Bring back the old Classic Broadway style!

It’s a bummer that the style of older musicals with their lush orchestras, catchy melodies, and big, brassy show tunes seem to be a thing of the past for new musicals. I’m talking about the kind of musicals that feel like true classics — think Sweeney Todd, Wicked, The Music Man, GGLAM, Book of Mormon and even going back to the old school style of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. These shows were built around the music, with memorable, earworm melodies and clever lyrics that stayed with you for a while.

Nowadays, it feels like so many musicals are trying to take a totally different approach, focusing more on being “unique” than creating timeless scores. A lot of shows barely feel centered around their music anymore, and sometimes it feels like there’s not a melody in ear shot. Those shows continue to fail as they should. Whatever happened to the playful, upbeat tunes and the grand orchestrations that was so key to Broadway’s golden days?

Theater used to be all about having that perfect blend of show-stopping numbers, rich orchestration, and even sharp satire. These styles created some of the best shows in history. Why on Earth did Broadway ever stray from that path? Are producers just afraid it won’t sell anymore? Or is there still some hope for a revival of that classic-style musical theater magic?

Anyone else feel the same way? Are there any current or recent shows that still hit that sweet spot for you?