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Buster McDermott - Lists at Ranker

Culture

All Shakespeare Comedies, Ranked

Musical/Play

Buster McDermott

Lists about the greatest performers and most spectacular plays, musicals, and other shows ever to sparkle in the bright lights of Broadway.

Lights Are Bright on Broadway

Broadway

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/13-disneyland-secrets-you-may-not-know-about/adventureman">Disney</a> has been iconic in establishing movie musicals, but did you know many Disney films had&nbsp;Broadway adaptations? Broadway musicals based on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/easter-eggs-in-new-disney-movies/ranker-film">Disney movies</a> are drawn from both live action and animated films. Whatever the source, stage musicals from Disney films often become as popular on stage as they did on the screen. Several popular Disney musicals have even won Tony Awards. What Broadway shows&nbsp;will you find on this <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-disney-musicals/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best Disney musicals</a> list? The Lion King&nbsp; (based on the 1994 animated film of the same name) debuted on Broadway on Oct. 15, 1997. Just like the original movie, the live production featured music by Elton John and Tim Rice, as well as a score by Hans Zimmer. The Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design in 1994. Frozen is the latest Disney movie coming to Broadway, with a scheduled debut of Spring 2018. Other good musicals based on Disney films include Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Mary Poppins. Which Broadway <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-disney-musicals/ranker-film">Disney musical</a> is the best? Help us decide by giving your favorites a thumbs up.&nbsp;

All The Broadway Musicals Based On Disney Movies, Ranked

You may consider yourself a fan of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-you-didnt-know-were-in-musical-theatre/celebrity-lists" target="_blank">musical theater</a>, or musicals in general, but are you&nbsp;truly? While many of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-most-popular-broadway-musicals-ever/constance-bennet?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most popular musicals</a> of the day - like Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime, and Sunset Boulevard -&nbsp;are musicals, they’re not on this list. Why? Because this is a list of sung through musicals.&nbsp;Sung through musicals are exactly what they seem – they are musicals with no spoken dialogue at all. The musicals are all singing. And if a musical is on this sung-through musical list, it is only singing.Some of the most popular Broadway smash hits have been all song musicals.&nbsp;Les Miserables is a shining example, and arguably one of the greatest musicals of all time. Rent is another outstanding all singing musical, as is Evita and Miss Saigon. These shows all had incredibly long runs on Broadway, and in London’s West End (many are still running today).But in August 2015, one of the greatest sung-through musicals hit the Great White Way: <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/badass-alexander-hamilton-facts/setareh-janda" target="_blank">Hamilton</a>. Since it hit the stage, it’s been an ongoing phenomenon – a musical juggernaut that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.What do you believe is the best musical with no spoken dialogue? Is it Hamilton? Les Mis? Vote up your favorites below.&nbsp;

The Very Best Sung-Through Musicals

The Best Sung-Through Musicals 

The Best Living Actresses Over 80

Person

Are you a fan of jukebox musicals? Whether they focus on a band's biography or tell a story all their own, the best jukebox musicals inspire audiences to get up and dance&nbsp;along with the performers. And it's no wonder why - jukebox musical plays use already popular songs as their scores. This list includes some of the best Broadway jukebox musicals and musical biographies ever made.You'll find all kinds of shows represented here. Take Rock of Ages, for instance - it celebrates glam music from the 1980s in all its glory. Before this musical became a movie, it was a huge hit on Broadway, with musical numbers including “Sister Christian,” “Here I Go Again,” and of course, “Don’t Stop Believin'.”Other outstanding examples of the best jukebox musical plays include Jersey Boys,&nbsp;the 2005 musical that tells the&nbsp;story of the rise and fall of The Four Seasons, and Green Day's rock opera American Idiot. And of course, no list of great jukebox musicals would be complete without Mamma Mia!&nbsp;Featuring the music of ABBA, it's now one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history.Vote for your favorite jukebox musicals, and add any great shows that are missing!

