Chicago

Chicago doesn’t pretend to be meaningful—and that’s its edge. No heroes. No redemption. Just ambition and manipulation dressed up in jazz. It’s tight, controlled, and knows exactly what it’s doing. Against Cabaret, Chicago feels cleaner but less dangerous. Against Les Mis, it looks almost cold. But that’s the point. Chicago isn’t trying to move you—it’s trying to outplay you. And it usually does. If you think the best musical needs heart, this probably isn’t your pick. If you think it needs precision and attitude, Chicago is tough to beat.