What makes a musical good?

Question:Is it the plot, the music or what? Does everything together make a musical great? I know there are musicals wit hget music but the plot is lacking. I want to be a playwright so I could use some insight.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Is it the plot, the music or what? Does everything together make a musical great? I know there are musicals wit hget music but the plot is lacking. I want to be a playwright so I could use some insight.

The best musicals are typically boldly original with great music - with songs that are not only great on their own but advance the plot. For example, the recent "Sweeney Todd"; while not every song in the show is one you'll be humming, the songs are memorable and the story itself draws you in.

If you are planning on writing a musical - write the play first then go back and decide where to add songs. Songs should be used to convey emotions that are sometimes hard to write as dialogue.

Go and study Broadway shows throughout the last century, year by year - see which ones have faded into obscurity and which ones are still known today - then go and look at the failures and see why they might have failed or what could have been done to make them better.

Musicals suck.

But with every type of art, it probably has to do with originality.

Playwrights don't write musicals. Composers and Book Writers do. Playwrights write plays. Writing a play and writing the book for a musical are two different sets of skills. Not the same thing at all.

The best musicals are the ones that fully make an impact on the audience as well as making it relate to them to a certain degree.

the musical rent has an impact because it reflects todays society due to race and culture.

The musical blood brothers is relatable to all those who made terrible choices whether they wanted to or not.

A good musical should encapsulate the audience and truly make them feel part of the story as well as having fun.

Go and see some musicals go to everything from wicked to les mis, When you have come back and write what you thought how did you feel when you came out, what made the audience sit up and watch it.

good luck im sure your gonna be an excellent playwriter,
maybe you will cast me one day.