The Best Jukebox Musical Plays, Ranked

Best Jukebox Musicals | List of Musical Biography Plays

The Greatest Broadway Stars of All Time

Theater Actor

The Best Broadway Shows Right Now

&nbsp;Female performers have taken Broadway by storm in the 21st century, with many talented women drawing audiences night after night. Many can be seen in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-most-popular-broadway-musicals-ever/constance-bennet?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most popular Broadway shows</a>, such as Wicked, while others are in smaller productions, but their talent has earned all of them a place on this list of the most amazing 21st century <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-female-broadway-stars/bustermcdermott?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">female Broadway stars</a>.When it comes to the best Broadway stars of the 21st century - male or female - can anyone forget Sutton Foster? Foster is a true triple threat, and both audiences and awards committees acknowledge her as such. As of 2014, she’d already captured two Tony Awards: Best Performance by a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-actresses-who-won-tonys-for-musicals/celebrity-lists?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Leading Actress in a Musical</a> for both Thoroughly Modern Millie and Anything Goes.A few of the best female Broadway performers of the 21st century are just beginning their careers, but they will be sure not to disappoint audiences in the future. Leighton Meester, who shot to fame on the show “Gossip Girl,” will make her Broadway debut in 2014, starring in a production of Of Mice and Men.On this list you’ll find the best female stars Broadway has to offer in the 21st century. Although a few of their names might be unfamiliar, you’re sure to hear about them in the coming years. Cast your votes below for the best 21st century female Broadway stars.

Bebe Neuwirth

The Best Female Broadway Stars of the 21st Century

List of the Best Female Broadway Stars of the 21st Century

poll

This list contains all of the hottest Broadway shows currently playing, including plays and musicals. You might also be interested in the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-most-popular-broadway-musicals-ever/constance-bennet">longest running Broadway musicals</a> and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/celebrities-who-have-starred-on-broadway/celebrity-lists">celebrities who starred on Broadway</a>.&nbsp;Some are for kids, some are adult-only, but they’re all shows that Broadway fans must be sure not to miss. A few of these shows, in fact, are so amazing that they’ve already won Tony Awards. Which current Broadway shows are the best?In August 2015, Hamilton made its Broadway debut to critical acclaim, winning 11 Tony Award, including Best Musical. Created by and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton is currently the must-see Broadway musical. &nbsp;Fans of Broadway, film, and even television are in luck when it comes to the best Broadway shows playing now. Cynthia Nixon, who’s most popular for her role as Miranda on Sex and the City&nbsp;is in The Real Thing, along with co-stars Maggie Gyllenhaal and Ewan McGregor, a fantastic cast and part of what makes The Real Thing one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-shows-currently-on-the-air?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best shows</a> on Broadway.Not all film and television actors star in <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-most-popular-broadway-musicals-ever/constance-bennet?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Broadway productions</a> and simply act, however. Neil Patrick Harris, famous for his roles on both Doogie Howser, M.D.&nbsp;and How I Met Your Mother,&nbsp;takes the stage on Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. In it, Harris reminds audiences not only that the show is amazing but also that he can sing. It's one of the most sensational and talked about shows currently on Broadway.This list contains all of the greatest shows on Broadway at the moment. Many feature great Hollywood stars, while others showcase some of the hottest Broadway talents, such as Sutton Foster. No matter which stars they showcase or how long they’ll ultimately run, these are all definitely the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/tv-shows-with-the-hottest-casts/pocketful-of-sunshine?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">hottest shows</a> on Broadway right now.

The Phantom of the Opera

Best Broadway Shows Right Now | List of Current Broadway Shows

&nbsp;Many people might not be aware some of the greatest, most beloved Broadway musicals started out as off-Broadway productions. This includes fan favorites such as Rent, Godspell, and Hair, which have all seen multiple production runs and revivals. This list contains the greatest shows to make the jump from off-Broadway to Broadway.What is the difference between Broadway and off-Broadway? At the most basic level, Broadway shows are staged in theaters with 500 or more seats, while off-Broadway shows are staged in theaters with between 100 and 499 seats. Of course, there’s more to it than that, but essentially, off-Broadway productions are smaller. It doesn’t mean, however, that off-Broadway productions aren’t as good, and as this list proves, many off-Broadway productions do make it to Broadway, due to their great success.A fantastic example of a great musical that started off-Broadway is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. A favorite show among musical theater fans, the show first ran off-Broadway in 1981, then moved to Broadway the next year. It also received multiple Tony Award nominations, giving it a place on this list of the most celebrated musicals that got their beginnings off-Broadway.This list comprises those musicals for which off-Broadway just wasn't enough.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

