Category: Broadway’s Best

In the last 20 years, the Broadway catalog has grown to often include the jukebox musical, which uses previously written music to score a Broadway show. Sometimes, the music is used to tell a completely different and unrelated story, like that of Mamma Mia, & Juliet, or Rock of Ages, but more often, they are used to tell the life and career story of that very artist. With two new entries to the list this season, including Jonathan Groff’s suave singing as Bobby Darin in Just in Time and James Monroe Iglehart’s smooth satchmo Louis Armstrong in A Wonderful World, we are looking back at the history of these portrayals of music icons.

Michael Jackson – MJ the Musical (2022–Present)

Moonwalks and megahits define this electric look at Jackson during his 1992 “Dangerous” tour rehearsals. Myles Frost won the 2022 Tony Award for his portrayal of the King of Pop.

Neil Diamond – A Beautiful Noise (2022–2024)
Diamond’s life and lyrics shine in this bio-musical that spans decades of sequins and songcraft.

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – Jersey Boys (2005–2017, 2021 Off-Broadway)
The falsetto, the flair, the mob ties — a Tony-winning tribute to New Jersey’s finest that gave this musical theatre subgenre its kickstart. 

The Temptations – Ain’t Too Proud (2019–2022)
From street corners to superstardom, the Temps’ story grooves through betrayal, brotherhood, and “My Girl.”

Carole King – Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (2014–2019)
The shy songwriter turned solo superstar gets her due, piano and all.

Billie Holiday – Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (2014)
Audra McDonald made history channeling Lady Day in a harrowing, jazz-soaked final concert.

Cher – The Cher Show (2018–2019)
Three Chers, one legend — from Sonny & Cher stardom to solo icon status.

Gloria Estefan – On Your Feet! (2015–2017)
Conga lines and Cuban rhythms power this celebration of the Estefans’ rise from Miami to the world stage.

Donna Summer – Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (2018)
Disco’s reigning queen reigned again through three performers, each reflecting a different era.

Tina Turner – Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (2019–2024)

Raw vocals and resilience define this high-octane journey through Tina’s turbulent life and legendary hits.

This year, Broadway’s timeline glitters with gold (and diamond!) anniversaries of the shows that shaped American musical theater — from tap-dancing showgirls to revolutionary rap. From golden age classics to 21st-century defining productions, there are a lot of Broadway milestones worth celebrating this year!

A Chorus Line – 50 Years

Opened: July 25, 1975

The quintessential behind-the-curtain musical, A Chorus Line gives us a vulnerable yet epic look at the hopes and dreams of the artists that make up the lifeblood of Broadway: the ensembles. A chorus line ran for 15 years (breaking the record for longest-running show at the time) and forever changed how we looked at the performers who make up musical theatre ensembles.

Chicago – 50 Years

Opened: June 3, 1975

Murder, jazz, and razzle-dazzle. Kander & Ebb’s Chicago remains a seductive satire of fame and corruption, with Bob Fosse’s style stamped into every hip roll. While the original had a modest run, the 1996 revival is the longest-running American musical in Broadway history — and it’s still dazzling us with new celebrity castings, such as Pamela Anderson and Jinkx Monsoon, to keep audiences coming through the doors. Here’s to all that jazz!

The Wiz – 50 Years

Opened: January 5, 1975

Legacy: This revolutionary, soulful spin on The Wizard of Oz brought an all-Black creative team and cast to Broadway and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. With songs like ‘Ease On Down the Road,’ a movie adaptation with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, and a funky, fearless energy, The Wiz paved the way for a more inclusive Broadway. Just before the Wiz had its big 50th birthday, the show celebrated with a limited-run revival last year following a national tour!

Guys & Dolls – 75 Years

Opened: November 24, 1950

Damon Runyon’s New York never sounded so good. To say this show rocked the boat is an understatement. Considered one of the best-written musicals of all time, Frank Loesser’s Guys & Dolls is the kind of big musical score you picture when you think of the perfect Broadway show! With gambling, girls, and that classic Broadway sound, we’re keeping our eyes peeled as we hope for a revival soon.

Carousel – 80 Years

Opened: April 19, 1945

A granddaddy of modern Broadway form, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s sweeping second collaboration brought bold operatic voice and tragic romance to the young American theatre industry. With ‘If I Loved You’ and ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ standing out as classic songs we still hum today, Carousel expanded the emotional vocabulary of the art form and remains one of the most revered scores of all time.

