5 musicals and their authors. The most famous musicals

On August 19, 1957, the premiere of the musical “West Side Story” based on the play by Arthur Lorenz took place in Washington. It was the story of Romeo and Juliet, transferred to the realities of America at that time. The main characters - a Jewish young man Tony and an Italian Catholic Maria - belong to two hostile youth groups in New York, but, despite everything, they love each other. The musical instantly became a hit, and after the film adaptation in 1961, it only strengthened its position.

The musical is one of the most popular genres of theatrical art. After all, its plot is played out not only in words and actions, but also in songs and dances. In addition, musicals, as a rule, are distinguished by their mass appeal and brightness, which attracts viewers.

We decided to recall the most famous representatives of this genre.

"My Fair Lady"

In 1964, the film of the same name was released, in which Audrey Hepburn played the role of Eliza.

This musical is based on Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion, which tells how the main character, flower girl Eliza Dolittle, becomes a charming lady. This transformation took place due to a dispute between a phonetics professor and his linguist friend. Eliza moved to the scientist's house to go through a difficult path of learning and transformation.

The musical premiered on March 15, 1956. The main role, Eliza, was played by Julie Andrews. The show immediately gained incredible popularity, and soon received several prestigious theater awards.

In 1964, a film of the same name was released, in which Audrey Hepburn played the role of Eliza.

"Sounds of music"

The German film "The Von Trapp Family" became the basis for this musical. The film told the story of an Austrian family who, fleeing the Nazis, went to America. The plot was based on the book by Maria von Trapp, a direct participant in those events.

The premiere took place on November 16, 1959. The musical received 8 Tony Awards. A film of the same name was released in 1965. Its plot was slightly different from the play, but it was he who brought “The Sound of Music” real world fame.

"Cabaret"

The plot of the legendary musical is based on the stories “Berlin Stories” by Christopher Isherwood about life in Germany in the early 30s. Another part of the story comes from John Van Druten's play I Am a Camera, which tells the story of the love between a young writer and Berlin cabaret singer Sally Bowles. Fate brought the hero to the capital of Germany in the early 30s. Here he meets Sally and falls in love with her. But she refused to follow him to Paris, breaking his heart.

The musical premiered on November 20, 1966. The production received 8 Tony Awards. In 1972, the film of the same name directed by Bob Fosse was released. The image of Sally was brilliantly embodied by Liza Minnelli.

"Jesus Christ Superstar"

The work generated a lot of controversy and became a cult favorite for the hippie generation.

The music for this musical was composed by Andrew Lloyd Weber. Unlike traditional productions, this one tells the entire story through songs alone. It also became original thanks to rock music and modern vocabulary in the lyrics. This made the production a real hit.

The story in it is about the last seven days of the life of Jesus, which pass before the eyes of Judas Iscariot, disappointed by the teachings of Christ.

The rock opera was first performed as an album in 1970. main role It was performed by Deep Purple lead singer Ian Gillan. The work generated a lot of controversy and became a cult favorite for the hippie generation. A year later it was staged on Broadway.

"Chicago"

On March 11, 1924, in the Chicago Tribune, journalist Maureen Watkins wrote about a variety show actress who killed her lover—this became the starting point for the plot of the musical. Stories about sex crimes were very popular at the time, and Watkins continued to write about them. On April 3, 1924, her new note appeared about a woman who shot her boyfriend. Watkins later wrote the play Chicago.

The story of the musical tells the story of corps de ballet dancer Roxie Hart, who murdered her lover in cold blood. In prison, Roxy meets Velma Kelly and other criminals, and then hires lawyer Billy Flynn, with whose help he escapes punishment and at the same time becomes a real star. The musical premiered on June 3, 1975.

In 2002, the film “Chicago” was released with Renee Zellweger (Roxy), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Velma) and Richard Gere (Billy Flynn).

"Cats"

In “Cats” there is no curtain, and the stage merges with the audience into a single space.

The basis for this popular musical was a cycle of children's poems by T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, published in England in 1939. The collection ironically told about the habits and habits of cats, in which human traits were discerned. Elliott's poems appealed to Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Everything about “Cats” is unusual - there is no curtain on the stage, it merges into a single space with the audience. The stage itself is designed like a landfill. The actors appear as graceful cats thanks to complex multi-layer makeup. Their costumes are hand-painted, and their wigs, tails and collars are made of yak wool. The musical was first shown on May 11, 1981 in London.

"Phantom of the Opera"

The Phantom of the Opera is based on the novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux. The romantic but dark story tells about a mysterious creature with supernatural powers living in a dungeon under the Paris Opera. It falls in love with the young singer Christina and becomes her patron.

The premiere of The Phantom of the Opera took place on October 9, 1986 at the Royal Theater, even members of Her Majesty's family were present. The show became the longest-running musical in Broadway history, surpassing even Cats.

In 2004, the musical became a film in which Gerard Butler portrayed the masked ghost.