The Greatest Musicals That Started Off-Broadway

List of the Greatest Musicals That Started Off-Broadway

This list ranks the greatest musicals that have won the Tony Award for Best Musical, though many of these Broadway musicals have garnered multiple additional Tony Awards in other categories as well. Broadway musicals that’ve been honored with the Best Musical award include many that are instantly recognizable by fans around the world, including My Fair Lady and Annie. Thanks to their accolades and their recognizability, each musical on this list deserves a spot as one the best Tony Award winning musicals.The Tony Awards were introduced in 1947, but it wasn’t until 1949 that the Best Musical category was introduced. That year, the show many people consider to be one of the greatest Broadway musicals of all time took the award: Kiss Me, Kate, based on Shakespeare's&nbsp;The Taming of the Shrew and with music by Cole Porter. Since then, many amazing Broadway musicals have been handed the award, including Kinky Boots, which debuted on Broadway in 2013.With so many great Broadway musicals, however, it isn’t always easy to choose the winner of the Tony each year. That was certainly the case in 1960, when The Sound of Music&nbsp;and Fiorello! tied for the top spot. Both Tony Award winning productions were so popular that they’ve subsequently been staged on Broadway multiple times, earning them each a spot on this list of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-musicals?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best Broadway musicals</a> that have won the Tony.This list contains all of the greatest winners of the Tony for Best Musical. If you’ve yet to see a few of these productions, don’t worry, they’re so popular that they’re sure to make it back to Broadway, and this list includes videos from these top Broadway musicals. Vote up the best Broadway musicals on the list below.

Hairspray

The Best Tony Award Winning Musicals

List of the Best Tony Award Winning Musicals

Lists ranking things children love, from silly movies to sports to fun, creative crafts.

For the Kids

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From tiny tots to high schoolers, kids of all ages will enjoy these great Broadway musicals. While many are running on Broadway currently, the rest will most likely be produced again in revivals so parents should be sure to keep an eye both on Broadway and this list of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-broadway-shows-right-now/bustermcdermott?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the best Broadway shows</a> for kids.

A large portion of the Broadway shows kids will love are musicals. After all, what child can resist singing along with their favorite characters? Shows like The Lion King are familiar to kids already and the elaborate sets and colorful dance numbers will hold their interest for the duration of the show.

Other exciting Broadway productions might be more appropriate for older children. Hairspray, based on the film of the same name, touches on the subject of social inequalities, a subject that junior high and high school students can appreciate and relate to. Of course, the show is also fun - the music is memorable, as are the characters, so older kids are sure to not only enjoy this Broadway show but also learn more about the history of the American social landscape.

On this list, readers will find all of the greatest Broadway shows for children, including those that have been produced recently and those that were originally staged long ago. Vote up the best Broadway shows for kids below and see where the shows your kids love rank! Then check out our list of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-g-rated-musical-movies/reference" target="_blank">best musical movies for kids</a>.

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Tarzan of the Apes

The Best Broadway Shows for Kids

Best Broadway Shows for Kids  

This list ranks all of the greatest stars to have performed on Broadway during the 21st century, young and old, male and female. From newcomers such as Lea Michelle and Fantasia Barrino to those with extensive Broadway experience such as Tyne Daly and Estelle Parsons, whoare the best Broadway performers of the 21st century?Some of the best Broadway stars of the 21st century have launched their Broadway careers after long and successful histories as television and movie actors. Stars like Toni Collette and Denzel Washington have all found success on stage, after their great success on screen.Of course, some stars who’ve graced Broadway in the 21st century are continuing their Broadway legacies. Tyne Daly, featured in a 2014 production of Mothers and Sons, began her Broadway career in 1967. Her performances over the years have been so great, in fact, that she won a Tony Award - she earned the Tony for <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-actresses-who-won-tonys-for-plays/celebrity-lists?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Best Actress in a Musical</a> in 1990 for her portrayal of Rose in Gypsy.These are the Broadway stars to watch in the 21st century. Some play dramatic roles, while others are known for their amazing singing voices, but either way, they’re all the greatest the century has to offer in terms of theater actors. Cast your votes below for the best Broadway stars of the 21st century and see how the performers you think are great rank!

The Best Broadway Stars of the 21st Century

Best Broadway Stars of the 21st Century | Greatest Broadway Stars of the 2000s

These leading ladies have made audiences laugh, cry and wish that the show would never end. Some have had long-running careers, while others are just starting out, but they all have one thing in common: they’re all the best female performers to have ever graced Broadway stages. For that reason, they all deserve a spot on this list of the greatest female Broadway stars.&nbsp;Broadway and music fans everywhere have heard of Barbra Streisand, but did you know she only performed in two shows on Broadway: I Can Get It for You Wholesale and Funny Girl? Of course, her star power was so bright that she was nominated for a Tony Award each time. The year she was nominated for Funny Girl (1964), she lost out to a performer many consider to be one of the top Broadway performers of all time - Carol Channing.Channing not only won a total of three Tony Awards but also originated two of the most iconic Broadway roles in history: Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! and Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Because of these stunning performances, Carol Channing is regarded as one of the most amazing Broadway stars in history, alongside greats like Bernadette Peters, Ethel Merman, and Liza Minnelli. Other rising Broadway stars such as Megan Hilty and Lea Michele are joining the ranks of these great Broadway stars, making Broadway more fantastic as time goes on.Whether for their powerful voices or skilled acting, the leading Broadway ladies on this list are known as the greatest female Broadway stars. Cast your votes below for the best female Broadway stars.

