My Top Five Musicals: Annie, Fame, Rent…

February 11th, 2008 by Erica Johansson

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39966 6081 My Top Five Musicals: Annie, Fame, Rent...

42nd Street © Erwin Alonzo

If I had lived near 42nd Street I would probably go to the theater at least once a week. I absolutely love musicals. For people visiting New York City, an evening at the theater is a must.

My all-time favourite musicals are:

1. Annie.

I love Annie, the young orphan girl who gets the chance to leave Miss Hannigan’s miserable orphanage and live with the wealthy Oliver Warbucks. I first saw Annie at the theatre Göta Lejon in Stockholm when I was 14, and the film was one of my favourites as a kid.

2. Fame

Sometimes I used to wish I had the opportunity to study at New York City’s High School for the Performing Arts on 46th Street. The musical follows a group of students as they struggle with demanding school work, identity issues, prejudices, sexuality, love, and their determination to succeed.

3. Rent

Set in Alphabet City in the bohemian East Village, Rent is a rock musical inspired by Puccini’s opera La Boheme. I saw it with my family in Stockholm several years ago, would love to see the English version.

4. Aida

When we booked Broadway tickets to Aida in 2004, I knew nothing about the musical drama based on Guiseppe Verdi’s opera with the same name. I was pleasantly surprised by the performance, the moving story, Elton John’s music, and the lyrics by Tim Rice. I especially remember the song ‘How I know You’. Definitely worth seeing.

5. Chess

Also Chess has lyrics by Tim Rice. The story involves two players in the world chess championship and the woman who falls in love with one of them. Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson from the Swedish pop group Abba wrote the music.

    See these musicals in London on a West End theatre break.

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