Okay, since I don't think DLP has a musical thread on the new productions or a thread about Broadway/West End productions, I decided to create one. This thread is about new musicals, not plays, although we should have one of those too. (Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, anybody?)

Now, everybody knows about Les Mis, Phantom, and the Rodgers & Hammerstein ilk. Those are great and are classics for a reason. We can always talk about our favourite classics at another point. But the purposes of focussing the discussion, here's our current topic of discussion:

1. Are there any great, new musicals? Musicals that have only emerged in the past decade or so? What are your favourite new musicals?

For me, Matilda is a big hit, probably one of the best things to emerge from the West End. Usually, I'm not a big fan of "puerile" or "juvenile" productions because years of bad musicals at high schools have traumatised me. But hawt dang, these kids can sing. And the musical is surprisingly touching, exploring universal themes of the outsider vs the mainstream authority, bildungsroman growing-up, and education. Tim Minchin's lyrics also dazzle with meaningful puns, evinced most particularly in his song "Revolting Children".

Evidence for singing: Matilda Medley

Book of Mormon is also a big winner for me. Frozen's songs were brilliant because Disney borrowed the lyricists from that musical. Witting and scathing, the musical about Mormon missionaries in Africa delves into themes about religion with equal satire and barbed enthusiasm. The line "I'm wet with salvation" still resonates as a particularly hilarious line.

So many double entendres here: Baptize Me.

...

What about you, DLP?

1. Are there any great, new musicals? Musicals that have only emerged in the past decade or so? What are your favourite new musicals?