"Evita"

The idea of creating a musical appeared by chance - in October 1973, Tim Rice heard the end of a radio program in his car, which was about Evita Peron, the wife of Argentine dictator Juan Peron. The story of her life interested the poet. The plot of the show tells how she came to Buenos Aires at the age of 15 and became first a famous actress and then the wife of the country's president. This woman helped the poor, but at the same time contributed to the rise of dictatorship in Argentina.

The musical was released on June 21, 1978, and 20 years later it was decided to make a film based on it. It was directed by Alan Parker and starred Madonna.

"Mama Mia"

The popularity of ABBA's songs is so great that the idea of creating a musical based on them is not surprising. The musical includes 22 hits of the legendary quartet. Its authors were the male half of ABBA. The plot is as follows: Sophie is getting ready to get married. She is going to invite her father to the wedding to take her to the altar. Only the girl's mother, Donna, never spoke about him. Sophie found her mother's diary, which chronicled her relationships with three different men, resulting in an invitation being sent to all of them. When guests start arriving for the wedding, the fun begins...

This cheerful and vibrant musical was first shown to audiences in 1999, and in 2008 a film based on it with Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried and other actors was released.

"Notre Dame de Paris"

The musical is based on Victor Hugo's novel Notre-Dame de Paris.

The musical is based on Victor Hugo's novel Notre-Dame de Paris. It was first shown in Paris on September 16, 1998 and was included in the Guinness Book of Records as having the most successful first year of operation.

In the story, a young gypsy girl named Esmeralda attracts the attention of men with her beauty. Among them are the bishop of Notre-Dame Cathedral Frollo, the young handsome captain of the royal riflemen Phoebus and the ugly bell-ringer Quasimodo, Frollo's pupil.

Esmeralda falls madly in love with the most beautiful of them, Phoebus. He doesn't mind taking advantage of this, despite the fact that he has a fiancée, Fleur-de-Lys. Frollo is overwhelmed with jealousy and tormented by doubts - after all, he, as a priest, has no right to love a woman. Quasimodo admires the young gypsy, seeing in her that unattainable, unearthly beauty that is his complete opposite.

"Juno and Avos"

The musical is, without exaggeration, the most famous Russian production of this genre. Its premiere took place on July 9, 1981. The director was Mark Zakharov, and the main roles were played by Nikolai Karachentsov and Elena Shanina. It was based on the poem “Maybe” by Andrei Voznesensky.

According to the plot, Count Rezanov, having buried his wife, decided to devote all his strength to serving Russia. His proposals on the need to try to establish trade relations with North America For a long time there was no response from the authorities, but finally he was ordered to go there. There he meets young Conchita and they fall in love. Circumstances force them to separate, but they manage to get married secretly. And although they will not be destined to see each other again, their love will live forever.

The musical is in which songs, music, dialogues and choreography are intertwined in an amazing way. This is a relatively young theater that was greatly influenced by operetta, burlesque, vaudeville, etc. Due to its entertainment value, the musical is considered one of the most commercial theatrical genres, and due to the complexity of the production process, much more money is spent on it.

The history of the emergence of a new musical genre

The starting point of this genre is considered to be 1866, when the first musical, Black Crook, was staged on the Broadway stage, in which melodrama, romantic ballet and other genres were intertwined. Since that time, the list of musicals has been constantly updated with new performances. From the above it follows that the birthplace of this genre is America. At the beginning of the 19th century, American composers J. Kern, J. Gershwin, and Cole Porter gave the musical genre a truly American flavor: notes of jazz were visible in the rhythms of the melodies, the librettos became more complex, American phrases appeared in the lyrics, etc. In 1932, reached high awards. George Gershwin was awarded for the musical “I Sing of You.” The most famous performances included in the list of musicals are, of course, “West Side Story” (composer L. Bernstein) based on the Shakespearean tragedy “Romeo and Juliet” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” "to the music of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. This talented composer is also the author of other equally, and perhaps more famous musicals: “Cats” and “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Best musicals: AFI list

In 2006, the American Film Institute published a list of the best American musicals of the last 100 years. We present to your attention this list:

“42nd Street” - (1933).
“Top Hat” (1935).
“Floating Theater” (1936).
“The Wizard of Oz” (1939).
“Yankee Doodle Dandy” (1942).
“Will you meet me in St. Louis?” (1944).
“Dismissal to the city” (1949).
“An American in Paris” (1951).
“Singing in the Rain” (1952).
“Theater Van” (1953).
“Seven daughters-in-law for seven brothers” (1954).
“Guys and Dolls” (1955).
“The King and I” (1956).
“West Side Story” (1961).
“My Fair Lady” (1964).
“The Sound of Music” (1965).
“Funny Girl” (1968).
“Cabaret” (1972).
“All That Jazz” (1979).
“Beauty and the Beast” (1991).

