Top 10 Saddest Musicals of All Time
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Date: 2023-11-20
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Comments and reviews: 30
Cheryl
Cabaret is absolutely devastating. The title song is deceptively fun and energetic, but Sally's performance of it toward the end of the show is tragic, as it marks her surrender to the evil status quo of the Nazi takeover. She chooses her life of tenuous stardom and likely fleeting comfort and safety over standing up for what was right, or at least leaving with Cliff/Brian to escape that toxic environment. A resigned and fatalistic Sally acknowledges her self-destructive choices. When I go, I'm going like Elsie. Gutted every time.
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Cabaret is absolutely devastating. The title song is deceptively fun and energetic, but Sally's performance of it toward the end of the show is tragic, as it marks her surrender to the evil status quo of the Nazi takeover. She chooses her life of tenuous stardom and likely fleeting comfort and safety over standing up for what was right, or at least leaving with Cliff/Brian to escape that toxic environment. A resigned and fatalistic Sally acknowledges her self-destructive choices. When I go, I'm going like Elsie. Gutted every time.
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Penny
For me it will always be Sweeney Todd. Wrongly accused. Wife violated, destroyed for rejecting her abuser, his daughter held prisoner and then targeted for abuse by family abuser. Being fooled into murdering your loved one. Your character being transformed by evil. Always betrayed by those close to you by cruel plotting. Putting this all together must have been a madhouse.
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For me it will always be Sweeney Todd. Wrongly accused. Wife violated, destroyed for rejecting her abuser, his daughter held prisoner and then targeted for abuse by family abuser. Being fooled into murdering your loved one. Your character being transformed by evil. Always betrayed by those close to you by cruel plotting. Putting this all together must have been a madhouse.
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Eva
Nothing so bleak as Follies, so where is it! It's literary 2, 5 hours bitterness about the disappointment of life and the death of the dreams you once had. All the shows in this list have at least something hopeful about them. Follies is just doom and despair. And yes, the music sounds fun and not dramatic like Les Mis, but that's what makes it even more painful.
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Nothing so bleak as Follies, so where is it! It's literary 2, 5 hours bitterness about the disappointment of life and the death of the dreams you once had. All the shows in this list have at least something hopeful about them. Follies is just doom and despair. And yes, the music sounds fun and not dramatic like Les Mis, but that's what makes it even more painful.
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fanjoy
T H E P H A N T O M O F T H E O P E R A.
I %100 agree that Les Mis deserves to be number one, but did none of yall cry at the end of Phantom 25th? Ramin Karimloo had me BAWLING my eyes out! Phantom leaves me in tears and the entire sequence of the final lair gives me more emotions then I know what to do with. Good God so many moments there! AAAAAAA
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T H E P H A N T O M O F T H E O P E R A.
I %100 agree that Les Mis deserves to be number one, but did none of yall cry at the end of Phantom 25th? Ramin Karimloo had me BAWLING my eyes out! Phantom leaves me in tears and the entire sequence of the final lair gives me more emotions then I know what to do with. Good God so many moments there! AAAAAAA
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Dawn
Rent and Miss Saigon shouldve been higher. They are two of my favorite musicals ever, but also two of the saddest. Thank you for having Miss Saigon on this list. I feel because it want made into a movie, it doesnt get as much recognition. Also, I think Jekyll and Hyde shouldve at least gotten an honorable mention.
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Rent and Miss Saigon shouldve been higher. They are two of my favorite musicals ever, but also two of the saddest. Thank you for having Miss Saigon on this list. I feel because it want made into a movie, it doesnt get as much recognition. Also, I think Jekyll and Hyde shouldve at least gotten an honorable mention.
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Janis
The saddest thing is I havent seen some of these shows. I cannot afford theater tickets now. In the past I was fortunate to see Les Mis, West Side Story and the films of Carousel and Rent. The show that really got me was Man of La Mancha. The song that Aldonza sings after being beaten and raped haunted me.
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The saddest thing is I havent seen some of these shows. I cannot afford theater tickets now. In the past I was fortunate to see Les Mis, West Side Story and the films of Carousel and Rent. The show that really got me was Man of La Mancha. The song that Aldonza sings after being beaten and raped haunted me.
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Sarah
I find the sound of music sad but beautiful julie andrews really nice adaptation the wedding scene and climbing mountain in the end very emotional also find romeo and juliet sad with the suicide beautiful work just tragic forbidden love story just like west side story
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I find the sound of music sad but beautiful julie andrews really nice adaptation the wedding scene and climbing mountain in the end very emotional also find romeo and juliet sad with the suicide beautiful work just tragic forbidden love story just like west side story
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msmojo
I know Im a year late but THANK YOU for including Spring Awakening and highlighting Skylars performance! He gets left out a lot as he has only done a few Broadway/Off Broadway shows. But he got his start there and will always be a theatre guy.
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I know Im a year late but THANK YOU for including Spring Awakening and highlighting Skylars performance! He gets left out a lot as he has only done a few Broadway/Off Broadway shows. But he got his start there and will always be a theatre guy.
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Konoi
It's hard to find a saddest musical than Notre Dame de Paris to me, but I guess you don't count French musicals in this. French musicals are glorious.
Interestingly, the non-French musical that truly makes me cry is Cats, so yeah.
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It's hard to find a saddest musical than Notre Dame de Paris to me, but I guess you don't count French musicals in this. French musicals are glorious.
Interestingly, the non-French musical that truly makes me cry is Cats, so yeah.
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Peggy
Led Miserables, Rent, and Sweeney Todd are my all time favorite musicals. Eight of us sang Seasons of Love in my college choir spring concert, and didn't even need to look at the music for it.
