Best Musical Ever!!
 

After long and hard (heh, heh--I said "long", and, "hard"!) consideration I believe that West Side Story was/is the Greatest Musical of All-Time. What say the Jets? :corn:

Besides, "here come the Jets, better run, better hide..."--etc.

The Oscar Peterson Trio does a wonderful version of West Side Story. I ordered the album from Amazon a month ago, but they keep sending me emails saying they are having trouble sourcing it. I'll be damned disappointed if they cancel it on me.

I think most of the big musicals from the 30s through the 50s were pretty special. I wouldn't say that any one of them was the "best", but some were better than others. I think modern musicals lack the charm of the classics.

wow that's a toughie... I mean sure it's a 'modern' adaptation of romeo and juliette.. but..

I'm a big fan of 'into the woods'
'sweeny todd' (the demon barber of fleet street)
nightmare before christmas (which is an awesome musical... )and *ducking* so is Alladin...

but the best ever... I dunno I might be a shark...

O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A!
too many classic songs.

The Music Man

Point!
Music man does have the cute little lisping Opie belting out a ode to Gary, Indiana. :) Not to mention featuring sir Buddy Hackett.

Ye gawads!

Shaboopie to you too.

for pure, emotional wrenching of the guy, my vote is for les miz.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Fiddler on the Roof
Man of La Mancha

Singin' in the Rain

The Producers

You just can't beat a showtune called "Springtime for Hitler"

:D

Okay, serious answer this time ...

Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita are my top two favorites.

Now, if you mean traditional musical (i.e., the kind with lots of talking between songs) I'm going to have to go with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Or maybe Doctor Doolittle.

Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street! A musical about eating people... can't get better than that.

I go with sm on les miz. The West End production is amazing.
And the lesser known 'Bouncers' which is hilarious.
And Chicago for the choreography.

Personally, i really really disliked Les Miserables. Not sure why, but overall suffered huge dissapointment once I'd seen it. Beats me why so many people think it's so spectacular. Last night I went to see the Wycliffe Gordon Jazz Quartet http://www.hancher.uiowa.edu/events/wycliffe.html and that rocked SO much more...