Despite the fact that, according to many, the golden age of musicals is behind us, over the past 13 years, many excellent films in this genre have been made in Hollywood. Here is a list of musicals that are considered the best of the 21st century.

“Dancing in the Dark” (2000).
“Moulin Rouge” (2001).
“Chicago (2002).
“The Phantom of the Opera” (2004).
“La Boheme” (2005).
“Enchanted” (2007).
“Mamma Mia” (2008).
“Burlesque” (2010).
“Les Miserables” (2012).
“Goddess” (2013).

French musicals: list of the best performances

Until 1958, it was considered an exclusively American genre, but this year the play “Les Miserables” based on the work of V. Hugo was triumphantly staged in London. The music was composed by Claude Michel Schonberg. Another work by this composer, “Miss Saigon,” based on the opera “Madama Butterfly,” was a success on the Paris stage. The list of musicals includes productions of “Starmania-Starmania” (Michel Berger), “Romeo and Juliet” (Gerard Presgurvik), “Notre Dame de Paris” (Riccardo Cocciante), “Mozart” (Kunze and Levi), etc.

Russian musicals

The most popular musical in Russia for many years has been and remains the wonderful rock opera “Juno and Avos”. This is perhaps the most powerful work of composer A. Rybnikov. Today, the best Russian musicals are considered to be “Nord-Ost”, “Metro”, last years works translated into Russian are staged on the Russian stage: “Notre Dame de Paris”, “Chicago”, “Cats”, etc.

1. "My Fairy Lady" (1956)

Frederick Lowe (the author of the music) and Alan Jay Lerner (the author of the libretto and song lyrics), after analyzing the dramatic material of Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion, decided to write a musical. The plot of the musical largely follows Shaw's play, the story of the transformation of the main character from a vulgar flower girl into a charming young lady.

Phonetics professor Henry Higgins makes a bet with his linguist colleague, Colonel Pickering - he undertakes to turn a London flower girl named Eliza Doolittle into a real lady. Eliza moves into the professor's house, learning is not easy, but in the end, she begins to make progress. At the embassy ball, Eliza passes the exam with flying colors. The ending of the musical is optimistic - Eliza returns to her teacher Higgins.

The Broadway premiere of the musical took place on March 15, 1956. The London premiere took place in April 1958. The role of Higgins was played by Rex Harrison, and Eliza was played by Julie Andrews. The show immediately became wildly popular; tickets were sold out six months in advance. However, the overwhelming success of the musical was a complete surprise for its creators.

The musical was performed on Broadway 2,717 times and in London 2,281 times. It was translated into eleven languages, including Hebrew, and was successfully performed in more than twenty countries. The musical received 6 Tony Awards. The original Broadway cast recording sold more than five million copies, and George Cukor's film of the same name was released in 1964. Warner Brothers paid a record amount of $5.5 million for the film rights to the musical. The role of Eliza went to Audrey Hepburn, and Rex Harrison successfully moved from the theater stage to the big screen. The film was nominated for an Oscar and received eight out of 12 statuettes.

The musical "My Fair Lady" is still loved by the public and thanks to producer Cameron Mackintosh and director Trevor Nunn, the show can still be seen in London.

2. "The Sound of Music" (1959)

In 1958, American screenwriters Howard Lindsay and Russell Cruise, along with producer Richard Halliday and his wife, actress Mary Martin, teamed up to work on a play based on the German film The Von Trapp Family. The film told the story of an Austrian family who, fleeing Nazi persecution, was forced to leave their homeland and go to America. The story was not made up - the film was based on a book written by a direct participant in the events described, Maria von Trapp.

Mary Martin was a musical theater star, and although this time it was a dramatic performance, she could not deny herself the pleasure of performing as a singer. Initially, for the musical design of the production, the authors intended to use folk songs and religious hymns from the repertoire of the von Trapp family. However, Mary wanted to perform a song written especially for her. Martin was helped in this by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein. They composed entirely new musical numbers, turning the play into the musical "The Sound of Music."

On November 16, 1959, the premiere took place on Broadway. The director of the play was David Jay Donahue. The main role, of course, was played by Mary Martin, the role of Captain von Trapp by Theodor Bikel. The public, in love with Mary Martin, tried their best to get into the musical, which ensured excellent box office receipts.

The Sound of Music was performed 1,443 times and won 8 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and the original album was awarded a Grammy. In 1961, the musical toured the United States, and in the same year the show opened in London, where it ran for more than six years, thus becoming the longest-running American musical in the history of the West End.

In June 1960, 20th Century Fox acquired the film rights for $1.25 million. The plot of the film was somewhat different from the story told in the play, but it was in this version that “The Sound of Music” gained worldwide fame. The world premiere of the film took place in New York on March 2, 1965. The film was nominated for an Oscar in 10 nominations, of which it won five.

The film adaptation did not become the last page in the history of the musical; it is still loved by the public and is staged all over the world. In the 90s the show could be seen in the UK, South Africa, China, the Netherlands, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Peru, Israel and Greece.