Pal Joey – 85 Years

Opened: December 25, 1940

The original antihero, Joey, our pal, leads this iconic Rodgers and Hart musical. Ahead of its time, especially in terms of its themes of sexual politics and gritty realness, this show shocked audiences at the time and provoked conversation beyond the typical feel-good escapism of most shows around it. What was once the edgy adolescence of the genre finding its voice is now a pillar of the medium. We’re excited to see the upcoming revisal at Arena Stage in their 75th season, as it revolutionizes the show yet again through its reflection of the 20th century!

Aida – 25 Years

Opened: March 23, 2000

An Elton John-driven Disney Theatricals spectacle, that started as a celebrity-filled concept album based on an Italian Opera, this show transports its leads and audiences to Ancient Egypt in the most fun, pop-filled way. Five Tony noms, four wins, and Time-stamped in the best 10 shows of the year, Aida ushered Disney and Broadway into the 21st century.

Hamilton – 10 Years

Opened: August 6, 2015

Do we even need to say it? If you’re reading this article, you’ve heard of Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip-hop history lesson redefined what Broadway could be and transcended the genre beyond what any other show ever has. With a cast that looked at America then through a cast made up of America now, Hamilton became a global cultural force, winning 11 Tonys, a Pulitzer, millions of fans, and syndicating to even have a Roblox presence. It’s crazy to think this show is already 10 years old.

From the golden age to the streaming era, these shows have left footprints — and tap marks — all over the stage. Whether you saw them in their original runs, caught a revival, or discovered them through cast albums and TikTok, their stories endure.

Which anniversary are you celebrating this year?

Let us know @bwaysbestshows — and stay tuned for special features on each title throughout the year.

By Alex Kopnick & BBS Staff

Since the beginning of the medium, musicals have had title songs which grabbed audiences and brought out the heart of the art they exist within. It’s almost a requirement for a great musical to have a song that’s named the exact same thing as the show. Let’s take a look through the history of great musicals—past, present and future—and shout out some of the best title songs of all time:

‘Oklahoma’ from Oklahoma

From what is widely considered to be the first ever book musical, ‘Oklahoma’ spells out what makes a great titular song. Coming midway through the second act, this joyous celebration of the song, which happens in the big wedding scene brings out the love the characters have from their home state. With the repeated spelling out of the name of the grand land they belong to, if you’ve ever encountered this show, you’ve certainly never had trouble spelling the state north of Texas since. 

‘Hello Dolly!’ from Hello Dolly!

There may not be a more iconic pair of words sung in the canon of theatre than “Hello Dolly!”? If youre anything like us, you can’t even just read those words without hearing them in tune. This song sticks with you, and it alone makes the show its named after worthy of its place in the history of musical theatre. An iconic character moment, Dolly announces to us, in a way full of the character’s iconic personality, that She. Is. Back. This tune is so good, they even bring it back at the end for a reprise.

‘The Sound of Music’ from The Sound of Music 

One of the few musicals to really transcend the form in popularity, and with a subsequent movie that is one of the most famous of all time, ‘The Sound of Music’ is a stunning opening number that gives us the name of the show and teaches us so much about the journey we’re getting ready for. The joy and vibrance of the song, and Maria who sings it, greets us into the beautiful landscape of this show’s world, and teaches us everything we need to know about how Maria views the world. The hills are alive, and when this song hits, so is the audience.

‘Phantom of the Opera’ from The Phantom of the Opera

I mean come on! Of course ‘Phantom of the Opera’ is here! It’s inside our hearts and probably yours, given that this is one of the most successful shows of all time. With one of the greatest riffs in history from Christine, a boat sequence burned into all of our brains, and an electric score that combines the classical, operatic context with Webber’s modern (at the time) sensibilities, there’s a reason this show was on Broadway for 35 years.

‘Sunset Boulevard’ from Sunset Boulevard 

For those of you on tiktok, this song isn’t just stuck in your head, but a video of a man marching down Shubert Alley, in the 2024 revival, singing it accompanies the tune. That is a good representation of just how sensational this show’s titular number is, and the way this show took over Broadway each time it’s run on the great wide way. It’s not as cheery as the other title songs on this list; Foreboding, intense, and grand, this opening track really gives you a sense of the Hollywood thriller in store for you as this musical begins.  

‘Rent’ from Rent

While growing up is looking at this musical and saying, “Why don’t those damn kids just pay their rent!?”, this opening number title song gives us the context we need to buy in to Jonathan Larson’s sensational grungy, 90s-set adaption of La Boheme. The drums! The electric guitar! THE ANGST! This number introduced audiences to the unique voice of its writer and its revolutionary stylistic additions to the canon shaped a generation of musical theatre writers. 