Kristin Chenoweth

The Greatest Female Broadway Stars

Greatest Female Broadway Stars | List of the Best Women on Broadway

These Broadway stars have been the biggest audience draws in the past, and many are sure to be in the future. All the theater stars on this list have performed at one of the forty designated Broadway theaters. Many theater actors listed here originated roles that have become beloved by audiences of all ages. From newer names (like Lea Michele) to old favorites who have passed on (such as Sammy Davis, Jr.), you’ll find them all here on this list of the greatest Broadway stars of all time.Did you know that one amazing Broadway star performed two leading roles in a single day? Howard Keel, who later went on to star on the hit television show “Dallas,” understudied for the lead in Carousel in 1945. After he began performing in Oklahoma!, his understudy skills were needed - and he performed both plays in one night. Not only for his amazing performances, but also for his vigor, Keel has earned his place on this list of the most amazing Broadway stars.Other Broadway stars are just beginning to make their marks. A prime example is Lea Michele, who is perhaps most widely recognized for her “Glee” character, Rachel Berry. She conquered the Broadway stage when she originated the role of Wendla in Spring Awakening. Audiences responded to her great Broadway performance, as did critics, and she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. Michele and her cohort of Broadway newcomers are definitely building their names as the most popular Broadway performers. On this list you’ll find all of the greatest Broadway stars from the past and present. Although some have left the stage, their memories live on and give new generations of Broadway stars something to aspire to. Cast your votes below for the greatest Broadway stars of all time.

Greatest Broadway Stars of All Time | List of the Best Broadway Performers in History

2000s

What are the best Broadway plays from the 2000s? This list has been ranked by theater lovers to determine the best shows on Broadway that opened in the 2000s, a decade of redefinition for theatrical plays that moved toward commercial success and box office numbers. Though many critics might argue that Broadway shows are dying, the 2000s saw Broadway become more of a tourist attraction, rather than a creative outlet as it once was during the golden era of Broadway. However, there were still many popular, great plays on Broadway in the 2000s, but which were the best?The 2000s saw Broadway favor corporate sponsorships over sole producers, leading to productions of a grand scale. <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-broadway-musicals-of-the-2000s/bustermcdermott">Musical Broadway dominated the 2000s</a> with shows such as Avenue Q and Spring Awakening, but non-musical Broadway plays including August: Osage County, saw success on and off the stage. The dark comedy opened in 2007 and ran for over 600 performances, winning a host of Tony Awards as well as critical acclaim.&nbsp;The decade also saw an emergence of original Broadway plays turning toward film adaptations and the rise or revivals from Broadway's golden era. Like August: Osage County, other plays including Doubt: A Parable were turned into films, starring celebrities such as Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Could film adaptations bring more attention and interest to their Broadway counterparts? &nbsp;What are the top plays on Broadway from the 2000s? What are the best non-musical Broadway shows of the 2000s? Cast your votes below for the best Broadway plays that opened in the 2000s.

Doubt: A Parable

The Best Broadway Plays of the 2000s

Best Broadway Plays of the 2000s | Top Broadway Shows 00s

1990s

What are the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-musicals?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top Broadway plays</a> of the 1990s? This list has been ranked by theater lovers to determine the best non-musical plays on Broadway running from 1990 to 1999, a decade of rising usage of and influence from cable television and the internet. As entertainment continued to evolve in America, what were the&nbsp;Broadway plays from the 1990s?Though no longer the golden age of Broadway, the 90s saw a new generation of talent emerge on Broadway that attracted younger fans, mostly students who were offered discounted tickets at many Broadway theaters. Though <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-broadway-musicals-of-the-90s/bustermcdermott">90s musicals</a> still reigned supreme on the stage, with shows such as Rent and Aida, a number of non-musical Broadway plays opened in the 1990s.Lettice and Lovage was a comedic play that opened at the start of the decade, and though it ran for fewer than 300 performances, the play was nominated for several Tonys and won two for acting. Written by Peter Shaffer (also the author of Equus and Amadeus), the show was adapted for an American audience instead of its original English audience. &nbsp;The Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Neil Simon, Lost in Yonkers, was another standout Broadway production when it opened in 1991 and ran for almost 800 performances. A coming-of-age story, Lost in Yonkers depicted a dysfunctional family through the eyes of a 15-year-old. The play won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1991, as well as several Tony acting accolades.&nbsp;What are the top non-musical Broadway shows from the 1990s? Cast your votes below to rank the best Broadway plays of the 90s.