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Led Miserables, Rent, and Sweeney Todd are my all time favorite musicals. Eight of us sang Seasons of Love in my college choir spring concert, and didn't even need to look at the music for it.
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Alison
Dear Evan Hansen simply gutted me, particularly in a pandemic-inflicted world where so many teens are lonely and hurting. Les Mis is ALWAYS spectacular, never fails to move me to my core.
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Dear Evan Hansen simply gutted me, particularly in a pandemic-inflicted world where so many teens are lonely and hurting. Les Mis is ALWAYS spectacular, never fails to move me to my core.
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Thom
Are only stage musicals eligible? Because Dancer In The Dark is literally a Feel-Bad musical if ever there was one. Les Miserables easily wins #1 but Dancer is top three at least.
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Are only stage musicals eligible? Because Dancer In The Dark is literally a Feel-Bad musical if ever there was one. Les Miserables easily wins #1 but Dancer is top three at least.
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The
I'm really happy Falsettos got the recognition it deserves. Fantastic cast, and really amazing story. People believe it's a comedy, but come second act no one is laughing.
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I'm really happy Falsettos got the recognition it deserves. Fantastic cast, and really amazing story. People believe it's a comedy, but come second act no one is laughing.
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Bea
Or BILLY ELLIOT -- I sobbed through that production on Broadway. And don't get me started on the Grandmother in that show. such a beautiful relationship with her grandson.
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Or BILLY ELLIOT -- I sobbed through that production on Broadway. And don't get me started on the Grandmother in that show. such a beautiful relationship with her grandson.
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Eileen
Cried over these. I lived through Rent new emergency nurse 1983 horrible time. AIDS so tragic. Jesse Martin great in movie. Read or watch documentary on AIDS quilt.
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Cried over these. I lived through Rent new emergency nurse 1983 horrible time. AIDS so tragic. Jesse Martin great in movie. Read or watch documentary on AIDS quilt.
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Claire
Sorry Les Mis fans but I am a huge Phantom Of The Opera Fan and how come this broadway musical wasn't even an honorable mention? Phantom deserves more respect IMO!
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Sorry Les Mis fans but I am a huge Phantom Of The Opera Fan and how come this broadway musical wasn't even an honorable mention? Phantom deserves more respect IMO!
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TheTradge
All Im thinking is WHERE WAS HADESTOWN? Honestly, that should have at least made top 5! Also where was Hamilton? Where was Waitress? Where was Come From Away?
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All Im thinking is WHERE WAS HADESTOWN? Honestly, that should have at least made top 5! Also where was Hamilton? Where was Waitress? Where was Come From Away?
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Renee
Why isnt Come From Away on here? It was a true story about what happened in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada during 9/11! One of my favorite musicals of all time!
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Why isnt Come From Away on here? It was a true story about what happened in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada during 9/11! One of my favorite musicals of all time!
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Candida
I'm so glad that Ragtime made the list. It's such an underrated musical. I was in the cast at varsity, doing this show was emotional draining but amazing!
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I'm so glad that Ragtime made the list. It's such an underrated musical. I was in the cast at varsity, doing this show was emotional draining but amazing!
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Anna_Lindlau-your
really Hamilton's not on the list? i cried in the theaters to it and 5 other times to it I'm surprised, its not even in honorable mentions.
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really Hamilton's not on the list? i cried in the theaters to it and 5 other times to it I'm surprised, its not even in honorable mentions.
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Simo
I watched Next to Normal only once many years ago and I haven't recovered yet, I cried too much. But I can watch Les Mis many times, and I always cry.
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I watched Next to Normal only once many years ago and I haven't recovered yet, I cried too much. But I can watch Les Mis many times, and I always cry.
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Breadway
Follies- the only Sondheim musical where it doesnt end clearly. Both couple dont get what they want- at the final chance they could possibly have
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Follies- the only Sondheim musical where it doesnt end clearly. Both couple dont get what they want- at the final chance they could possibly have
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hayley
where's moulin rouge? where's the bridges of madison county (that one's not that sad but it at least deserved a mention? where's 21 chump street?
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where's moulin rouge? where's the bridges of madison county (that one's not that sad but it at least deserved a mention? where's 21 chump street?
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Elphaba
When i watched les mis i was a little worried about Anne Hathaway singing but by the end of i dreamed a dream my face looked like this:
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When i watched les mis i was a little worried about Anne Hathaway singing but by the end of i dreamed a dream my face looked like this:
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TheGadgetPanda
I guess I have some kind of prejudice against sad musicals. So many shows in this list I've avoided or never thought to see.
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I guess I have some kind of prejudice against sad musicals. So many shows in this list I've avoided or never thought to see.
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Lauren
I remember explaining the plot of Parade to my sister. I was like, yeah, this isnt exactly a happy-happy-joy-joy kind of show. Lol
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I remember explaining the plot of Parade to my sister. I was like, yeah, this isnt exactly a happy-happy-joy-joy kind of show. Lol
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Anne
Funny Girl was very sad at the end. I cried! I have loved this musical since I was young, and Im 71 now. I love the musicals.
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Funny Girl was very sad at the end. I cried! I have loved this musical since I was young, and Im 71 now. I love the musicals.
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Erin
Unpopular opinion: I actually hate West Side Story. I'm willing to give the new one a shot, but I can't stand the old movie.
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Unpopular opinion: I actually hate West Side Story. I'm willing to give the new one a shot, but I can't stand the old movie.
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linda
les mis yes but what about blood brothers i have seen that about 6 times and still cry at it, also titanic the musical
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les mis yes but what about blood brothers i have seen that about 6 times and still cry at it, also titanic the musical
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Barbara
For me The King and I is the one that gets me every time. I always cry like a baby when the king dies at the end.
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For me The King and I is the one that gets me every time. I always cry like a baby when the king dies at the end.
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