Best Musical Loser! Shows You Won't Believe Didn't Win a Tony Award
By: Nora Dominick Jun. 11, 2015
At the 69th Annual Tony Awards another musicals claimed the top prize for Best Musical. This year the groundbreaking new musical FUN HOME took home the top prize and in a category filled to the brim with inventive, refreshing, Tony Award worthy musicals, this years competition was fiercer than ever.
After Broadway's biggest night, 2015 Tony nominated Best Musical, SOMETHING ROTTEN! took to all forms of social media to post one of the best pieces of marketing to date. The photo read "Loser Best Musical! 2015 Tony Awards. We're in great company..." The picture then went on to list some of the musicals in the past that didn't win Best Musical.
With this picture causing quite a social media buzz in the Broadway community, BroadwayWorld has decided to round up the best losers for Best Musical, and you will be surprised with some of the losers. Click through the videos below and watch some of Broadway's most iconic musicals that didn't take home the Tony Award for Best Musical.
West Side Story (1958)
At the 1958 Tony Awards, numerous soon to be classic musicals were in the running for Best Musical. Most notably, West Side Story was up against The Music Man in this Best Musical race. In the end, The Music Man would triumph over West Side Story in a very, very close race. West Side Story has been revived on Broadway multiple times and was even turned into a classic movie starring Natalie Wood in 1961. Below is a clip from the recent 2011 revival starring Karen Olivio as Anita.
The Music Man has been revived multiple times on Broadway as well and most recently in 2000 starring Craig Bierko as Harold and Rebecca Luker as Marian seen at the 2000 Tony Awards in the clip below.
Gypsy (1960)
Two of the greatest musicals in Broadway history were pitted against each other for the 1960 Tony Awards. Gypsy and The Sound of Music would battle it out for Best Musical. That year, The Sound of Music would go onto win Best Musical and would tie, not with Gypsy, but with Fiorello! Recently revived in 2008 starring Patti LuPone, Laura Benanti and Boyd Gaines, Gypsy is a classic Broadway musical. Watch the 2008 Tony Award performance below.
The Sound of Music has become a classic musical. Between the amazing, classic 1965 movie starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer and the recent NBC special The Sound of Music Live! starring Carrie Underwood and Audra McDonald, The Sound of Music has danced into the hearts of a new generation of fans. Below is a clip from the 52nd Annual Tony Awards performance starring Rebecca Luker as Maria.
Oliver! (1963)
One musical involves an orphaned boy on the streets of London and the other involves an Ancient Roman slave who is scheming to win his freedom. Oliver! and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum were both pitted against each other at the 1963 Tony Awards. In the end A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum would triumph over Oliver! and win the Best Musical award. Oliver! has become a fan-favorite musical and movie and has been performed around the globe. Below is a clip from the aclaimed 1968 movie adaptation starring the late Ron Moody as Fagin.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum has been revived twice on Broadway and most recently in 1998 starring Nathan Lane. The musical is a classic amongst the Broadway community, however it doesn't reach as wide of an audience as Oliver! Below is a clip of Nathan Lane and the 1998 revival cast of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum performing on The Late Show with David Letterman.
Funny Girl (1964)
At the 1964 Tony Awards, Funny Girl and Hello Dolly! were neck and neck for the Tony Award for Best Musical. Funny Girl is probably one of the most iconic musicals and movie adaptations of all time. Starring Broadway and film legend Barbra Streisand, Funny Girl has left its mark on the Broadway community. As we all know, Funny Girl would not go onto win the Tony Award for Best Musical and there has never been a revival. Below is a clip of Barbra Streisand singing the iconic number "Don't Rain on My Parade" from the 1968 film adaptation.
Hello Dolly! has been revived multiple times on Broadway and Carol Channing's performance as Dolly will always be magnificent. Below is a clip of the Original Broadway Cast singing the titular number from Hello Dolly!
Follies (1972)
Follies and Two Gentlemen of Verona are two classic musicals, however, Follies is the more notable of the two. At the 1972 Tony Awards Two Gentlemen of Verona would come out on top beating not only Follies but the classic musical Grease. Follies is one of Stephen Sondheim's most beloved musicals and has been revival numerous times on Broadway. Below is a clip from the most recent revival of Follies in 2011 starring Bernadette Peters, Danny Burstein and Jan Maxwell.
Two Gentlemen of Verona is a classic Broadway rock musical and has been revived several times on Broadway. Although it's known within the Broadway community, it doesn't have the same mass recognition as Follies. Below is a clip from the 2005 production of Two Gentlemen of Verona starring Norm Lewis as part of Shakespeare in the Park.
Chicago (1976)
One involves Roxie Hart murdering her unfaithful lover and the other involves actors and actresses baring their soul and hoping to get a part in an unnamed Broadway musical. In 1976, Chicago and A Chorus Line competed for the Tony Award for Best Musical with A Chorus Line coming out on top. Since the 1996 revival, Chicago has been running on Broadway and continues to be a staple on Broadway. As more and more people fall in love with this classic musical. Below is a clip of Bebe Newerth and the company of Chicago performing the hit numer "All That Jazz" at the 52nd Annual Tony Awards.