Six Degrees of Separation

The Best Broadway Plays of the '90s

Best Broadway Plays of the 90s | Top 1990s Broadway Shows

What are the best Broadway plays from the 1980s? This list has been ranked by theater lovers to determine the best plays performed on Broadway in the '80s, a decade of industrialization, war and the birth of Millenials. These themes and other current events would find themselves on Broadway in the 80s, in plays such in Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and many more. What are the top 80s Broadway plays?Though the 1980s is often known for significant fashion trends such as ripped jeans and teased hair that often found their way to the stage, the Broadway play Amadeus was based on the lives of composers Salieri and Mozart and had nothing to do with popular 1980s imagery but was instead a period piece dating back to the 18th century. The show later won the1981 &nbsp;Tony Award for Best Play. Still, other plays such as Children of a Lesser God focused on stories that resonated deeply with 80s audiences. Written by Mark Medoff, the 1980 play revolved around a relationship between a deaf student and her teacher and won the Tony Award for Best Play that year, running for 887 performances. What are the best non-musical Broadway shows that opened in the 80s? Cast your votes below on this is a list of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-musicals?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top Broadway plays</a> from the 1980s.

The Best Broadway Plays of the 80s

Best Broadway Plays of the 80s | List of 1980s Broadway Shows

1970s

What are the best Broadway plays of the 1970s? This list has been ranked by theater lovers to determine the most greatest plays on Broadway in the 1970s, a decade of progressive change, rooted in politics and popular culture. The list below has&nbsp;all of the top Broadway plays, performed on Broadway during the 70s.&nbsp;Butterflies Are Free was one of the longest running shows of the 1970s with 1,128 total performances. Directed by Milton Katselas, the play opened at the Booth Theatre and told the story of a blind man whose controlling mother disapproves of his relationship with a free-spirited hippie. Set in New York City, the play became a hit and was nominated for two Tony Awards.Another popular Broadway play of the 1970s, Deathtrap, ran for four years with almost 1,800 performances. Today, the play still currently holds the record for longest-running comedy-thriller on Broadway and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play.Other long-running Broadway plays of the 70s include Gemini, Equus, Plaza Suite, and The Prisoner of Second Avenue, each with strong Broadway runs and critical reception. What were the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-musicals?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best Broadway shows</a> of the 1970s? Cast your votes below to rank the absolute best Broadway plays of the 70s.

California Suite

The Best Broadway Plays of the 70s

Best Broadway Plays of the 70s | List of 1970s Broadway Shows

What are the best Broadway shows today? This has been ranked by theater lovers to determine the top Broadway musicals from the 2000s to the present. From Wicked to Spring Awakening, today's <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-musicals?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best Broadway musicals</a> are carrying on the musical theater legacy and drawing in audiences both during their Broadway runs, and on tour as well.Though revivals and adaptations have been increasing in popularity, such as Thoroughly Modern Millie, West Side Story and South Pacific, notable new shows such as Wicked and The Book of Mormon continue to draw audiences to Broadway musicals. Today's Broadway shows dazzle with nonstop dancing, music, and energy, as seen in shows like Hairspray and Billy Elliott. The 2000s have also seen a large draw to musical comedies, including the dark satire of Urinetown, a show with an outrageous plot that kept audiences laughing in their seats.&nbsp;Though the decade has seen its fair share of criticism that the original musical is dead, Broadway shows are still enjoyed by many who delight in the dazzle of the lights. Broadway today attracts families to shows such as Seussical or Legally Blonde, but treasures such as The Color Purple and Next to Normal continue to keep the Broadway musical alive.Cast your votes below for the greatest <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-broadway-stars-of-the-21st-century/bustermcdermott?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">modern Broadway musicals</a> and see where the musicals of the 2000s you think are the best rank.

The Best Broadway Musicals of the 2000s

From Chicago&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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 <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-tony-award-winning-musicals/bustermcdermott?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Tony Award for Best Musical</a>. Rent would continue on Broadway for 12 years, until 2008, after more than 5,000 performances. &nbsp;The '90s was also a time of the &quot;corporate musical,&quot; 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 <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-musicals?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top Broadway musicals</a> from the 1990s?&nbsp;But what were the most <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-most-popular-broadway-musicals-ever/constance-bennet?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">popular Broadway musicals</a> of the '90s? Cast your votes below and see how your fellow theater fans voted!

