I tried to think of what the 10 biggest classic musicals are. I ignored my own personal tastes and tried to think of shows that are generally thought of as classics by most people. I considered which musicals even non-theater people have heard of, which musicals have classic songs most people have heard, which ones generally have lots of productions, which ones are often referenced in popular culture, etc. I have come up with a list of 10 musical classic standards (not ranked). I would like to hear your thoughts on the list. Are there any other shows that you think belong on the list? Are there any on the list that you think should be eliminated.

Oklahoma!
South Pacific
My Fair Lady
The Music Man
West Side Story
The Sound of Music
Fiddler on the Roof
Les Miserables
The Phantom of the Opera
Wicked (I know it's still pretty recent, but it is quickly becoming a classic.)

I'd remove Wicked because it is an audience favorite, not actually a respectable musical (the critics hated it). And put in Cats.

I wouldn't put in Cats. Even though it lasted a long time on Broadway, not many people produce it these days. Also, the only song from Cats that anyone knows is Memory. This list should have shows with multiple songs that are famous. As for critics dismissing Wicked, they also dismissed Les Miserables when it first premiered in London, but no one can deny that it's a classic now. Since Wicked has been extremely popular for over 8 years, some critics who initially panned it are probably giving it a second look. When you get more familiar with Wicked, you realize that it has more depth than it first appears to. That being said, I don't think you should label Wicked as "not a respectable musical."

I don't know what your source is for that, but it's not true.

I wouldn't include Wicked, mostly because it's too new, and hasn't had the time to show if it will become a theatre standard or fade away. Not to mention, if you are including famous songs, your average Joe really doesn't know anything about Wicked or it's songs.

I'd go for a list like:

Sound of Music
My Fair Lady
Phantom of the Opera
Cats
Grease
Rocky Horror
West Side Story
Les Miserable
Fiddler on the Roof
Jesus Christ Superstar

Of course, many more could be added to the list like King and I, Oklahoma, Evita, Mary Poppins, Cabaret, etc.

Ooh, Grease! I forgot about that! Also maybe West Side Story.
And yeah, Cats is still going strong. I saw it in April, and my friend just got cast in a student production of it. Maybe it doesn't have a ton of really well known songs, but almost everyone is familiar with the musical.
I don't think "respectable" is exactly the word I was trying to use, but I still don't think Wicked is a classic. For one, most theatres can't perform it yet, as the rights haven't been released yet. And the only two well known songs are Defying Gravity and Popular.

My Fair Lady
Gypsy
Oklahoma
Show Boat
South Pacific
Les Miserables
Hello Dolly
Fiddler on th Roof
Kiss Me kate
Sweeney Todd

Uh, this exactly. There's nothing I would add or take off.

EDIT: Wait, I was wrong. I'd replace Dolly and either Kate or Sweeney ( ) probably with Guys and Dolls and Music Man. The fact that almost every song in Guys and Dolls has made its way into pop culture in one way or another speaks for itself. Music Man is similar. If we're talking general public, then G&D and Music Man would HAVE to be on there.

1. Mass In B Minor – Johann Sebastian Bach

2. Der Ring des Nibelungen – Richard Wagner

3. Symphony No. 9 in D minor "Choral" – Ludwig Van Beethoven

4. Symphony No. 5 in C minor – Ludwig Van Beethoven

5. St Matthew's Passion – Johann Sebastian Bach

6. Tristan und Isolde – Richard Wagner

7. Don Giovanni – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

8. String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor – Ludwig Van Beethoven

9. Messiah – George Frideric Handel

10. Rite of Spring – Igor Stravinsky

[Mod edit: No commercial links in posts or signatures, thank you]

Very funny. Anyone else have any thoughts on the biggest BROADWAY musical classics?

Hm, is so many great musicals to choice from but from a well known basic and disregarding how comersial theyre are and what the audience is a top list should be:

1: Phantom of the Opera. The longest running musical ever.
2: West Side Story. A classic and explored dancing in a new way. Also builds on one off the most classical stories there is, Romeo and Juliet.
3: My Fair Lady.
4: Cats. Was one off the longest running musicals and started the whole trend off mega musicals.
5: The Lion King: Is one off the most successfull Disney musicals, both as a movie and as a stage musical.
6: Mis Saigon. Every male actors is said to have a dream off being in that fameous chopper, enough said.
7: Mamma Mia. One off the more successfull of the jukebox musicals and is build upon the famous ABBA musics. Maybe to new to really fit but is on the way to become a super classic, and it only ads with the recent movie.
8: Wicked. Is another "maybe to young" but has to fit since its so great.
9: The Sound of Music.
10: Singing In the Rain. A classic both as a movie and as a musical.

Could be many more including Hair and Dirty Dancing, Les Miserablés, Kristina from Duvemåla and Jesus Christ Superstar, but I think thats a good and variable list.