A Chorus Line is also a staple in the Broadway community. The classic Marvin Hamlisch musical has undergone several revivals on Broadway and continues to be a fan favorite. Below is the 2007 company of A Chorus Line singing the oepning number at the Tony Awards.
Dreamgirls (1982)
Both of these musicals competing for Best Musical at the 1982 Tony Awards have since been turned into critically-acclaimed movie musicals. Dreamgirls and Nine have both been introduced to a new generation of Broadway fans but back in 1982, they both were competing for the Best Musical award. Nine would go onto win Best Musical that year beating Dreamgirls, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Pump Boys and Dinettes. Below is a clip of Jennifer Holiday slaying the number "And I'm Telling You" at the 1982 Tony Awards. This performance would go down as one of the best Tony Award performances to date.
With music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and originally directed by Tommy Tune, Nine went onto win several Tony Awards at the 1982 Tony Awards and has had several masterful revivals. Below is a clip of the original company of Nine performing "Be Italian" at the 1982 Tony Awards.
Into the Woods (1988)
Into the Woods is one of the most iconic Stephen Sondheim musicals to date. His ability to use well-known characters and create a whole new world for them is incredible. At the 1988 Tony Awards Into the Woods was up against the Andrew Llyod Webber musical, The Phantom of the Opera. At the 1988 Drama Desk Awards, Into the Woods would beat The Phantom of the Opera so it was any musicals game when it came to the Tony Awards. The Best Musical that year would end up going to The Phantom of the Opera however Into the Woods remains one of the best musicals of all time. Below is a clip from the 1988 Tony Awards performance of Into the Woods.
Of course, The Phantom of the Opera would win the Best Musical and has now become the longest-running musical on Broadway, having not closed since it opened in 1988. It has been performed all over the world and is a classic Broadway musical. Below is a clip of the original company of The Phantom of the Opera performing at the 1988 Tony Awards.
Miss Saigon (1991)
The beloved musical Miss Saigon, one of the greatest and most beloved Broadway musicals, also didn't take home the Tony Award for Best Musical back in 1991. The Will Rogers Follies would go onto snag the win beating not only Miss Saigon but also The Secret Garden. Miss Saigon is currently playing on the West End and is a beloved musical. Below is a clip from the 1991 Tony Awards performance of Miss Saigon starring Jonathan Pryce and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga.
Directed by Tommy Tune and featuring some of the biggest dance numbers in any Broadway musical, The Will Rogers Follies continues to be one of the best dance shows of all time. Below is a clip from the opening number of the 1991 Tony Awards starring the original company of The Will Rogers Follies.
Wicked (2004)
Easily one of the most beloved musicals in this recent generation, Wicked is one of the biggest musicals of all time. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, Wicked is one of the best, box-office successes and has been performed all over the globe. At the 2004 Tony Awards, Wicked was up against Avenue Q. After winning the 2004 Drama Desk Award, Wicked seemed like it would take home the top prize however Avenue Q would go onto win the award. Below is a clip from the 2004 Tony Award performance of Wicked starring Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.
Avenue Q, a hilarious comedy utlizing puppets, Think "Sesame Street" with adult themes, humor and song. The musical took home the top prize at the 2004 Tony Awards for Best Musical and to this today continues to sing its way into the hearts of fans Off-Broadway. Below is a clip of Avenue Q performing at the 2004 Tony Awards.
The Drowsy Chaperone (2006)
At the 2006 Tony Awards, the hilarious musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone and Jersey Boys were neck and neck to win Best Musical. The Droswy Chaperone would win at the 2006 Drama Desk Awards, however it would be Jersey Boys that would take home the top prize for Best Musical at the 2006 tony Awards. The Drowsy Chaperone is a loving send-up of stage musicals of the Jazz Age, a fan known only as Man in Chair gives a spin to the original cast recording of one such musical, providing the audience with amusing minutiae about the play and the players. This is one of the funniest musicals in the recent age of Broadway. Below is a clip of Tony Award winner Sutton Foster and the original cast of the The Drowsy Chaperone performing at the 2006 Tony Awards.
Jersey Boys is still a beloved Broadway musical and is still running since it opened in 2005. Jersey Boys tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and continues to be a crowd favorite on Broadway. Below is a clip of the original cast of Jersey Boys performing at the 2006 Tony Awards.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (2014)
Most recently the 2014 Tony Award race for Best Musical was a very close one. With inventive, awe-inducing musicals premiering last season, it was hard to award it to just one. Eventually Gentlemna's Guide to Love and Murder took home the big win and it was very well deserved however, the other musical that year, Beautiful deserved the win as well. Beautiful is now touring across the U.S and is playing on the West End. Below are show clips of Tony Award winner Jessie Mueller and the company of Beautiful.
Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder would go onto win the 2014 Tony Award for Best Musical. This inventive, hilarious new musical comedy continues to astound audiences night after night on Broadway. Below is a clip of Bryce Pinkham and the company of Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder performing "I've Decided to Marry You."
So, this year's nominees (An American in Paris, The Vist and of course Something Rotten! ) are in great company with all of these fellow losers for the Tony Award for Best Musical.
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