’Mamma Mia!’ from Mamma Mia!

Here we go again! What started as ABBA’s iconic song became the anthem for one of the most beloved and successful musicals of all time. Pure joy in the form of pop music, Mamma Mia, both song and show, are a hoot and a half. The show and this song brings us in to the central drama of the story, and into the party that is this show’s complicated, messy, and loving family dynamic. There’s a reason the movie adaptation is the 15th highest grossing movie-musical of all time. And most exciting of all, Mamma Mia is returning to broadway this Summer!

‘In the Heights’ from In the Heights

The second the claves hits, you know In the Heights isn’t your grandma’s classic, Jazz-derived musical. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s pre-Hamilton Broadway outing is flourishing with the vibrant musical culture of its world. Lin brought hip hop, authentic latin styles, and pop to musical theatre with this show, and as Usnavi raps us through a warm welcome to a day in the life of the Washington Heights community, he builds a framework for what this show has in store. From the dissatisfaction that exists in the community to the routines we will soon see disrupted, Lin proved himself a true scholar of the form, building an outstanding, bullet proof, and innovative titular number to open one of the best musicals of the 21st century. 

‘Maybe Happy Ending’ from Maybe Happy Ending

‘Maybe Happy Ending’ (the song) brings out everything that makes the show it’s named after great! A simple, yet deeply meaningful and evocative duet sung by two robots, this number reinforces the themes of the show and brings us into the home stretch of the journey in a truly perfect way (NO SPOILERS). By the time this song ends, there isn’t a dry eye in the audience, and it’s no wonder people are running back to see this show more than 10 times. 

‘Smash’ from Smash

NBC’s short-lived television series Smash is making the leap to the Broadway stage this spring, bringing with it many of the big, brassy showtunes written for the show-within-a-tv-show Bombshell, including the appropriately titled ‘Smash’ about dreaming to be a hit star in a hit show. Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman’s earworm of a score plays even better made meta, coming off the stage as opposed to through the screen.

There is an undeniable energy in the theater when a performer is making their Broadway debut. Something about witnessing a hardworking artist achieve their dream and do their thing on such a coveted stage is unlike anything else. Broadway is lucky enough to welcome new entrants to the roster of performers’ past and present every season. Here are some of the most exciting new performers to grace the stage in the 2024-2025 Broadway season!

Helen J Shen

Maybe Happy Ending, the brand new musical about Helperbots in love, also introduced audiences to newcomer Helen J Shen, who plays Claire. Shen’s crystal clear vocals and emotional range made her a breakout star of the season, after years of developing and performing new musicals Off-Broadway.

George Clooney

Hollywood man George Clooney is set to make his debut this year in a peculiar fashion. Clooney will reprise his screen role as Walter Cronkite in a stage adaptation of the 2005 film Goodnight and Good Luck, which he wrote, directed and starred in.

Charli D’Amelio

TikTok breakout star Charli D’Amelio brought her dance skills to the dance-heavy hit & Juliet this fall! 

Dez Duron

Fans of The Voice season 1 saw it first, but Broadway has welcomed Dez Duron’s classy crooning by way of Gil Brentley, his character in Maybe Happy Ending. His buttery voice on those jazzy tunes will have any theatergoer swooning.

Zoey Deutch

Known previously for her onscreen work, Zoey Deutch brought her rom-com know-how to the stage as Emily in Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. She fulfilled a lifelong dream by being on a Broadway stage, and particularly in this role in this play, which has been on her bedside table since her early teenagedom. 

Lizzy McAlpine

Popstar Lizzy McAlpine will join Jeremy Jordan in the upcoming production of Floyd Collins, fulfilling a prophecy that she tweeted years ago about performing alongside him one day.

Sarah Snook

Succession’s Sarah Snook will follow her onscreen siblings to the Broadway stage this spring, transferring her one-woman adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Grey following its smash success in the UK and Australia.

Bill Burr

Rolling Stone named him one of the 50 Best Standup Comics of All Time, and now he has his sights on the Broadway boards. Bill Burr is set to star as Dave Moss in the revival of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross.

The cast of English

After its Pulitzer Prize-winning premiere at the Atlantic Theater Company, the full Off-Broadway cast of English will transfer to Broadway, all making their Broadway debuts together.

