ON RECORD: Howard McGillin's Five Favorite Cast Albums- 'It's One of the Musical Theatre's Greatest Treasures'

BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you our latest weekly series- ON RECORD. Ever wonder which Broadway tunes have inspired your favorite performers? Check back every Tuesday to find out which cast recordings have made an impact on Broadway's brightest stars.

In this week's edition, we hear from Howard McGillin, who is currently starring as 'Honore Lachaille' in Gigi- playing at the Neil Simon Theatre Theatre. Read on to find out his top five picks!

1. Sweeney Todd

It is perhaps my favorite Broadway cast album ever. First of all, it's one of Sondheim's greatest (if not the greatest) scores, and there are several of his cast albums I can't imagine the theatre being without. The performances are superb, and the album captures a 'performance' energy essential to a great cast album. This album alone inspired me to leave Los Angeles (where I'd been working on a television career) and give New York a try.

Buy it today at Amazon or iTunes

2. Merrily We Roll Along

Simply brilliant score, witty, inspiring and heartbreaking. While driving the freeways of LA, I'd have this album blasting on my car stereo, wondering if I might ever get to appear in a Sondheim musical. I ended up making my Broadway debut in "Sunday In The Park With George".

Buy it today at Amazon or iTunes

3. Sunday In The Park With George

Ok, you sense a trend. To me it sets the bar very high for cast albums, and for the theatre in general. Gorgeous, brilliant, and challenging us all to "move on".

Buy it today at Amazon or iTunes

4. Gypsy

Well, Merman. I mean, there was no one in the world like her. Voice like a trumpet. She defines musical theater excitement.

Buy it today at Amazon or iTunes

5. She Loves Me

We did a production of this show when I was a senior in high school, and I discovered one of the musical theatre's greatest treasures. It's just a perfect show. Little did I know I'd be cast in the Broadway revival, which brought this brilliant little gem to a whole new audience.

Buy it today at Amazon or iTunes

McGillin's Broadway credits include: The Phantom Of The Opera, Kiss of the Spider Woman, She Loves Me, The Secret Garden, Anything Goes (Tony, Drama Desk Award nominations), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Tony, Drama Desk nominations; Theatre World Award), Sunday in the Park with George. London: Mack and Mabel, Anything Goes. Off-Broadway:It's a Wonderful Life, I Remember Mama, High Spirits, As Thousands Cheer, La Boheme (Drama Desk Award nomination). National Tour: Peter Pan. Regional: Damn Yankees, It Shoulda Been You (George Street Playhouse), The 39 Steps (Cape Playhouse), Stephen Sondheim's Bounce (Goodman Theatre, Chicago and Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. - Helen Hayes Award nomination). Films: South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut;The Swan Princess. Concerts: Ragtime, Stephen Sondheim's Follies. Solo CD: Howard McGillin: Where Time Stands Still, available online.