3. Cabaret (1966)

The literary basis for this legendary performance was the series of stories “Berlin Stories” by Christopher Isherwood about Germany in the early 30s and the play “I Am a Camera” by John Van Druten. The musical tells the story of the romance between the young American writer Cliff Bradshaw and the singer from the Berlin cabaret "Kit-Kat Club" Sally Bowles.

The fate of a young Englishman, Brian Roberts, an aspiring writer forced to earn extra money by teaching lessons, takes him to Berlin in the 1930s. Meeting American Sally, a cabaret singer, gives Brian a fresh, unforgettable experience. The writer and singer fell in love with each other, but they are destined to experience separation. Sally refuses to go with her lover to Paris, Cliff leaves Berlin with a broken heart. The cabaret, the last refuge of the spirit of freedom, is filled with people with swastikas on their sleeves...

The premiere took place on November 20, 1966. The production was carried out by the famous Broadway director Harold Prince, John Kantzer wrote the music, the lyrics were written by Fred Ebb, the libretto was written by Joe Masteroff. The original cast included Joel Gray (emcee), Jill Haworth (Sally), Bert Convy (Cliff), and others.

The production ran for 1,165 performances and received 8 Tony Awards, including for Best Musical. In 1972, the film "Cabaret" by Bob Fosse was released with Joel Gray (entertainer), Liza Minnelli (Sally) and Michael York (Brian). The film received eight Oscars.

In 1987, Joel Gray reprized his role as compere in a revival of the show. In 1993, a completely new production of Cabaret, created by director Sam Mendes, opened in London and then five years later on Broadway. This version of the play also received numerous awards. The musical ran for approximately 2,377 performances and 37 previews before closing on January 4, 2004.

4. "Jesus Christ"– "Superstar" (Jesus Christ Superstar) (1971)

"Jesus Christ" was conceived by Andrew Lloyd Webber (composed the music) and Tim Rice (libretto) not as a traditional musical, but as a full-fledged opera, written in modern musical language, in compliance with all operatic traditions (hero's aria, chorus, heroine's aria, etc.). d.). Unlike traditional musicals, there are no dramatic parts in “Jesus Christ” - everything is built on vocals and recitatives. The combination of rock music with classical motifs, the use of modern vocabulary in the texts, their high quality, the so-called sung-through principle (the whole story is told exclusively through songs, without the use of unsung dialogue) - made “Jesus Christ Superstar” a real hit.

The musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" tells the story of the last seven days of the life of Jesus of Nazareth, seen through the eyes of his disciple Judas Iscariot, who was disappointed in what the teachings of Christ had become. The plot covers the period from Jesus' entry into Jerusalem to his execution on Golgotha.

The opera was first heard in the form of an album in 1970, on which the main role was played by Ian Gillan, who is the vocalist of the “golden line-up” of Deep Purple, the role of Judas was performed by Murray Head, Mary Magdalene - Yvonne Elliman. The musical was first shown on the Broadway stage in 1971. Some critics believe that Jesus was portrayed as the first hippie on earth. The Broadway production lasted only 18 months.

A new production of the musical was created in a London theater in 1972, the role of Jesus was played by Paul Nicholas, Judas - Stephen Tate. This production was more successful, ran on stage for eight years and became the longest-running musical. American director Norman Jewison made a feature film based on the work in 1973. In 1974 the film received an Oscar for best music. In addition to the excellent music and vocals, the film is interesting for its unusual interpretation of the theme of Christ, which represents an alternative to orthodox Christianity.

One of the most famous musicals, also called a rock opera, generated a lot of controversy and became a cult work for a whole generation of hippies, without losing its relevance today. "Jesus Christ Superstar" has been translated into different languages, has been staged many times and has been staged for over 30 years on stages in Australia, New Zealand, Hungary, Bulgaria, France, Sweden, America, Mexico, Chile, Panama, Bolivia, Germany, Japan and the UK.

5. "Chicago" (1975)

On March 11, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois, the Chicago Tribune published an article by journalist Maureen Dallas Watkins about a certain variety show actress who killed her boyfriend. Since stories about sex crimes were particularly popular with readers, another article by Watkins was published on April 3, 1924. This time it was about a married woman who shot her lover. The hype that accompanied these and other crime stories made a strong impression on Maureen. Later, leaving the newspaper, she went to study drama at Yale University. It was there, as educational assignment, she wrote the play "Chicago".

On December 30, 1926, the play Chicago opened on Broadway. The play ran for 182 performances, a film of the same name was made in 1927, and in 1942 the film “Roxie Hart” was released, directed by William Wellman and starring Ginger Rogers.

Bob Fosse, the famous choreographer and Broadway director, could not ignore such a plot. To implement the project, Fossey recruited composer John Kander and librettists Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse. The score of "Chicago" is a brilliant stylization of American hits of the late 20s, and in terms of the way the musical material is presented and its themes, "Chicago" is very close to vaudeville.