Michelle Williams

Kicking off the Destiny’s Child to Broadway pipeline is Michelle Williams, who stars in Death Becomes Her this season. Maybe Beyonce is next? 

by Ben Togut

From historical dramas to laugh-out-loud comedies, portrayals of real-life politicians abound on Broadway. Whether they take artistic liberties with their depiction of historical figures or closely adhere to history, for theatre audiences these representations entertain and provide insight into well-known politicians. Major political figures are lighting up the New York theater boards this summer with N/A, Suffs, Oh Mary!, alongside the continued run of Hamilton. Here’s a look at some of the more impactful representations of politicians on the Broadway stage.

Fiorello La Guardia, Fiorello!

Opening on Broadway in 1959, Fiorello! the life of New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia. The musical chronicles the mayor’s rise to political power and how he weakened the influence of Tammany Hall, a Democratic political machine that was a major source of corruption in New York City.

The Founding Fathers, 1776

1776 opened on Broadway in 1969. In many ways a predecessor to Hamilton, 1776 depicts the events preceding the signing of the Declaration of Independence, including John Addams attempts to convince the Founding Fathers to vote for independence. The musical was most recently revived in 2023, with a cast consisting of female, trans, and nonbinary actors. 

Eva and Juan Perón, Evita 

When Evita premiered on Broadway in 1979, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice turned Eva Perón into one of musical theatre’s great divas. Evita focuses on the Argentinian political leader’s early life, her rise to power and marriage to president Juan Perón, and her untimely death from cancer. The original Broadway production starred Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, who both won Tony Awards for portraying Eva and Juan Perón.

Andrew Jackson, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson 

Michael Friedman and Alex Timbers transformed the life of Andrew Jackson into a rock concert with  Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, which opened on Broadway in 2010. The musical satirizes the life and politics of Andrew Jackson, in the show as an emo rock star, exploring the establishment of the Democratic Party, the Indian Removal Act, and Jackson’s embrace of populism.

Ann Richards in Ann 

Holland Taylor both wrote and starred in Ann, a one woman show with Taylor as former Texas governor Ann Richards. A character study of Richards’ person and political life while she was in office, Ann is based mostly on anecdotes Taylor collected from those close to the former governor. For her portrayal of Richards, Taylor was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play. 

Lyndon B. Johnson, All the Way and The Great Society

Playwright Robert Schenkkan explored the political career of Lyndon B. Johnson in All the Way and The Great Society, the former of which saw Bryan Cranston star as LBJ, and the latter with Brian Cox in the presidential shoes. All the Way, which premiered on Broadway in 2014, follows Johnson assuming the presidency and his campaign to pass The Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Great Society focuses on the events following Johnson’s re-election, including the rise of the Civil Rights Movement, the heightening of the Vietnam War, and the assassinations of MLK Jr. and Robert Kennedy.

Alexander Hamilton, Hamilton

Based on the 2004 book Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, Hamilton opened on Broadway in 2015. This cultural phenomenon dramatizes the life of first U.S secretary of the treasury Alexander Hamilton, exploring his role in the American Revolution, his marriage to Eliza  Schuyler Hamilton, and his political rivalry with Aaron Burr. The original Broadway cast included Lin Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, and Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton.

Imelda Marcos, Here Lies Love 

In Here Lies Love, David Byrne and Fat Boy Slim transport audience members to a Studio 54-inspired disco hall to bring the story of former Filipina first lady Imelda Marcos to life. This immersive disco musical traces the trajectory of Marcos’ life from her early beginnings, her rise to power and dictatorship alongside husband President Ferdinand Marcos, and later downfall at the hands of the People Power Revolution. The original Broadway production starred Arielle Jacobs as Imelda Marcos, Jose Llana as Ferdinand Marcos, and Conrad Ricamora as opposition leader Ninoy Aquino.

Woodrow Wilson, Suffs 

In Shaina Taub’s Suffs, former President Woodrow serves as an intractable symbol of male power in the fight for female suffrage. Woodrow, played by Grace McLean, appears as a sly, cartoonish gatekeeper who refuses to give in to the demands made by the ensemble’s dedicated band of suffragists. Other politicians represented in Suffs are Dudley Malone, Wilson’s Third Assistant  Secretary of State, and Harry T. Burn, a member of the Tennessee State Assembly who delivered a decisive vote allowing for the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

Abraham Lincoln, Oh, Mary!

Written by Cole Escola, Broadway hit Oh, Mary! is a delightful spoof on the lives of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln and President Abraham Lincoln. Playing fast and loose with the facts of history, the play shows Conrad Ricamora’s President Lincoln desperately trying to reign in his wife’s alcoholism, while conducting an affair with Mary’s Teacher behind closed doors.

by Madison Harman

The college years are an incredibly formative and intellectual period for young minds. Students and faculty alike can develop and learn valuable life lessons in what can often be intense and consequential situations. Fitting then for higher education institutions to serve as the setting for many plays and musicals across Broadway history. As the school year starts up again, let’s take a look at some of Broadway’s Best Shows set on college campus.