The Best Broadway Musicals of the 90s

There's nothing quite like a live Broadway musical. But what are the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-musicals?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best Broadway musicals</a> from the 80s? From Cats to the Phantom of the Opera, the 1980s produced some the most iconic Broadway musicals known today. This list has been ranked by theater fans to determine the best Broadway musicals from the 1980s.&nbsp;The 1980s was an exciting time for musical theater with seasoned composers such as Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim redefining Broadway history with hits such as Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Sunday in the Park with George, and Into the Woods. The 80s was about innovation and spectacle, as seen in shows such as Barnum, a raucous, circus-themed show that delighted audiences with hits such as &quot;The Colors of My Life.&quot; Today, we still owe credit to the 1980s for introducing audiences the longest running Broadway show, Cats, a dazzling and revolutionary musical that brought memorable ballads such as &quot;Memory&quot; and a story that won't soon be forgotten.Still, the 80s also saw its fair share of disasters, such as the musical flop of Carrie. However, the mega-success of shows like Les Miserables, Dreamgirls, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat would win audiences over for decades to come. Some have described the 1980s as the last great era of Broadway that brought some of the best musical theater talent to stardom.Cast your votes below for the best 1980s Broadway musicals.

City of Angels

The Best Broadway Musicals of the 80s

Best Broadway Musicals of the 80s | Top Musical Shows from the 1980s

What were the most popular and greatest Broadway musicals of the 70s? This list ranks the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-musicals?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top Broadway musicals</a> that first debuted in the 1970s. From Annie to Godspell, the 1970s produced some of the most groundbreaking shows in musical theater history. This list has the top Broadway musicals from the 1970s as ranked by theater lovers.The 1970s proved to be a great time for change and growth on Broadway. Gone were the days of Oklahoma! and other conventional Broadway styles. Shows such as A Chorus Line found major success by combining music with dancing and other such theatrics. Musical Broadway in the 70s also saw the rise of two famous composers, Andrew Lloyd Webber (Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar) and Stephen Sondheim (Sweeney Todd). In the 70s, movie musicals also saw a rise following the success of Grease both on stage and off. Rock music began dominating the stage, over traditional Broadway styles, and thrived in shows such as The Me Nobody Knows and gave birth to the &quot;rock opera,&quot; like Jesus Christ Superstar, by combining dialogue and music.&nbsp;The 1970s proved to be a decade of innovation and excitement in both musical and Broadway history. Vote up the best 1970s Broadway musical below and see where the musicals you think are the greatest of this era rank.

I Love My Wife

The Best Broadway Musicals of the '70s

Best Broadway Musicals of the 70s | List of 1970s Broadway Musical

Lists about the light, graceful dance form ballet and the people around the world who dance it.

En Pointe

Ballet is the most popular form of dance and has been dazzling audiences for decades. Some of the most famous dance pieces have been ballet however, with the rise in the popularity of contemporary styles of dancing, the blending of both modern dance moves with classical ballet has resulted in contemporary ballet.The most famous contemporary ballet choreographer is Martha Graham, credited by the dance community as the “mother of contemporary ballet.&quot; Graham was able to beautifully combine modern dance with contemporary ballet, and the result was decades of extremely successful and beautiful dance pieces that are still performed by the best dance companies today.This list discusses the best contemporary ballets of all time including, Rainbow Round My Shoulders, Appalachian Spring, Time of Snow, Errand Into the Maze, Maple Leaf Rag, Embattled Garden, American Original, Primitive Mysteries, and Chorale.What are the best contemporary ballets?&nbsp;This list features the best contemporary ballets, as ranked by the community.&nbsp;Vote up the greatest contemporary ballets below or add a contemporary that moved you that isn't already on the list.

The Greatest Contemporary Ballets

Best Contemporary Ballets | List of the Greatest Modern Ballets

Meanwhile, in Russia...

Any ballet enthusiast knows that some of the greatest ballets in history originated in Russia. In fact, in the early 19th century, Russia opened up the theatres to anyone who could afford to buy a ticket, regardless of class. The wealthier attendants were provided with the best seating possible. This system allowed the majority of people to be able to attend any ballet performance, causing widespread popularity. Some of the best dancers in all of ballet are part of Russian ballet companies as well.What are the best Russian ballets of all time?&nbsp;Some of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-ballets/bustermcdermott?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most famous ballets</a> came from Russia, forever changing dancing techniques. The most respected ballet companies in the world have all used many Russian techniques and Russia has produced some of the most celebrated ballets and ballet performances in history.This list features the best Russian ballets, ranked by voters and including, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliette, Cinderella, Giselle, La Bayadere, and Afternoon of a Faun. Vote up the greatest Russian ballets below, or add a ballet from Russia that isn't already on the list.