This is the story of corps de ballet dancer Roxie Hart, who murdered her lover in cold blood. Once in prison, Roxy meets Velma Kelly and other killers. Roxy is helped out by the warden, Matron Mama Morton, and the nosy lawyer Billy Flynn. The court finds Roxy not guilty, but this does not bring her joy. In the final scene of the musical, the master of ceremonies announces the debut of "the duet of two sparkling sinners," the queens of the Chicago crime world, Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart. They made their way into show business.

The musical premiered at the 46th Street Theater on June 3, 1975, starring Gwen Verdon as Roxy, Chita Rivera as Velma, and Jerry Orbach as Billy. Chicago didn't open in the West End until 1979. This production had nothing in common with Bob Fosse's performance. After 898 performances on Broadway and 600 in the West End, the show was canceled. In 1996, the show was revived under the direction of Walter Bobby and choreographer Ann Rinking. The four performances played at City Center were received with such enthusiasm that the show's producers decided to transfer it to Broadway. The cast included Rinking herself as Roxy, Bebe Neuwirth as Velma, James Naughton as Billy Flynn, and Joel Gray as Amos. "Chicago" was awarded six Tony Awards, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Album.

In 1997, the musical opened at London's Adelphi Theatre. London's "Chicago" was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award as "Best Musical", and Ute Lemper - as "Best Actress in a Musical". The play, in an updated form, was performed in Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Holland, Argentina, Germany, Sweden, Mexico, Japan, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal and Russia.

At the end of 2002, Miramax film studio released a film adaptation of the musical starring Catherine Zeta-Jones (Velma), Renee Zellweger (Roxy) and Richard Gere (Billy Flynn), directed and choreographed by Rob Marshall. The film "Chicago" was enthusiastically received by the public and was awarded the Golden Globe Award in the category "Best Musical or Comedy". In addition, the film was nominated for an Oscar in 12 nominations, of which it won six.

6. "Evita" (1978)

In October 1973, Tim Rice was driving in a car and accidentally heard the end of a radio broadcast. The program was about Evita Peron, the wife of the Argentine dictator Juan Peron, and this story interested the poet. Tim Rice felt that Eva's life story could well become the theme for a new musical. His co-author Lloyd Webber was not enthusiastic about this idea, but after thinking about it, he still agreed.

Rice studied in detail the biography of the main character of his future musical, visiting London libraries and traveling to Argentina, where he wrote most of the storyline. "Evita" combines various musical styles, with Latin American motifs included in the score. Tim Rice introduces a narrator into the musical, a certain Che (whose prototype is Ernesto Che Guevara).

In the summer of 1976, at the first festival in Sydmonton, guests were presented with the first demo recordings of the new musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Soon the recording of the album began at the Olympic studio. The role of Evita was performed by actress Julie Covington, Che was performed by the young singer Colm Wilkinson, and Perona was performed by Paul Jones. The album was a wild success. Just three months after its release, the number of copies sold was 500 thousand, and even in Argentina, where the disc was banned, every self-respecting family considered it necessary to purchase it.

Famed director Hal Prince began work on the production. Elaine Paige became the new Evita, and the famous rock singer David Essex was invited to play the role of Che. The premiere of "Evita" took place on June 21, 1978. The production was a huge success and won the West End Theater Society Award for Best Musical of 1978, with Elaine Paige winning the award for Best Actor in a Musical. The disc with the recording of the original London cast of "Evita" went gold in the first weeks after going on sale.

On May 8, 1979, Evita opened in Los Angeles. Four months after the American premiere, on September 21, 1979, the play was first performed on Broadway by the same cast. "Evita" won the hearts of the public and received 7 Tony Awards.

After success on Broadway, the musical was staged in a huge number of countries: Australia, Spain, Mexico, Austria, Japan, Israel, Korea, South Africa, Hungary. Filming began twenty years after the birth of Evita. The direction was entrusted to Alan Parker, Eva Peron was played by Madonna, the Spanish film star Antonio Banderas was invited to play the role of Che, and British actor Jonathan Pryce was invited to Peron. A new song was written especially for the film - “You Must Love Me”, which brought its authors an Oscar.

7. "Les Miserables" (1980)

Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables was reborn in a musical created by composer Claude-Michel Schonberg and librettist Alain Boublil. Work on the musical continued for two years and finally a two-hour sketch of the future musical was recorded. With the participation of librettist Jean-Marc Natel, this sketch was turned into a concept album, which was released in 1980 and sold 260,000 copies. Business card The musical became an engraving depicting little Cosette.

The stage version was presented to Parisians on September 17, 1980 at the Palais des Sports. The performance was attended by more than half a million people. Maurice Barrier played the role of Jean Valjean, Jacques Mercier - Javert, Rose Laurence - Fantine, Marie - Eponine, Fabienne Guyon - Cosette.