The Male Animal

Written by James Thurber and Elliot Nugent, The Male Animal, opened on Broadway in 1940, and starred the Nugent himself alongside Ruth Matteson and Leon Ames. This comedy follows an English teacher at Midwestern University as he struggles with what to do when not allowed to express his worldview sentiments to his class. In the midst of his struggle for his defense of free speech, his wife’s former boyfriend, a football legend, arrives to complicate matters. In 1942 the show was adapted into a screenplay that starred Henry Fonda, Olivia de Havilland and Jake Carson. The show was revived in 1952 once again starring the writer Nugent, with Robert Preston and Martha Scott. 

Wicked

With a now iconic score by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, Wicked opened on Broadway in 2003. One of the longest-running shows on Broadway, it follows the story of a young witch, Elphaba, and the unlikely friendship that forms with her schoolmate Glinda before the events of The Wizard of Oz. Mainly taking place at Shiz University, the original cast starred Kristen Chenoweth as Glinda, Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Norbert Leo Butz as Fiyero. The show was nominated for 11 Tonys, winning three of them. It also won six drama Desk awards, including Outstanding New Musical. The modern classic continues to be one of the most popular shows on Broadway. A new movie adaption is set to release November 2024, starring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey. 

Legally Blonde

Written by Laurene O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin with a book by Heather Hatch, Legally Blonde opened on Broadway in 2007. Based on the 2001 movie starring Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Coolidge, Matthew Davis and Luke Wilson, the show follows Valley girl, Elle Woods, as she goes to Harvard Law in order to win back her ex boyfriend, while still staying true to herself. The musical starred Laura Bell Bundy, Richard H. Blake, Orfeh Christian Borle, Michael Ruper and Kate Shindle. The show was nominated for seven Tony Awards and ten Drama Desk Awards. 

Seminar 

Written by Theresa Rebeck, Seminar opened on Broadway in 2011. It starred Alan Rickman, Hamish Linklater, Jerry O’Connell, Hettienne Park and Lily Rabe. This comedy follows four young writers and their professor during a ten week writing seminar. Rickman’s performance awed viewers and made the show a success. 

Ohio State Murders

Ohio State Murders opened on Broadway in 2022, marking the Broadway debut of playwright Adrienne Kennedy, who penned the play in 1991. The show focuses on college student Suzanne Alexander at Ohio State University in 1950. As a renowned black author, she goes back to speak about her experience there and the murders of her daughters. The show starred Audra McDonald (Tony Nominee), Bryce Pinkham, Mister Fitzgerald, Lizan Mitchell and Abigail Stephenson. 

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf

Written by Edward Albee, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf premiered on Broadway in 1962. The original cast starred Uta Hagen, Arthur Hill, Melinda Dillon and George Grizzard. The play follows the marriage of Martha and George, who, after a university faculty party, drag a younger couple, Nick and Honey, into their relationship issues. The show won four Tony awards in 1963 including Best Play. Due to the unusually long length of the show, three hours, a separate matinee cast had to be formed, performing twice a week. The play was revived three times, in 1976, 2005 and in 2012, with a planned revival in 2020 that was thwarted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The most recent production starred Tracy Letts, Amy Morton, Carrie Coon and Madison Dirks. It won three Tonys and three Drama Desk Awards, including Best Revival of a Play in 2013. A film adaption was created in 1966 and it starred Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal and Sandy Dennis. 

By Madison Harman

Throughout the history of Broadway, the school setting has been a very popular background for stories about young people to thrive. Shows with kid characters, such as School of Rock and Matilda, have hit Broadway and been major successes, and others that focus on slightly older students and take place within the chaos of high school are exceedingly popular as well. Catching the attention of many younger viewers, these shows have captured the hearts of many as they reflect universal themes of growing up and finding your way among your peers. Let’s take a look at some of Broadway’s Best Shows that take place in high school. 

Mean Girls 

Mean Girls opened on Broadway in 2017. Written by Tina Fey based on her 2005 movie of the same name, the plot follows a young girl when she moves from Africa, having to navigate American high school and finding herself when she joins the mean girls clique. Originally starring Erika Henningsen as Cady, Taylor Louderman as Regina, and Barrett Wilbert Weed as Janis, the show was nominated for twelve Tonys.In 2024, a movie musical adaptation was made starring Angourie Rice, Renee Rapp and Auli’i Cravalho. 