The Greatest Russian Ballets

Best Russian Ballets | List of the Greatest Russian Ballets

Lists that rank the greatest performers to hit the large and small screens.

The Best Actors and Actresses

In appreciation of the action thriller franchise that follows a deadly assassin who comes out of retirement to seek [highly justified] personal revenge. 

Wick... John Wick

Entertainment

The best actors working today include Hollywood legends, Academy Award winners and many of the top up and coming actors in the world right now. These talented and beautiful men grace the big and small screen with brilliant performances in our favorite movies and TV shows and do it really, really well. It's likely that many of these actors will long be remembered among the <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-actors">best actors of all time</a>.For many of these <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-actors?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best male actors</a>, being part of Hollywood's elite is nothing new. The likes of George Clooney, Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, Al Pacino, and Christopher Walken, among other popular actors, have been around for decades and lost little of that spark that made them favorites.Moving into a slightly younger crowd, many of the best current actors are quickly becoming legendary. Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/leonardo-dicaprio-movies-and-films-and-filmography/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Leonardo DiCaprio</a>, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Aaron Paul, Michael Fassbender, Chris Hemswoth, Henry Cavill and Johnny Depp are not just all hot, but among the best Hollywood has to offer today.How do you compare the newcomers and the veterans to the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time">greatest actors of all time</a>? However you rank them, do so below on this list of the best actors working today!

Tom Hanks

The Best (Male) Actors Working Today

Best Current Actors | List of Top Living Actors Working Today

Lists that rank the greatest works, composers, and musicians by instrument. 

Classical Music & Opera

What are the best opera songs of all time? With so many possibilities and choices, it's hard to come up with a definitive list, but that's exactly what's going on here. This list includes some of the most popular opera arias from <a href="/list/best-operas/bustermcdermott" target="_blank">the best operas</a> ever, complete with videos, wherever possible. Vote for the opera songs you love the most, vote down any you don't like and please, do add any choices that might be missing. You can also re-rank this list of the best opera songs any way you like. From classic opera to Italian operatic songs, this list has them all!&nbsp;If you're an opera aficionado, most if not all of these great opera songs will be instantly familiar to you. If you're sitting there thinking, &quot;I don't know the first thing about opera,&quot; you might be wrong. Many of the most famous opera arias are used in popular culture. Some are used as background music for commercials and certainly for movie trailers.One big example of an opera song used in pop culture is &quot;The Flower Duet,&quot; from the <a href="/list/french-operas/reference" target="_blank">French opera</a>&nbsp;Lakme. This song can be found in several commercials and movies, including ads for British Airways and the films The Hunger, The American President and Meet the Parents, among others. And <a href="/list/richard-wagner-operas/reference" target="_blank">Richard Wagner's</a> &quot;Ride of the Valkyries,&quot; from his famous opera Die Walk&uuml;re, can be heard in several major films, including Full Metal Jacket and Apocalypse Now.See? Even if you think you don't know opera, you do, sort of. You will after perusing this list and watching some of the videos, too.No list of the best opera songs would be complete without songs from one of the most famous operas ever, George Bizet's Carmen. Of those songs, &quot;Habanera&quot; is probably the most well-known, but there are many others. If your favorite Carmen aria isn't listed, again, feel free to add it.A truly outstanding opera song is memorable, emotional and very personal. Not everyone likes the same things – that's part of what makes music so wonderful, after all. Everyone has differing opinions, so enjoy giving yours with your votes here.

The Best Opera Songs

Song

Best Opera Songs | List of Top Famous Arias from Operas

Literature

The best autobiographies ever written include memoirs by famous historical figures, authors, politicians, celebrities, and more. This list includes a wide variety of books that are considered autobiographical, including <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-2010s-autobiograpies-memoirs/ranker-books" target="_blank">more recent memoirs</a>. Which one is the best? That&#39;s for you to decide, with votes of course. Some of the books listed here have proven to be <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/books-that-changed-my-life" target="_blank">life-changing reads</a>. If you are an avid reader of autobiographies, you&#39;ll likely recognize a vast majority of the books listed here. If one of your favorites is missing, by all means, please do add it to the list. Those of us who love reading a beautifully written autobiography will be grateful!