In 1982, young director Peter Ferago, who really liked the concept album of Les Misérables, drew the attention of British producer Cameron Mackintosh to it. McIntosh turned the project into a show of the highest caliber. Above creation new version The musical "Les Miserables" had a strong team: the directors were Trevor Nunn and John Kaed, the English text was composed by Herbert Kretzmer in close collaboration with the creators of the musical themselves. The play was staged at the Barbican Theater under the auspices of the Royal Shakespeare Company. The premiere of the new version of the musical took place on October 8, 1985. The Palace Theater in London is proud of the longest-running production of the musical Les Misérables. In total, the performance was shown more than six thousand times in this theater.

In 1987, Les Miserables crossed the Atlantic and landed on Broadway, thus beginning its triumphant march around the world. Despite the fact that the musical is over twenty years old, it does not leave the stage and continues to enjoy great popularity all over the world. Les Miserables has been translated into many languages: Japanese, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, German, Polish, Swedish, Dutch, Danish, Czech, Spanish, Mauritanian, Creole, Flemish, Finnish, Portuguese. In total, the musical “Les Miserables” was seen by residents of two hundred cities in thirty-two countries around the world. The creation of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg was watched by more than 20 million viewers around the world.

8. "Cats" (1981)

Andrew Lloyd Webber began composing songs based on Eliot's poems in the early 1970s. By 1980, the composer had accumulated enough musical material, which it was decided to transform into a musical. The show about cats was doomed to success: the British are known for their love for these animals. The musical's team consisted of talented people - producer Cameron Mackintosh, director Trevor Nunn, theater designer John Napier and choreographer Gillian Lynn.

When it came to bringing Webber's songs to stage, the main problem the musical's creators faced was the lack of a plot. Fortunately, thanks to T. S. Eliot's widow, Valerie, the authors had the poet's letters and drafts at their disposal, from which they gleaned ideas for the plot outline of the play.

Special requirements were placed on the actors of the musical - they had to not only sing well and have perfect diction, but also be extremely flexible. In the UK, recruiting a troupe of 20 people turned out to be difficult, so the cast included Royal Ballet principal Wayne Sleep, pop singer Paul Nicholas, actress Elaine Paige, and young singer and dancer Sarah Brightman.

In the Cats Theater, created by designer John Napier, there is no curtain; the hall and stage are a single space, and the action takes place not frontally, but throughout the entire depth. The stage is designed like a landfill and consists of mountains of picturesque rubbish, the set is equipped with sophisticated electronics. The actors are transformed into graceful cats using layers of makeup, hand-painted tights, yak hair wigs, fur collars, tails and shiny collars.

The musical premiered on May 11, 1981 in London, and a year later the play opened on Broadway. Until its closing on May 11, 2002, the play ran in London with great success, earning the title of the longest-running theatrical production in the history of English theater (more than 6,400 performances). The musical "Cats" broke all imaginable records in the United States. In 1997, after 6,138 performances, the musical was recognized as Broadway's number one long-running performer. Over the course of 21 years, the London production was watched by more than 8 million people, and its creators earned £136 million.

During its existence, the musical was staged more than forty times, was visited by more than 50 million spectators in thirty countries, translated into 14 languages, and the total gross amount has currently exceeded 2.2 billion dollars. Among the awards of "Cats" are the Laurence Olivier Award and the Evening Standard Award for Best Musical, seven Tony Awards, and the French Molière Award. Recordings by both the London and Broadway original casts received Grammy awards.

9. The Phantom of the Opera (1986)

The birth of the musical began in 1984, when British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber married the young actress and singer Sarah Brightman. Taking Sarah's voice into account, Lloyd Webber composed "Requiem", but he wanted to show his wife's talent in a larger-scale work. This work was the musical "The Phantom of the Opera", based on the novel of the same name by the French writer Gaston Leroux. It's gloomy and romantic story about a supernatural creature that lived in a dungeon under the Paris Opera.

Sarah Brightman played the role of the main character, Christina Daae. The main male role was performed by Michael Crawford. The role of Christina's lover, Raoul, was played by Steve Barton in the premiere cast. The libretto was created by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd-Webber, the lyrics by Charles Hart. Theater designer Maria Bjornson designed the famous Phantom mask and insisted that the notorious falling chandelier be lowered onto the audience rather than onto the stage.

The musical premiered on October 9, 1986 at Her Majesty's Theatre, in the presence of members royal family. The first Broadway production of Phantom premiered at New York's Majestic Theater in January 1988. It became the second longest-running show in Broadway history, after Cats, with 10.3 million viewers.

More than 65,000 performances of Phantom were performed in 18 countries, including Japan, Austria, Canada, Sweden, Germany and Australia. Productions of The Phantom of the Opera have received more than 50 prestigious awards, including three Laurence Olivier Awards and 7 Tony Awards, 7 Drama Desk Awards, and an Evening Standard Award. "The Phantom of the Opera" has won the sympathy of more than 58 million viewers from all over the world. In New York alone, almost 11 million people have already watched it, and over 80 million worldwide. Revenue from ticket sales for “The Phantom of the Opera” has exceeded $3.2 billion.

