
152The Secret Garden
Marsha Norman , Lucy SimonCharacters: Mary Lennox, Colin Craven, Martha Sowerby, Dickon Sowerby, Ben Weatherstaff
The Secret Garden is a musical based on the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson... more11
153Sunset Boulevard
Christopher Hampton , Don BlackCharacters: Norma Desmond, Joe Gillis, Betty Schaefer, Artie Green, Max Von Mayerling
Sunset Boulevard is a musical with book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, and... more12
163Footloose
Eric Carmen , Sammy HagarCharacters: Rusty Rodriguez, Ariel Moore, Ren McCormack, Chuck Cranston, Vi Moore
Footloose is a 1998 musical based on the 1984 film of the same name. In 2011 there was a... more13
184Jekyll & Hyde
Frank Wildhorn , Leslie BricusseCharacters: Dr. Henry Jekyll, Mr. Edward Hyde, Lucy Harris, Emma Carew
Jekyll & Hyde is a musical thriller based on the novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr... more14
130Once On This Island
Stephen Flaherty , Lynn AhrensCharacters: Erzulie, Armand, Azaka Medeh, Asaka, Tonton Julian
Once on This Island is a one-act musical with a book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by... more15
104Parade
Jason Robert Brown , Alfred UhryCharacters: Newt Lee, Tom Watson, Detective JN Starnes, Leo Frank, Luther Z. Rosser
Parade is a musical with a book by Alfred Uhry and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. The... more16
101Titanic
Maury Yeston and Peter StoneCharacters: 2nd Officer Charles Lightoller, 1st Officer William Murdoch, 4th Officer Joseph Boxhall, Captain E. J. Smith, Robert Hichens
Maury Yeston and Peter StoneTitanic is a musical with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Peter Stone that... more17
103Fosse
Bob Fosse , Fred EbbFosse is a three-act musical revue showcasing the choreography of Bob Fosse. The musical was... more18
95Crazy for You
George Gershwin , Ira GershwinCharacters: Patricia Fodor, Irene Roth, Everett Baker, Eugene Fodor, Bobby Child
Crazy for You is a romantic love musical with a book by Ken Ludwig, lyrics by Ira Gershwin,... more19
88City of Angels
David Zippel , Larry GelbartCharacters: Alaura Kingsley, Mallory Kingsley, Stone, Avril, Bobbi
City of Angels is a musical comedy with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by David Zippel, and book... more20
2Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Stephen Trask , John Cameron MitchellCharacters: Hedwig, Tommy Gnosis, Yitzhak, Sgt. Luther Robinson, Schlatko
Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a rock musical about a fictional rock and roll band fronted by a... more21
98The Who's Tommy
Des McAnuff , Pete TownshendCharacters: Uncle Ernie, Tommy, The Lover, The Hawker, Sally Simpson
The Who's Tommy is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Pete Townshend and book by... more22
89The Scarlet Pimpernel
Nan Knighton , Frank WildhornCharacters: Citizen Chauvelin, Marguerite St. Just, Lord Anthony Dewhurst, Sir Percy Blakeney, Armand St.Just
The Scarlet Pimpernel is a musical with music by Frank Wildhorn and lyrics and book by Nan... more23
92Saturday Night Fever
Nan KnightonCharacters: Tony Manero, Double J., Doreen, Connie, Frank Jr.
Saturday Night Fever is a musical with a book by Nan Knighton (in collaboration with Arlene... more24
82Blood Brothers
Willy RussellCharacters: Sammy, Mr Lyons, Mrs Lyons, Mrs Johnston, Mickey
Blood Brothers is a musical with book, lyrics and music by Willy Russell. The story is a... more25
64Passion
James Lapine , Stephen SondheimPassion is a one-act musical, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James... more
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