Hairspray

Hairspray opened in 2002, written by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Based on the 1988 John Waters movie, the show follows Tracy Turnblad, a highschooler in Baltimore in the 1960s, as she works to achieve her dream of being on the Corny Collins Show. Starring Marissa Jaret Winokur as Tracy (who won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical), Laura Bell Bundy as Amber, Kerry Butler as Penny, Harvey Fierstein as Mrs. Turnblad (Best Actor in a Musical winner), Matthew Morrison as Link and Dick Latessa as Mr. Turnblad (Best Featured Actor in a Musical winner). The new musical won eight Tonys in total that year, including Best Musical. A 2007 movie musical starred John Travolta, Nikki Blonsky and Zack Effron. In 2016, NBC broadcasted Hairspray Live, which starred Ariana Grande, Harvey Fierstein, Maddie Baillis, Dove Cameron, Garett Clayton and Kristin Chenoweth. Hairspray is enduring as a modern classic musical over two decades later!

Grease

Grease opened on Broadway in 1972. Written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, the show, taking place in the 1950s, follows Sandy, an Australian exchange student and Danny, as their romance causes issues amongst the high school cliques. Starring Barry Bostwick and Carole Demas, the show had seven Tony nominations. In 1978, the creators made the movie Grease starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, which is the iconic version known best to audiences around the world. The musical has had two Broadway revivals, the most recent in 2007, starring Max Crumm and Laura Osnes. 

Be More Chill

Written by Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz, Be More Chill premiered off Broadway in 2018 and opened on Broadway in 2019. Based on the 2004 Novel by Ned Vizzini, the show follows a high school outcast, Jeremy Heere as he signs up for the school play in order to be with his crush. Wanting to be cooler to gain her attention, he takes a SQUIP pill. This show starred Will Roland, Stephanie Hsu, Jason Tam, George Salazar and Gerard Canonico, and was a catalyst for welcoming young audiences into the theatre.

The Prom

Written by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin, The Prom premiered on Broadway in 2018. The musical follows four Broadway actors as they make it their mission to help a high school girl in Indiana bring her girlfriend to prom, after same sex coupling at the event is banned. Starring Brooks Ashmanskas, Beth Leavel, Angie Schworer, Caitlin Kinnunen and Christopher Sieber, the show was nominated for six Tony awards and won the Drama Desk award for Outstanding Musical. A starry Netflix film adaptation featuring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, Ariana DeBose, and Andrew Rannells was released in 2020 following the show’s Broadway run. 

Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen opened on Broadway in 2016. With a book by Steven Levenson and music & lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, the show follows a high school boy, Evan Hansen, as he struggles with what to do when a letter he wrote to himself is found in the hands of a couple who have just lost their son due to him taking his own life. Starring Ben Platt as Evan, who won a Tony Award for the performance, Will Roland, Mike Feist, Laura Dreyfuss and Rachel Bay Jones, who also won a Tony for her role. The show won a total of six Tonys including Best Musical and in 2021 it was made into a movie musical with Ben Platt reprising his role as Evan. 

Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening opened on Broadway in 2006. Written by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik as an adaptation of the original German play, it’s a coming of age rock musical that takes place in 1800s Germany, following a group of students and their journey to find themselves. It starred Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, Skylar Astin, Lilli Cooper, John Gallagher,. The show won eight Tonys including Best Musical. It was revived in 2015 in a new production directed by Michael Arden, which featured both Deaf and hearing actors.

Heathers

Written by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy, Heathers premiered off Broadway in 2014 and has yet to make its Broadway debut. Based on the 1989 cult classic movie by the same name, it follows high school student Veronica when she is invited to join the Heathers, the most popular girls in the school, but with a dark twist. The show starred Barrett Wilbert Weed as Veronica, Ryan McCarten as JD, and Alice Lee, Jessica Keenen Wynn and Elle McLemore as the Heathers. The Original Cast Recording became wildly popular amongst younger viewers, and the musical has been staged several times across the pond in London.

by Ben Togut

When many people think of Broadway, they think of bold, brash productions where a large ensemble or supporting cast is necessary to create onstage spectacle. In recent years, however, New York theatre has seen an uptick in more intimate shows with smaller casts.

This season, there’s a flurry of one-person plays coming like The Picture of Dorian Grey and Sugar Daddy, two-handers including The Roommate, Job, and N/A, and other fewer-actor shows including Maybe Happy Ending, Left on Tenth, and Oh, Mary! To highlight this growing trend in contemporary theatre, let’s take a look at some notable Broadway two-handers from years past and the one ahead.