10. Mamma Mia (1999)

The idea of creating an original musical based on ABBA songs belongs to producer Judy Kramer. The musical is based on 22 songs by the group. Since all the songs in the original were sung by women, a story about a mother and daughter, about two generations, was proposed as a starting point. It was necessary to come up with a story worthy of the famous hits of the Swedish quartet. Writer Katerina Johnson came to the rescue, writing a story about a family living on the Greek islands. The story is no less interesting to the viewer than the songs. Katherine was able to logically arrange the songs into one storyline, the songs are divided into dialogues and colored with new intonations. The music was written by Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, and directed by Phyllida Lloyd.

"Mama Mia" is a modern, ironic, romantic comedy, which features two main lines: a love story and the relationship between two generations. The plot of the play is an interweaving of comedic situations, which are emphasized by the cheerful music of ABBA, original costumes and witty dialogues of the characters. The essence of the project is expressed in the characteristic logo of “Mama Mia” - the image of a happy bride. This picture has become an internationally recognized brand.

A young girl, Sophie, is getting married. She wants to invite her father to her wedding so that he can take her to the altar. But she doesn't know who he is, since her mother Donna never talked about him. Sophie finds her mother's diary, in which she describes relationships with three men. Sofia decides to send invitations to all three. All the most interesting things begin to happen when guests arrive for the wedding... Mom gets married at the same time as her daughter.

The first test of the musical "Mama Mia" took place on March 23, 1999, when the pre-premiere screening took place in London. Then the reaction of the audience could be described in one word - delight: people in the hall did not sit in their seats for a minute - they danced in the aisles, sang along and clapped. The premiere took place on April 6, 1999.

After the London production, the musical "Mamma Mia" is staged in parallel in 11 other places around the world. Box office receipts from 11 worldwide productions amount to more than $8 million per week. More than 27 million is the total number of spectators around the world who visited the musical “Mamma Mia”. Every day, more than 20,000 people attend the musical "Mamma Mia" around the world.

1.6 billion US dollars - box office receipts from the rental of "Mama Mia" around the world.

During its eight-year run, the musical was staged in more than 130 major cities. The album with the recording of the first production of "Mama Mia" went platinum in the USA, Australia and Korea; double platinum in the UK and gold in Germany, Sweden and New Zealand.

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We will tell you about the most interesting and beautiful representatives of such a musical and theatrical stage genre as the musical in this top 10 best musicals.

10 The Sound of Music

The music for this musical was written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and the libretto was by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse. The musical tells the story of a young girl named Maria. She is an orphan who plans to become a nun. However, those around her believe that this role does not quite suit her. Therefore, Maria goes to a family consisting of seven children and their father. There the girl experiences the feeling of love.

9 Mamma Mia!

This musical with a libretto was created based on more than two dozen ABBA songs. A young girl, Sophie, is preparing for her wedding to Sky. She wants her father to take her, the bride, to the altar. But the problem is that Sophie never saw her father, and her mother Donna never said anything about him. Sophie accidentally finds her mother's diary and learns the names of three people Donna was romantically involved with the year Sophie was born. The girl invites these three men to the wedding, writing to them on behalf of Donna.

8 My fair lady

This musical was created by Frederick Lowe based on Bernard Shaw's comedy Pygmalion. Henry Higgins is a famous professor and bachelor, happy with his lifestyle. One day he argues with a friend that in six months he can turn a street flower seller into a lady who can appear in “high society.” But Henry does not know that changes await him, along with his upcoming love.

7 Moulin Rouge!

This musical film appeared in 2001. Satine is a famous actress and courtesan in the Moulin Rouge cabaret. She needs to seduce the Duke and get funding for a theater production. However, a poor poet named Christian falls in love with the girl. Satin reciprocates his feelings. The Duke finds out about this, and the plot turns into a love triangle.

6 Les Miserables

The authors of the music for this musical are Claude-Michel Schoenberg and Alain Boublil. The English libretto was created by Herbert Kretzmer. This work is based on the novel “Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo. The events of the musical "Les Miserables" take place in France in the 19th century. Jean Valjean is a former convict. He is hiding from justice and from police inspector Javert. One day, Jean agrees to take care of Cosette, whose mother, factory worker Fantine, died. Little does he know that this decision will irrevocably change their lives.

5 Cats

The musical "Cats" was created by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on the children's book "The Popular Science of Cats, Written by an Old Possum" by Thomas Stearns Eliot. At the center of the musical's narrative is a special cat ball. A tribe of cats gathers in a huge garbage dump to perform a dance under the moon, and also to find out who, after death, can go to cat heaven and get a new life.

4 Romeo and Juliet. From hate to love

The words and music for this musical were created by Gerard Presgurvik. This work tells the story from the classic play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. This musical is about two families who hate each other, and about the children from these families who are connected by love.