When talking about the best-written autobiographies ever, any list would be woefully incomplete without Anne Frank: &#39;The Diary of a Young Girl,&#39; as well as &#39;The Autobiography of Malcolm X&#39; and Frank McCourt&#39;s heartbreaking (and humorous) memoir &#39;Angela&#39;s Ashes.&#39; These books are not only notable autobiographies, they are certainly among the best <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/non-fiction-ebooks/barbara-gaston" target="_blank">non-fiction eBooks</a> ever.

Not all of the best autobiographies ever written are dark and serious. Some manage to mix an ample amount of humor in. Tina Fey&#39;s brilliant &#39;Bossypants&#39; and Steve Martin&#39;s &#39;Born Standing Up: A Comic&#39;s Life&#39; are excellent examples of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/must-read-books-by-stand-up-comedians/therealdunndeal" target="_blank">must read books by stand up comedians</a>. FYI: You don&#39;t necessarily have to spend a small fortune to purchase these best autobiographies ever written. Some of them are available as <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-free-ebooks/barbara-gaston" target="_blank">free ebooks</a>, or even <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-biography-audiobooks/ranker-books" target="_blank">as audiobooks</a> so be sure to check before you shell out a ton of money. If you&#39;re a reading fanatic, you might also like this list of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/autobiographical-novel-books-novels-and-stories/reference" target="_blank">famous autobiographical novel books</a>, as well as this list of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/20-must-read-books" target="_blank">top must-read books of all time</a>.

The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly

The Best Autobiographies Ever Written

Book

Best Autobiographies Ever Written | Top Autobiography List

"You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old." -George Burns

Age Is Just a Number

The best living actors in their 80s are all seasoned veterans in Hollywood, who were born in 42&nbsp;or earlier. These men are multiple Academy Award winners, legends on the big and small screen,&nbsp;and among the <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-actors">best actors in film history</a>. While not all have aged as well as others, in many cases, these older actors are still Hollywood greats.To say that this list of male actors over 80 is packed with superstars might be an understatement. Names like&nbsp;Morgan Freeman, William Shatner, and Clint Eastwood are among the greatest actors of the 20th century. Add in Dick Van Dyke, Gene Hackman, and Mel Brooks and you've named some of the most talented men to ever act in a movie or television show. There are also amazing British actors over 80, like two-time Oscar winner Michael Caine.But the list doesn't stop there. Actors such as Al Pacino, James Earl Jones, and Robert Duvall might be getting up there in age, but they are showing few signs of slowing down. Those famous old actors <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/old-rock-stars-you-didnt-know-were-still-alive/ranker-music?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">are still alive</a> and continue to star in movies and TV shows.So which of these best actors over 80 years of age are&nbsp;the absolute best? Vote up your favorite <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/hottest-male-actors-over-40/keshvaralikhani?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">older male celebrities</a> below. Then check back to see if your favorites reached the top!&nbsp;

Judd Hirsch

The Best Living Actors Over 80

The 25+ Best Living Actors In Or Over Their 80s

List of the best operas of all time - a comprehensive greatest opera list that includes work that includes works from all over the world by Italian, French, German, Austrian, Russian, Czech, and American composers, and many more. This list features a variety of operatic genres and styles, including opera seria, opera buffa, opera comique, as well as bel canto and Singspiel styles of singing. Be sure to vote for the famous operas you believe are the greatest of all time, and vote down any you don't like. You can also re-rank this list in any order you want.What makes a great opera so great? A compelling storyline is certainly important, but it's the music that keeps us enraptured. Some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-opera-songs/bustermcdermott" target="_blank">best opera songs</a> of all time are included in these operas listed here, including &quot;Habanera&quot; from 'Carmen,' &quot;Nessun dorma&quot; from <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/giacomo-puccini-operas/reference" target="_blank">Giacomo Puccini's</a> 'Turandot' and &quot;Celeste Aida&quot; from <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/giuseppe-verdi-operas/reference" target="_blank">Guiseppe Verdi's</a> 'Aida.' The operas listed here are classics. Many have been enjoyed by opera lovers for centuries, in fact. Some are tragedies, and they'll <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/operas-that-will-bring-tears-to-even-the-driest-of-eyes/sarahmarie" target="_blank">bring tears to even the driest of eyes</a> (Puccini's 'La boheme' comes to mind, as does his 'Madame Butterfly' and Verdi's 'La traviata'). Wipe those tears away, and start voting for the best operas, right here and right now.

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