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune opened off-Broadway in 1987. A comedy written by Terrence McNally, the play tells the story of two coworkers who after a one-night stand feel their connection may be blossoming into something more. The play has since been revived twice on Broadway, in 2002 and 2019, with the most recent production starring Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon. 

Love Letters

Written by A.R. Gurney, Love Letters premiered on Broadway in 1989. Through a written correspondence of over 50 years, the play follows two childhood friends who maintain a romantic relationship despite being in marriages of their own. Love Letters was revived in 2014 with Brian Dennehy and Mia Farrow in the first cast and Carol Burnett, Alan Alda, and Candice Bergen in following casts.

The Last Five Years 

The Last Five Years premiered off-Broadway in 2001. Written by Jason Robert Brown, the musical follows the five year relationship between Jamie, a rising novelist and Cathy, a struggling actress. Unusual as a musical written for just two actors, it is notable for portraying the couple’s perspectives in alternating timelines, with Jamie’s side of the story being told sequentially and Cathy’s in reverse chronological order. The musical, which was also adapted into a 2014 feature film, will come to Broadway for the first time in spring 2025 starring Nick Jonas as Jamie and Adrienne Warren as Cathy.

Topdog/Underdog

Topdog/Underdog opened on Broadway in 2002 starring Don Cheadle and Jeffrey Wright. Written by Suzan-Lori Parks, the play focuses on Lincoln and Booth, two brothers who live together after Lincoln’s wife kicked him out. Over games of three-card monte, Lincoln and Booth grapple with their shared history of adversity and their current struggles as adults whose parents deserted them when they were teenagers. Twenty years after its Broadway premiere, Topdog/Underdog was revived in 2022, with Corey Hawkins as Lincoln and Yahya Abdul Mateen II as Booth, winning the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play that season.

The Gin Game

Donald L. Coburn’s Pulitzer Prize winner premiered on Broadway in 1978. Dubbed a tragicomedy, it follows two elderly residents of a nursing home whose games of Gin Rummy mirror their intensifying conversations in a tussle for control and understanding. Jessica Tandy won a Tony Award for her performance in the original Broadway production, and it was most recently on Broadway in 2005 with James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson in the two roles. A television production had also premiered in 2003 starring Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore.

Red

Written by John Logan, Red opened on Broadway in 2010. The play takes place in New York City in the 1950s and tells the true story of Mark Rothko and his commission to paint a series of murals for the Four Seasons restaurants. Red hones in on the relationship between Rothko and his assistant Ken, who questions Rothko’s motivations for embarking on such a commercial project. The original Broadway production starred Alfred Molina as Rothko and Eddie Redmayne, who won a Tony Award for his performance as Ken.

Venus in Fur

Based on the novel by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Venus in Fur premiered on Broadway in 2011. Written by David Ives, the play focuses on Thomas, a writer-director who is trying to cast an actress for his upcoming play, and Vanda, an unlikely actress for the role who convinces Thomas to let her audition. The original Broadway production starred Hugh Dancy and Nina Arianda, who won a Tony Award for her performance as Vanda.

The Mountaintop

Written by Katori Hall, The Mountaintop opened on Broadway in 2011. A fictional account of Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s last night alive, the play is set in King’s room at the Lorraine Motel, where he was assassinated in 1968. The Mountaintop’s catalyst is Camae, an angel who reveals to Dr. King that he will be killed the following day. Samuel L. Jackson made his Broadway debut in the original production opposite Angela Bassett as Camae.

Constellations

Written by Nick Payne, Constellations premiered on Broadway in 2015. The play follows the relationship between Marianne and Roland, whose conversations about string theory and multiple universes are mirrored in the structure of the play, where certain scenes are repeated with different outcomes. The original Broadway cast starred Jake Gyllenhaal as Roland and Ruth Wilson as Marianne.

A Life in the Theatre

A Life in the Theatre premiered off Broadway in 1977 and made its Broadway debut in 2010, starring Patrick Stewart as Robert and T.R. Knight as John. Written by David Mamet, the play delves into the relationship between two actors as they work together on multiple projects. Robert, the older and more experienced of the pair takes John under his wing. In 1993, a television film adaptation was produced starring Matthew Broderick and Jack Lemmon.