3 Notre Dame de Paris

This musical is sometimes also called Notre Dame. It is based on the novel “Notre Dame de Paris” by Victor Hugo. The main character of the musical is a beautiful young gypsy Esmeralda. The priest Claude Frollo, the hunchback bell-ringer Quasimodo, and Phoebe de Chateaupert, who is engaged to another girl, fall in love with her. The poet Pierre Gringoire also has sympathy for the girl. The complex romantic line at the end turns deadly for many of the characters in this musical.

2 The last test

The music for this musical was written by Anton Kruglov, and the lyrics by Elena Khanpira. The Final Trial is based on the books The Spear Saga by Laura and Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis. The dark magician Raistlin wants to defeat the Goddess of Darkness - Takhisis - and thus gain power and authority. To do this, he takes with him the priestess of the Light God, Crysania. Raistlin and Crysania find themselves bound by love, but Raistlin's main choice lies ahead, his final test. And the cost of a magician’s mistake will be incredibly high for him. There is an alternative ending to the musical.

1 Phantom of the Opera

The author of the music for this musical is Andrew Lloyd Webber, the authors of the libretto are Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe. This musical is based on the novel “The Phantom of the Opera” by Gaston Leroux. Opera singer Christine Daaé is in love with Viscount Raoul de Chagny. However, difficulties and dangers stand in the way of their relationship, because the mysterious Phantom of the Opera loves the girl.

A variety of musicals can open a person to a world of beautiful music and interesting stories.

On a warm summer evening or rainy day, we invite you to plunge into the mixture music, songs, dances,comedy And dramas. Cheer yourself up or maybe feel a little sad. We present to you 5 most famous musicals in the world:

"My Fair Lady"(My Fair Lady) (1956)

This musical is based on the play by Bernard Shaw. "Pygmalion", which tells how the main character, flower girl Eliza Doolittle, becomes a charming lady. This transformation took place due to a dispute between a phonetics professor and his linguist friend.
The musical premiered on March 15, 1956. It was translated into eleven languages, including Hebrew, and was successfully shown in more than twenty countries. The musical received 6 Tony Awards. The original Broadway cast recording sold more than five million copies, and George Cukor's film of the same name was released in 1964. Warner Brothers paid a record amount of $5.5 million for the film rights to the musical.

"Notre Dame de Paris"(Notre-Dame de Paris)(1998)

Musical based on Victor Hugo's novel Notre-Dame de Paris. It was first shown in Paris on September 16, 1998 and was included in the Guinness Book of Records as having the most successful first year of operation.

"Cats"(Cats) (1981)

The basis for "Cats" was a cycle of children's poems by T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats", published in 1939 in England. This is a collection of ironic sketches of cat characters and habits, behind which various human types can be easily guessed.
In the Cats Theater, created by designer John Napier, there is no curtain; the hall and stage are a single space, and the action takes place not frontally, but throughout the entire depth. The stage is designed like a landfill and consists of mountains of picturesque rubbish, the set is equipped with sophisticated electronics. The actors are transformed into graceful cats using layers of makeup, hand-painted tights, yak hair wigs, fur collars, tails and shiny collars.
During its existence, the musical was staged more than forty times, was visited by more than 50 million spectators in thirty countries, translated into 14 languages, and the total gross amount has currently exceeded 2.2 billion dollars. Among the awards of "Cats" are the Laurence Olivier Award and the Evening Standard Award for Best Musical, seven Tony Awards, and the French Molière Award. Recordings by both the London and Broadway original casts received Grammy awards.

"Phantom of the Opera"(The Phantom of the Opera) (1986)

"The Phantom of the Opera", based on the novel of the same name by the French writer Gaston Leroux. This is a dark and romantic story about a supernatural creature that lived in a dungeon under the Paris Opera.
It became the second longest-running show in Broadway history, after Cats, with 10.3 million viewers.
More than 65,000 performances of Phantom were performed in 18 countries, including Japan, Austria, Canada, Sweden, Germany and Australia. Productions of The Phantom of the Opera have received more than 50 prestigious awards, including three Laurence Olivier Awards and 7 Tony Awards, 7 Drama Desk Awards, and an Evening Standard Award. "The Phantom of the Opera" has won the sympathy of more than 58 million viewers from all over the world. Almost 11 million people have already watched it in New York alone, and over 80 million around the world.

"Mama Mia"(Mamma Mia) (1999)

The idea of creating an original musical based on ABBA songs belongs to producer Judy Kramer. More than 27 million is the total number of spectators around the world who visited the musical “Mamma Mia”. Every day, more than 20,000 people attend the musical "Mamma Mia" around the world.
During its eight-year run, the musical was staged in more than 130 major cities. The album with the recording of the first production of "Mama Mia" went platinum in the USA, Australia and Korea; double platinum in the UK and gold in Germany, Sweden and New Zealand.

Enjoy your viewing!