Friday 5: 5 Favorite Classic Musicals of the 1960s

 
5 Favorite Classic Musicals of the 1960s 
Last month, one of our Friday 5 lists was our Favorite Classic Musicals of the 1950s, and now we move into the decade of love and the end of Broadway's Golden Era. There are dozens of possibilities, and no doubt within 5 minutes of this posting, we'll be second-guessing our choices. (What about Hair? Or How to Succeed? Or Hello, Dolly!? And those are just the H's!) But here's what we've got as of right now! Can you imagine having these all in a three year period?

5. Sweet Charity (1966)I love every single thing about this show - Neil Simon's hilarious book, Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields' thrilling, glib score, and of course, Bob Fosse's style. I'd give almost anything to have seen the great Gwen Verdon do her signature role. Another show with a no-skip score, how can you not love "Something Better Than This", "Big Spender" or "If They Could See Me Now"? The Fandango girl that does all of "Spender" with empty eyes and a lit cigarette dangling from her mouth is my hero,

4. Mame (1966)Okay, I'll admit a bias here. I've often written about its 1983 revival being my life-changing first Broadway show, and that Angela Lansbury is an idol of mine. But it's also true that I knew the score by heart before I ever saw it. I know that most people cite Hello, Dolly! as their favorite Jerry Herman show, Mame does it for me. The sophistication, the glamour, the bitchy, biting humor, and the love story that grows between the eccentric aunt and her nephew warms my heart. "My Best Girl" makes me tear up, just thinking about it.

3. Man of La Mancha (1965)I may be biased with this one, too - it was the very first show I was ever in. (I played Juan, a muleteer and Sancho Panza's ass.) Here is a show about overcoming huge obstacles, sure, but it's also about dreaming and reaching for a better world. "The Impossible Dream" is my all-time favorite Broadway anthem, "I'm Only Thinking of Him," is my favorite quartet, and "Aldonza" is one of my go-to shower numbers. (I kill it every time!)

2. Fiddler on the Roof (1964)It begins with what I think is the single greatest opening number, "Tradition," and only gets better from there. Sure it has its fun, lighter moments, but this classic is the very definition of musical drama. A heartbreaking yet powerfully uplifting epic, Fiddler is about family, community and perseverance. The religion, history and events may be specific, but its universality is what makes this show endure throughout the years.

1. Cabaret (1966)Of all of these, this show seems the most relevant (unfortunately) to the state of the world. There are few shows that manage that precarious balance between entertaining spectacle and harsh drama this well. The score, of course, is amazing from that opening drum roll to the sobering finale. I had the honor of seeing Joel Grey'a final performance - ever - as the Emcee, which he announced tearfully from the stage. What struck me was that after decades in the role, and on the last day of a long national tour, he was so fresh and present. Electric.

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