The Roommate  

A dark comedy written by Jen Silverman, The Roommate first premiered at the Humana Festival of New American Plays in 2015. The play tells the story of Sharon, a recently divorced woman who needs a roommate to share her home. After inviting Robyn into her home, Sharon begins to discover her roommate’s secrets, encouraging her to explore outside of her comfort zone. The play will have its Broadway premiere this summer at the Booth Theatre starring Patti LuPone and Mia Farrow, with performances beginning August 29th. 

Job

Written by Max Wolf Friedlich, Job opened off Broadway at Soho Playhouse in 2023. A psychological thriller, the play explores the relationship between Jane, a young woman who has a breakdown at her job, and Loyd, a therapist Jane must see to get approved  to return to work. Sydney Lemmon and Peter Friedman, who starred in the off-Broadway production, are set to reprise their roles at the Hayes Theater, with performances beginning July 15th.

by Ben Togut

On Sunday June 16th, The Outsiders was announced Best Musical at the 77th Tony Awards. To celebrate this win, let’s take a look at the current Broadway productions that have won this coveted award in the past.

Cabaret (1967)

Fred and Kander’s beloved musical Cabaret originally opened on Broadway in 1967. Based on the novel  Goodbye Berlin by Christopher Isherwood, the musical tells the story of Sally Bowles, a cabaret performer living in Berlin during the Weimar Republic, and follows her relationship with writer Clifford Bradhaw. Cabaret’s Tony-winning score by John Kander and Fred Ebb includes Broadway classic hits such as “Maybe This Time” and “Cabaret.” The musical was revived in 1998 and then again in 2014 with Alan Cumming in a Tony-winning turn as the Emcee. The current revival, Cabaret at the Kit Cat Club, stars Eddie Redmayne as The Emcee and Gayle Rankin as Sally Bowles, and is playing at the August Wilson Theatre, refurbished to resemble a Berlin nightclub.

The Wiz (1975)

Bringing 70s flair to The Yellow Brick Road, The Wiz opened on Broadway in 1975. A contemporary retelling of The Wizard of Oz in the context of Black culture, the musical features classics such as “A Brand New Day” and “Home,” made famous by Stephanie Mills, who originated the role of Dorothy in the adaptation. The original production went on to win seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score for composer Charlie Ross. Now running at the Marquis Theatre, the musical’s 2024 revival stars Broadway newcomer Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy and Wayne Brady as The Wizard.

The Lion King (1997)

Based on the 1994 film of the same name, The Lion King premiered on Broadway in 1997. With a score by Elton John and Tim Rice, The Lion King features Broadway favorites such as “Hakuna Matata” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” The production went on to win six Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical for Julie Taymor, who became the first woman to win the award. Still on Broadway after almost 27 years, The Lion King continues to attract Disney and theatre lovers from around the world. 

The Book of Mormon (2011)

The Book of Mormon opened on Broadway in 2011. A musical comedy written by the creators of South Park, the musical tells the story of two LDS missionaries as they preach Mormonism to people living in a village in Uganda. The original production, which starred Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad, won nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Featured Actress in A Musical for Nikki M. James.

Hamilton (2015)

When Hamilton premiered on Broadway in 2015,  it transformed  the story of a Founding Father into a cultural phenomenon. Inspired by the 2004 biography by Ron Chernow, the musical follows the life of Alexander Hamilton and his participation in the American Revolution. In addition to creating the musical, Lin Manuel Miranda starred in the title role alongside Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr and Philipa Soo as Eliza Schuyler Hamilton. Hamilton went on to win 11 Tony Awards in 2016, including Best Musical and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for Odom Jr. It is one of only ten musicals to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Hadestown (2019)

Inspired by Anaïs Mitchell’s concept album of the same name, Hadestown opened on Broadway in 2019. A contemporary re-telling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, the original production of this steampunk musical starred Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada, and André DeShields. At the 2019 Tonys, Hadestown took home eight awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score for Anaïs Mitchell and Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for André DeShields.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical (2019)

Based on the 2001 movie by Baz Luhrmann, Moulin Rouge! The Musical opened on Broadway in 2019. Set in Belle Èpoque Paris, the show tells the story of a poet who falls in love with cabaret performer Satine. A jukebox musical, Moulin Rouge! features both original songs as well as popular music such as “Your Song” by Elton John and “Chandelier” by Sia. The original production won ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for Aaron Tveit, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for Danny Burstein.

The Outsiders (2024)

The Outsiders premiered on Broadway in 2024. Based on the beloved 1967 novel by S.E. Hinton, the musical follows the rivalry between two gangs in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1960s and features a score by Jonathan Clay and Zachary Chance, members of the folk-rock band Jamestown Revival, and a book by Adam Rapp. The Outsiders won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical for Danya Taymor.